Womb

Two of the UK’s leading progressive house DJs will wing through town over the next week, offering a taste of the latest grooves that may have been heard this summer in Ibiza.

This Saturday, Dave Seaman of Renaissance fame will mount the pulpit at Liquid Room for another installment in Tokyo’s own series of Renaissance parties. One of England’s most hardworking DJs, Seaman has been a Renaissance resident alongside stars Sasha & Digweed since the party’s beginnings in the 90s. Also one half of the Brothers In Rhythm duo-known for their house anthems and production work for artists such as Kylie Minogue-Seaman was interestingly also the first editor of Mixmag, one of the UK’s pioneering clubbing magazines.

At Liquid Room, Seaman will be in good company on the decks with former The Ocean resident DJs Yoda and DJ19 providing backup, while local Australian tech-house mixmaster Jaybee will be funking things up in the lounge.

Next Saturday, meanwhile, will see Ed Real heading things up at Womb in Shibuya for Womb x Protocol presents Riot. The force behind the rise of Nukleuz Records to one of the UK’s top house imprints, Real-still in his mid-20s-has established himself as one of the country’s most sought-after DJs. A resident DJ at the Nukleuz parties at London’s club Crash, Real has forged a reputation for his ability to deftly mix anything from disco and house onto techno and trance. Along with partner Nick Sentience, Real also produced the hard house anthem “Purple Twilight” championed by that arbiter of taste, BBC DJ Pete Tong.

At Womb, Real will be joined by Protocol resident Taka, a DJ who has proved himself in many an after-hours set in Tokyo before taking his act to London and countries from Croatia to New Zealand. Taka will also be joining Real on a nationwide tour…

Turning to clubbing news, a big new entrant to Tokyo’s club scene has launched in the trendy district of Daikanyama near Shibuya, adding to the growing number of clubs in the area. Tucked underneath stylish CafEFrames, Air swung open its doors the last weekend of September, with a series of events featuring star Japanese DJs such as Ken Ishii, Captain Funk, Towa Tei. With a capacity of several hundred, a clean, uncluttered lounge bar, roomy dancefloor and world-class sound system, Air looks set to take its place among the city1s top clubs. Promoters Global Hearts1 Minoru Oaku says they have already booked techno high priest, DJ Roger Sanchez for Nov 22 and 24, and are working to prepare a lineup of strong talent both overseas and domestic.

Renaissance@Liquid Room, 10/20, 11pm, “3500 (adv), “4000 (door). Tel: 3200-6831. www.liquidroom.net

Womb x Protocol presents Riot@Womb, 10/27, 10pm, „3500, w/2d. Tel: 5459-3939. www.womb.co.jp 


Air: Hikawa Bldg, 2-11 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 5784-3386. Info: Global Hearts 5738-9110.