It's that SAD time of year when the city goes quiet at night, the temperature drops and clubbers either slip into Seasonally Affected Disorders, or chill at home in preparation for a new round of Christmas and New Year parties.
But, it's also business as usual, with one city center club closing, another possibly moving and the superclub that could one day be the Ministry of Sound is still a dream under construction.
Eden's parting shot last Saturday was, fittingly, a Defected party with Simon Dunmore from the boundary-breaking UK record label laying down the wax. It was the last of three Defected parties at the club, which has now closed down until Christmas, when a relaunch can be expected. Clubs have obviously caught onto the fact that the only guarantee of a full house is a first-night party.
Defected's previous gig at Eden was perhaps the bar's biggest moment, when two of the guys from Defected's Liquid People were stopped in mid-flow by the cops, for an infraction that was said to be chemical in nature. Rather than risk causing an international incident, the pair was sent back home on the first plane that morning.
Also, last Saturday, at 2nd Floor, Konkrete Jungle pulled in a good local crowd, with drum n' bass getting a groove on upstairs, while local DJ Joe Ho was the critic's choice in the main arena, for his attempt to add a little oxygen into the tired ticky techno sound that nobody in the world enjoys any more, except perhaps in Kaohsiung and the emerging dance music market of Tikrit, Iraq. Joe wound in some tunes that borrowed heavily from DJ Tiesto, making the Taipei trance sound more melodic and lilting, rather than brutal and rhythmically as interesting as a metronome.
Rumors that 2nd Floor is on the move are circulating at the moment and the environmental protection people have been complaining about noise. But, for now, it will remain as a feeder club for new talent, management say. On the horizon is 2nd Floor's double CD compilation, with bonus VCD, that features big anthems from the past two years and will be released through Avex.
In Neihu, the Ministry of Sound building is nearly completed and there are tentative plans for a December start-up. Only bureaucracy stands in way, it appears, but this can be a formidable challenge and it could be that the club will not open its doors until the new year.
The Grand Hyatt Taipei's nightclub Ziga Zaga on Saturday hosted a grand re-opening that attracted various local celebrities, most of whom were upstaged by their Hong Kong counterparts, according to Chinese-language newspaper reports. Singapore style guru Eddie Halim led the dance, but it was a case of being seen rather than heard. The music was awful and if Ziga Zaga really wants a reputation for being a sophisticated club, like say Buddha Bar in Paris, then it must give aural pleasure.
Tomorrow, Rollin' is back with another of its "fun-kiest parties for the fun-kiest people." This time around, says promoter DJ Rich, the party theme is your five senses. Surprise sensory experiences are guaranteed and since Rich says sex is the sixth sense, we are prepared to be blown away. DJs from round the world include DJ Philism, Dr Who and Phifty-phive, joined by VJ Dan Form. It all takes place at Siro.
More music for beating hearts: "Lazy Sunday coffee with DJ Coffey" is the first fundraising event for St. Ann's Home orphanage in Tienmu. There will be a rummage sale and afternoon tea at Citizen Cain on Sunday, from noon to 9pm. Donations of clothing, books, housewares, etc, can be dropped off on Saturday night, or early Sunday. There will be three set menus for afternoon tea, priced at NT$180.
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