Martinez in Leeds

Louche & Twaddle
Martinez + residents
Mint Club, Leeds
09/01/10
Soonnight photo report

Louche is run by a new breed of keen house and techno enthusiasts in Leeds. The collective of 5 promoters and DJs started the project in autumn 2007, and the recent news that they are now one of Mint Club’s flagship Saturday nights is testament to their efforts and success since then.

Despite the night’s name being an adjective meaning dubious; shady; disreputable; someone of questionable taste or morality, the night itself is quite the opposite. Instead, as we enter Mint Club at just past midnight to the deep, organic house sounds of resident Brinsley Kazak, it’s clear the music is decidedly reputable, and that the crowd are of good taste – dropping shoulders and nodding heads as they are with smiling faces.

Shortly before tonight’s headliner makes his way to the controls, the first highlight of many arrives in the form of an effortlessly deep and restrained house record (‘Neurotransmitting’ by STC) which shuffles along for ten minutes, sweeping up the floor and dropping it out in a deep 4/4 coma, ten minutes later. It goes down perfectly and shows a Louche goer appreciates the finer side of contemporary dance music.

Where headliners like essential US talents Lee Foss, Shaun Reeves, Seth Troxler have headlined parties at Louche in the past, it’s Danishman Martinez who takes centre stage come 2am tonight. For the ensuing hours those who pack the dance floor in checked shirts buttoned all the way up; leggings and loose tops; hoodies and hi tops bounce up, down and side to side at the whim of the DJ.

Smashing through deep and techy cuts, Martinez steers us from one huge drop to another via brief moments of calm and melody - but rarely lets the momentum drop. It's for that reason that the floor is as full at the end of his set as it is at the start - basically, he weaved a perfect club set.

You should already know by now, even if you haven’t visited, that Mint Club is the best venue outside London: DJs love it for its peerless sound system (clubbers the same); the size of the place is perfect and the stunning LED disco panel above the dance floor adds an extra edge to the music. It glows red to add warmth, blue for cool and never fails to unleash choruses of woops from the crowd it illuminates.

Louche is a night run with style, attention to detail (just look at the in-house designed flyers for proof of that) and a passion for good music (again, proof - if you need it - can be found on their excellent podcast series). And, with a home like Mint, is a party well worthy of your attention.