Visiting London, it was obvious that we were going to pass through one of its famous clubs. And the choice was relatively simple when we found out that Ricardo Villalobos and Ritchie Hawtin were going to pass more than five and a half hours mixing. Welcome to Fabric!

Boom, boom, boom would usually give away the existence of some sort of dance event or club in the vicinity of where you are, however, on arriving in Farringdon, the nearest “tube” station to the mythic Fabric in London, we realize that there is only one way to go- just follow the crowd. As we approach the club, we can’t hide our excitement- it has already been an amazing start to the evening and as we approach the club we are drunk with excitement! We see the 200 metre long cue of people going up the street and around the corner… Luckily we are able to benefit from the special guest list entrance and within minutes we are inside the legendary club. Boom, boom, boom… 12:30. Finally!

And here we are, inside this mythic club with its old brick walls and numerous labyrinth-like connecting staircases, which can easily leave you lost. We soon take refuge in the VIP lounge, quite strategically placed since it dominates the main floor with a balcony overlooking it, giving us a first insight into the ambiance of this evening.

The dance floor is quite full, without any superfluous lighting. We hear a well-sustained techno-electro by the American djette Magda (Ryan Hawtin’s protégé), who presents us with an excellent warm up to the evening. 

Before the arrival of Ricardo and Ritchie we decide to rummage through the other floors. As we make our way through the brick ridden enclosures, we pass crowds of people. Some are chatting, others just listening. But there is a very strong sense that people are generally projecting positive vibes. We start with the second floor where Craig Richards is performing a minimal electro house. A blue array of laser light accompanies the music breaking its way through the sporadic spurts of white smoke. The dance floor projects enough energy to compete with the crowd of the main floor, while we reluctantly tear ourselves away for a quick detour towards the third and last floor, where Bill Brewster offers us an electro-housy set in an intimate atmosphere.

It is time to go back to the main floor where the two friends, the Chilean Ricardo Villalobos and the Canadian Richie Hawtin are launching into a “ping-pong” marathon, which only they hold the secret to, in front of a packed audience. 

Right from the start the rhythm launches into a captivating tribal-tech. The public is seduced by the music. The atmosphere is exceptional. A smile is visible on almost all faces and the cries of joy accompany this techno already quite rich.   

The time passes and the tribal sounds slowly give their place to something more minimalist. The public continues to be receptive to the superb sounds and don’t seem to show any sign of weakness or fatigue. But us, yes, and it is around 5:30 that we leave to have a well deserved rest before our return to Switzerland.