- Since being converted from a simple bus depot in South East London in 1991, Ministry of Sound has spent almost two decades on a long and eventful journey, constantly adapting and updating its sound to the times. Its influence isn't simply confined to the dance floor, though: MoS is a worldwide brand that impacts all areas of dance music across the globe. On this night, though, it was all about the club—a celebration of what Ministry does best, a sensuous and all-consuming experience heightened by lasers and soundtracked by Sasha.
And who better to bring in yet another year of MoS? Sasha's been onboard for the entire journey. And, in the transient world of dance music, both Ministry and Sasha have enjoyed unusual longevity. Just as Ministry has upgraded sound systems, lighting effects and bars, Sasha has sustained his position at the top by evolving his set-up with the times, going from vinyl to CD to laptop and beyond.
Aside from the historic link, Sasha's DJing style also lends itself perfectly to a night of this sort. The emotive synths and brooding basslines that often tinge his sets suit the sense of occasion that comes with an 18th birthday. We heard ample evidence of it in the spine-tingling remix of Lifelike & Kris Menace's "Discopolis" that did much to stir the intense atmosphere before tracks such as Joris Voorn's "Sweep the Floor" kept the energy going and the crowd dancing. The large, brightly coloured banners adorning provocative slogans that drove the birthday campaign hung proudly above their heads, pierced by the lasers that momentarily lit the faces of the crowd. Outside in the courtyard, a graffiti-covered ice cream van that looked quiet and inconspicuous upon arrival, was now shaking to the point of toppling over as it boomed out music over the packed outdoor space, essentially turning their smoking area into another area of fine music and entertainment.
Being the 18th birthday, commentators may be prone to calling this a coming-of-age for Ministry. To my eyes, though, it was much more a celebration. MoS is clearly already established, and this was simply a acknowledgment of that fact. The intense, explosive blowout of The Box, the festivity of the bar, the frolicking in the courtyard: Ministry of Sound still has it. Long may they continue.