It’s not hard to get lost amidst the back alleys of the Baltic Triangle, mazing through red-brick warehouses whilst fighting off the Mersey’s mighty winds. Nothing that would stop the tribe of house-heads in tropical shirts who, queuing up outside, already dance to the muffled beats of Melé’s Club Bad seeping from the belly of 24 Kitchen Street. Welcomed by a familiar warmth of sub-frequencies and Red Stripe, I squeeze my way past bucket hats and shades to find the sweaty walls of this intimate venue, feeling like I had stumbled into a private beach party. As people pile themselves onto the miniature dance floor, I feel a strong sense of community amidst the sticky skin and chatter, almost as if everyone were long lost friends, reuniting for a midnight groove.
There’s a chilled vibe as I watch through the red haze at bodies bopping to Matrefakt’s electro-house mix, who unapologetically drop tracks from their new EP Spiders Web, sending us through a matrix of high-tech synths and impressive drum sequences. The Liverpool trio hold the venue like it’s their own living room; loose sways and a beer in hand with a strong sense of achievement as they raise a glass to their fellow ravers before passing the decks to Elliot Adamson.
The award-winning producer seems surprisingly nervous as he cues up his opening track, giving only a brief but observing glance to his anticipating audience, who now two-step like they’re in an intense a game of musical chairs. No one was expecting him to drop his Move (Time To Get Loose) remix, setting off a wave of woop's that cascades with fist pumps and twirls. Having lifted the crowd’s energy with some familiar 70’s disco samples, Adamson takes no hesitation in joining us as we groove to his eclectic mix of techno-funk. The final few minutes of his set take an ambient turn with sustained synths and delayed kicks that resonate off the walls, before plummeting into a steady progression of glitched vocal samples.
Excitement builds and drinks are downed as we wait patiently for the Club Bad ringleader. Melé creeps on stage under low light with a sharp focus as he wires up additional equipment, promising an experimental live performance. No time is wasted in showcasing his niche blend of world influenced tech-house, introducing some foot-stomping tribal percussion that gets the whole crowd swinging their hips relentlessly. Once settled into his mix of reverberated Brazilian beats, Melé finally loosens up as he watches over his loyal following of techno loving scousers, leading us all into the early hours of Sunday morning.
Closing the set on a high with a remix of ‘Sunshowers’, we pour out the back doors of 24 Kitchen Street like a carnival parade. Now warmed by the exotic beats of Club Bad in an overcrowded room, Liverpool’s 4am gales are met with pleasure as clammy ravers make their plans to ensure the night never ends.
