The Hacker & Speedy J, Pressure, The Arches, Jan 27

Deep in the heart of an underground club where the walls are stale with sweat and drink, French electronic maestro The Hacker corrupted the crowd with an equally dirty live set. Playing tunes from his cryptic album 'Reves Mecaniques', The Hacker's unique blend of twisted techno and electroclash made clubbers lose control in true Pressure style. Songs like Flesh and Bone featuring Perspects, invited clubbers to revel along to throbbing, filthy baselines, while at the same time losing themselves in velvet vocals. This contrast of pure and limpid electro and techno, along with welcoming dreamlike themes meant sounds were freakishly futuristic but also very danceable. Joining The Hacker on the night were other heavyweights like Derrick Carter, Slam and a full-on live set from Speedy J, producing a blistering line up from all ends of the dance music spectrum. This month's Pressure was, as always a dance party gone beautifully mad. [Marj Walters]