- Electronic music at Corbet Place immediately brings an uneasy thought to my mind—the long open space, bright lighting and sumptuous leather couches seem to entice more of a cappuccino drinking, Sunday Times reading crowd than banging party people. Its notoriously bad sound system and reputation for tiny crowds doesn't help matters. I love Sunday partying, but with so much competition around on a Bank Holiday Sunday, Corbet Place had me worried despite its stellar You Are We summer closing party line-up.
Residents Playset warmed up for an intimidating and empty floor aside from a sunglasses-clad, foot-stomping trio who would have been better suited to the Fuse party across the road. Slowly but surely, though, Playset's 4/4-dominant set proved difficult to resist and the floor picked up into a contagiously good atmosphere. By the end, Corbet had filled to an extent I'd never been witness to before.
Session Victim's eclectic vinyl-only set was up next. In my book, anyone who plays vinyl in 2010 deserves a pat on the back, especially when it's spun as this pair proceeded to. Disco, soul, deep house and techno spanning over two decades was on offer throughout, their technique seamlessly in step with the other. American Lee Curtiss followed with the usual charm of deep house and bass-ridden grooves from the likes of Art Department, Soldiers With Limits, his own "Smoking Mirrors" and a string of other modern dance floor hits. But he also produced a welcome surprise of re-worked soulful classics, Berlin techno and deep Chicago house, turning his set into the most varied and interesting I've heard him play live.
As a result, You Are We erased my negative expectations of Corbet Place and the idea that there was too much competition for a Bank Holiday Sunday. Not only did they fill a venue that so many other events have failed to, their diverse line-up delivered. The only thing that was disappointing? That aforementioned notoriously bad sound system.