- Having swapped their recent run of sell-out, sweatbox parties at Plastic People for a night beneath Cable's cavernous arch system, it stood to wonder if Buzzin' Fly would take a different approach to their new space. Would they feel the need to bring a bigger sound with them to fill the larger room in case their refined, deep house sound lingered limply between the brick walls of the London Bridge club?
Not a chance. Buzzin' Fly is a charmingly independent label who never fail to parade their idiosyncrasies. It's the reason why label boss Ben Watt has been able to build such an enormous following. The concoction of deep house and techno comes with more feeling and emotion than your average functional dance floor material, and it's perfect for any season. In winter, it makes you feel warm and fuzzy. In summer, it takes on an idyllic and breezy persona.
Photo credit: Vickie Parker
With Cable's rather reduced lighting policy, it was Watt's music that was filling the main room instead of an array of strobe lights and smoke machines. The focus was solely on the music. Tracks like Oxia's "Whole Life" boomed out over the crowd collected in front of the DJ booth, sparking scenes of impassioned shape-throwing which in turn enticed those mingling by the bar to hit the now brimming dance floor. There were plenty of lighter, percussive moments, but in truth it was the more driving house and techno that stirred up the best reaction from this clearly up-for-it crowd as Watt's set went on.
With his recent podcast for the imprint no doubt already loaded onto the iPods of many of those in attendance, the much celebrated Ripperton took over the reins and quickly settled into some tight, deep techno. Just like his debut album, Niwa, the Swiss' performance was one which whispered subtlety and screamed versatility while staying true to an underground core. Ben Watt and Chris Woodward are perpetually adored by their crowd. Judging from the noise and a quick hands-in-the-air poll of tonight's crowd, Ripperton was without doubt inaugurated into the close-knit family.