DJ Mag

4

4. Ministry Of Sound

In an era when familiar clubbing institutions are still dropping like flies and custom-built, professionally run dance Meccas are notable only by absence, London needs Ministry Of Sound more than ever. But, more than ever, Ministry is delivering.

An entirely different beast from the slightly iffy and confused commercial entity of the mid-noughties, Ministry Of Sound circa 2010 is a place where the coolest cats are happy to head to once again.

It does no harm that the layout of The Box is pretty much the perfect warehouse space and the soundsytem and DJ booth are routinely described by the DJ elite as the best in the world, but it's more to do with the fact that Ministry has got its programming as finely tuned as its production values these days. Whether it be the past-to-future techno sensibilities of Hi-Tek-Soul, Steve Lawler's post-minimal VIVA sessions, The Gallery's sell-out trance spectaculars, Toolroom Knights' electronic house, the summer secretsundaze sessions or the increasingly on-point Saturday Sessions, it's all top draw shizzle all the way - a point best proven by the recent acquisition of Richie Hawtin's M-Nus to their party roster who was seduced by the system after using it as a warm-up for another London gig.

"For all its history, the club has managed to stay on top of the game because it constantly evolved and regularly has cutting edge talent playing the venue," believes techno producer Christian Smith who played here alongside Moby last November.

Words: djmag

Comments