What an amazing night.


http://www.partypics.i12.com/sleepl...1128/index.html



Sleepless 5th Birthday
28th November 2003


In the climate of £40 entry 15000 capacity arena-sized events, the word “Party” is rarely used to describe trance clubs. In my experience, the appearance of the words Party and Trance in the same sentence will be advertising an event involving dreadlocked crusties dancing to poorly mixed psychedelic noise. However, being familiar with the production work of Steve Jones (Space Brothers, Lustral) and Tony Rapacioli (Kansai) and having heard sets from TranceAirwaves’ Ian Betts, all of whom were playing on the night, I was confident that, at least musically, this would not be the case at Sleepless, who were celebrating their 5th birthday.

Going through a curtain into an extremely dark lair of main room decked out with two mind-bending lasers, it is difficult not to be impressed by the effort the Sleepless team have gone to, especially when coupled with the quality and variety of music. Although trance is currently enjoying its highest profile since the late 90’s, one could do well to look beyond the exaggerated “euphoric” big riffs of the likes of Armin van Buuren and Tiesto. On entering the main room of Sleepless then, you are treated to the full spectrum of trance; from driving progressive, to pumping melodic through to harder, almost acid sounding tunes. There is a fine balance of “underground” gems and crowd pleasing anthems, both past (Ralphie B “Massive”, “Wizards of the Sonic”, “Ayla”) and present (Solid Globe “North Pole”, Firewall “Sincere”, Motorcycle “As the Rush Comes”). To top this off, the crowd are treated to two world exclusives; Steve Jones playing a new mix of his classic “Everytime” by Lustral, and Tony Rapacioli airing is latest offering under his Kansai guise called “Sleepless” (named, obviously, as a tribute to the night). All this is shared with a crowd aged literally from 16 to 60. People aren’t here to see a Dutch millionaire turn up, play a few records and jet off to the next club on his round the world tour; they are here because they’ve heard there’s a party going on, and they like a good party.

The promoter’s claim that they hold parties, and not “events” is confirmed by the atmosphere in the breakbeat room; not a style of music usually associated with second rooms at trance nights. However, Sleepless aren’t the kind of promoters to just throw in a couple of naff funky house DJs, as is increasingly the case with second rooms at club nights. The quality of DJ talent in this room, with music from Paul Louth (Prologue), Martin McNeill (Junktion), Pedro (ClubUK, Gism), Paul Arnold (Head Honcho of legendary Brixton Breaks promotion Chew the Fat! and Fat! records) and DJ Steelo (Breaks FM, Chew the Fat!) shows how Sleepless are willing to put care and attention into every aspect of the night, not just the main room.

Its 6.15am, and the trance room has closed. In the breaks room, however, DJ Steelo is refusing to get off the decks. He’s just dropped Plump DJs “Scram” with the classic “Higher State of Conciousness” laid over top, and the crowd are loving it; theyre definitely not ready to go home yet. More old-skool anthems are dropped, cut with acapellas, and even at one point a cheeky snippet of Jay Z “Pimpin’”. People are still drinking cans of beer (the bar stays open right till the end), someone has found a broom somewhere and is dancing round it, and everyone is smiling. Its like the best house party you’ve ever been to. Even when Steelo thinks he’s pushed his luck too far, the bouncer tells him to play yet one more tune. And so, at 6.30am, with the last beats of “Humanoid” ringing in their ears, a very sweaty but very happy crowd exit into the cold reality of Saturday morning in a street under London Bridge Station .

It is often said that it is the small details that determine the overall quality of a night. It seems, then, that in the planning and execution of their party, the Sleepless team, headed by the enthusiastic promoter, Andy, have taken this on board, and added their own personal touches. As if to remind of us this fact, everyone is given one last bonus, a set of 5 mix cds; one from each of the residents.

“Clubbing” is dead. It’s all about parties, and after 5 years the guys from Sleepless know how to hold a fucking good party.

Joe Sheeran.