- The idea of Sasha, Mr. Roadblock himself, playing a modest 300-capacity venue such as The Key conjures up an image of claustrophobic horror. So no doubt it will surprise you as much as it did I, dear cynical reader, that Intimate Sasha was a rare exception to this rule and indeed a thoroughly personal affair.
Walking in the door as early as 11 p.m, skeptical clubbers were shocked to hear Sasha already deep into his warm-up – a magnetic mix of deep balmy house music with warm rosy basslines and playful riffs naturally coaxing the club into the long night.
The dancefloor was spacious and friendly, allowing a stirring atmosphere to quickly take root. Soon the rich, deep house strengthened, cyclical progressive basslines surfaced and tactfully layered riffs trickled through, teasing the sound into idiosyncratic Sasha territory. As fragments of breaks and clicky electro hacked through the mesmerizing, pulsating house, and fleeting subtle melodies rose and fell, these first few hours proved to be an enchanting fusion of sounds, and by far my favourite of the six-hour set.
The heart of the set gradually compacted into a tough and hypnotic, albeit comparatively dull, minimal style. However, as soon as those austere, booming beats sapped a kilojoule or two of my energy, a wave of euphoric melody would briefly wash over the dancefloor, refreshing those of us waning on the sidelines.
As the morning closed in, the club was still surprisingly generous with its legroom. With limited entry and plenty of people happy to occupy the side rooms, the main space was kept relatively trim - making for a happy and stable vibe overall.
By four a.m the energy had really begun to intensify, with Slacker's distinctive Arabian stormer 'Corazon' highlighting the peak time sound Sasha was establishing. Elements of anthemic tracks such as ‘Man With Guitar’ were shrewdly zigzagged through the mix, supplying a welcome buzz with their familiarity whilst never completely shattering the atmosphere.
Overall, I felt the sound was controlled brilliantly – as soon as it peaked Sasha would carefully draw it back a degree, and while this could've easily become frustrating, this restraint is what made the set such a enduring success.
Bearing in mind the recent travesty that was The Chemical Bros at Fabric, this was a refreshing and memorable treat and one that we're not likely to see again soon. Events at smaller venues will always be more rewarding given the improved connection between DJ and crowd. But unfortunately as long as there's money to be made, we'll all continue to suffer in oversold and overcrowded club nights.