- Berlin, on an October Friday, half past 4: A special train fare gave myself and pal Peer, the opportunity to catch one of Australia’s finest, Anthony Pappa, at the Warsaw based Klatka club.
Poland is without a doubt, one of a select number of nations whose electronic music scene and reputation for partying hard is regarded as something of a ‘Promised Land’. For several years now the Polish club scene has largely differed from its counterparts in Western Europe due to its mysterious and somewhat undiscovered charm, and a spirit which rings true of the early legendary days of the dance music scene. It’s also a known fact that Eastern Europeans know to party bloody well! No sign of the Berlin-based Prussian ‘logjam’, which means to stand around looking - not dancing - and definitely not cheering. Hence this scene of both underground clubs and big name raves has a lot to offer in the world of electronic music.
Following a six-hour train ride from Berlin, the city of Warsaw finally came into view. The Klatka, which translated means cage, can be found at Uliza Chlodna 35/37, North West of the train station and a 15-20 minute walk from Central Station. The clock on the tower of Warsaw’s culture palace indicated it was already close to 11pm so we quickened up the pace. Arriving early at the Klatka is a good thing since the venue usually gets quickly crowded.
And so it was off to Klatka, where Klatka cooks Leon and Diana D'Rouz were already getting things simmering, in preparation for Australian DJ, Anthony Pappa. Diana, who has a truly lovely appearance behind the mixer, started with a mix of deep grooving progressive house before resident DJ Leon threw in a 2-hour set of electro based and harmony laden sounds.
Those computer-sounding beats are quite popular in Poland and the Polish certainly know how to enjoy them as we spotted people standing in front of the club’s cloakroom. In Poland, they don’t store their jackets – everything including their sanity is given away and on display for the taking. All over the country clubbers here know how get away from it all.
Just before 2 o’clock, a sudden cheer – and even a few screams - from the crowd heralded the arrival of Anthony Pappa on stage, ready to take over.
Kicking off with a goose pimple inducing atmospheric track and a dark buzzing sound spiced with ethnic vocals, it was very clear just a few minutes into his set that tonight, Pappa was going to tear down the roof. The Green Keepers “Keep it Down” was the first explosive he launched. The second was the Forensic Mix of Mirabeau’s “Houston Calling”, which drove everyone crazy since the track has the same funky synth piano used by Deep Dish on their tune “Swallow”.
Then suddenly, Pappa put a tune on the decks that was just astonishing. Making us feel like being on a Formula 1 track, its engine-like sounds somehow wrapped around us and made us feel as though we were standing in the pit lane at Silverstone or Hockenheim. The track was the new Lo Step track “Little Peaking”, and fills you with the emotion of being a colleague of Alonso or Raikkonen.
It was the Pappa that everybody had expected; those dark driving and tribal sounds from Down Under, in combination with more progressive offerings from the US and UK. From progressive and funky house to techno tunes and breaks; Pappa took us on a roller coaster ride of peaks, troughs and loops.
Continually working the crowd behind the decks it was clear he was always thinking about the placement of his tracks and dropping the right tune at the right time. His mixing skills were amazing - as precise as a Swiss made clock - while his use of the Pioneer CDJs like a drum kit was something I’d never seen before. Delivering real time breaks and beats by hitting the ‘poor little’ Cue button he illustrated an outstanding sense of rhythm.
All good things must come to an end and it wasn’t long before Pappa finished his set with two excellent pieces: the Andy Page prog house stormer, “Serpent”, with its huge funky guitar sample, and the Infusion boys’ “Love & Imitation” - goose pimps par excellence.
The arrival of 5am then saw Ex-Or kick on for the after hours, bringing things back down to a calm but still energetic level.
So in summary, a big, BIG, night out catching an elite international top jock alongside some rocking locals in the company of an awesome crowd. The Klatka - definitely a place you should check out on your next Warsaw trip.