If, like me, you can't be arsed with all the cleaning, cooking, inviting, vomit in your sinks and pi**ed off neighbours it's usually a good idea to go to someone else's party at his time of year and that's exactly what I did when I took myself off to Birmingham for Godskitchen's xmas party.

Headlining the main Oxygen room was Armin Van Buuren who was ably supported by Judge Jules and GK resident Mark Eteson

Mark Eteson was playing when we arrived and it's the first time I've ever seen him doing his stuff. to say I was impressed would be an understatement.

The first thing I noticed though was the big grin all over his face.. What a pleasure it is to see someone enjoy their work so much and what a pleasure it was to hear one great tune after another being dropped and mixed so effortlessly.

When the World's top DJs start to use an up and coming DJs tunes and mixes you know something special is going on.. Paul van Dyk championed 'Atlantic' ahead of its release on Monster Tunes, and Judge Jules and Dave Pearce gave Mark's remix of Darren Style's 'Dropzone' support on their respective BBC Radio 1 shows.

I'm not alone in predicting big things in the future for this guy. Definitely get to see him if you can; I, for one, am hoping to see more of him in 2007. www.myspace.com/marketeson

Judge Jules did the business as you'd expect. This man knows what pleases a crowd and exactly how to give it to them. He is also the most diligent DJ when it comes to keeping his website up to date: http://www.judgejules.net

And then there was Armin Van Buuren

Armin has been in the top 3 in the DJ List top 100 for 3 years running now and it's easy to understand why when you hear him play. You can get his set from this event on the internet and it's well worth your trouble to do so.

You'll enjoy it I assure you, but what you won't get is the atmosphere of being there on the night. From the first opening notes of 'Good for Me' to the end of 'Feel So Good' this was a set to die for and the crowd loved it.

Up in the top room (Carbon Lounge) Simon Forestiero and Duncan Murray were playing some of the funkiest tunes I've heard in a club for a long time. I kept popping up for a dance. someone really shoulda stopped me though cos I dance like your dad!! www.myspace.com/got2befunkydotcom

So far, so good, everything was exactly as expected; top DJ's and fabulous music and a club packed to capacity with sweaty clubbers having a great time.

Then I wandered into the Nitrogen lounge and found MYNC Project on the decks. I'd never seen them before so I thought I'd hang about for a bit and see what all the fuss was about. I'd been told to make sure I checked them out and that I'd be glad I did.

Well I was!

For those of you not familiar with these guys they are Mark Brown and Nick Corelli and they've playing together for about 8 years now.

Using 4 decks and 2 mixers they somehow manage to pump out the most eclectic mix of tunes I think I've ever heard.. Check out this list and you'll see what I mean; these are just some of the tunes they regularly drop into the mix.

Journeyman Djs - Shelleys, Mika- Grace Kelly (Tom Neville mix) , The Bump (tonight only remix) FreeForm 5 - No More Conversations (Switch mix) The Gossip - Standing in the way of control (Headman mix) Robbie Williams - Lovelight (Soulwax Ravelight dub) Mike Monday - What day is it (Mark O'Sullivan remix) Para One - Dun dun a dun (MSTRKRFT remix) The Rapture - Whoo Hoo Yeah Alright (Simian Mobile Disco remix) Kiko Navarro - Siempre (Jimpster Remix) Franz Shape - Maximum Joy (Francisco dub) Tracy Thorn - Its all true (Ewan Pearson) SupaFly inc - Movin too Fast (MYNC remix) Dj Jeroenski Aka Another Dutch Guy - Back Once Again Chemical Bros - Electronic Battle weapon 9, Simian Mobile Disco - Tits n Acid

This is underground house at it's very finest and the room was loving it!

Having said that it's hardly surprising when you consider their backgrounds in the music business. As A&R man for for Credence Records (part of EMI) Mark was responsible for signing Fedde le Grand's 'Put Your Hands Up For Detroit' which has been a massive hit all over the world (personally I was thoroughly sick of it by the end of September!) and he currently runs Cr2 Records whilst Nick has his own club in Loughborough called Rapture http://www.dontstayin.com/uk/loughborough

They have reworked TV Rock, Danny Howells, Narcotic Thrust, Bush II Bush and in October delivered their finest remix to date - a re-work of Detroit classic 'Pennies From Heaven' by Kevin Saunderson's Inner City. Virgin Records and Saunderson will use it as the A-Side / Radio Edit for the record's re-release, due to the incredible response.

They've appeared on Radio 1's Essential Mix (twice). Creamfields, Amnesia in Ibiza, Coastline, The Cross, DJ'd for Kylie Minogue and the Kill Bill after party and had extremely successful tours in Australia, Asia, South Africa, Serbia, Ukraine and Germany.

Highly recommended is their 'United Nations of House' compilation on Cr2 Records . http://www.myspace.com/cr2records

There is more; much more, I could say about these guys, but I suggest you get yourself along to one of their gigs. You will not be disappointed.

Ian Russell

Official Site - http://www.godskitchen.com

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