If you hear of Rusty Egan curating and playing an electronica DJ set then go listen! Co-founder of London's legendary Blitz Club, this British-Irish DJ is an icon of the UK and European Electronic Café scene. He also says that he discovered Madonna down the round at Koko, and counts both Midge Ure and Glen Matlock amongst his former band mates when he played drums with 70's New Wave quartet Rich Kids. Egan has been in GQ Magazine and Forbes, has his own albums, as well as now having an autobiography to his name, and has also featured at the Design Museum's Blitz exhibition

Indeed, Rusty shaped and styled the 80’s New Romantic movement and has stayed in the music scene until the present day. Consequently, he so knows about the music business and he’s played to Royalty too! So tonight I grabbed the opportunity to sample his sounds. As did the swaying appreciative audience - more mature - less showy and stylish than a Saturday night at the Blitz, but nonetheless, there, listening intently and loving Egan’s sound mix and audio visuals. Where Rusty scores for me is that he is a musician and loves his beats, so if he mixes any music and segues it into the next track, you know it’s gonna be class. This evening Rusty well and truly brought his brand of club scene to Camden for this special night.

A special shout out also to sound engineer Tamara Sterle, who enhanced Egan’s sound so that it was super crisp, as well as that of Tiny Magnetic Pets, who followed afterwards. A founder of the Electronica techno scene, as well as his knowledge of Soul and 80’s music too, Rusty enthusiastically champions Electronica groups like Tiny Magnetic Pets, who you knew would be a class act, when they flew in especially to London from Dublin for a tonight's gig. Indeed, Egan mixed their very first track.

However, this trio have their own backstory. Named after the Japanese toy, influenced by Bowie’s Berlin period, their music produces shades of 70’s Krautrock, Proto-Disco, Electronica Synth 80’s style and beyond. They were the main support to OMD on their 20-date UK Ireland tour in 2007 and also on their 2019 German tour as well. In 2019 the band also toured extensively in the UK and Europe as support to Midge Ure. Their sound is melodic, tuneful Pop in orientation and not hard edged. They are simply great to listen to and watch.

The beautiful, bubbly blonde Paula Gilmer obviously had a ball on vocals, as well as her infectious energy that got the crowd going. Meanwhile, Seán Quinn was superb on synth with Eugene Somers moody and melodic on drums, keeping the tight synth beat. Set wise this was an Electronica meets Pop edged treat, including 'Lost My Guiding Light', 'Not Giving In', 'Low Places', 'Modern World', the rousing 'Here Comes The Noise', 'We Shine', 'Echoes' and 'Semaphore'.

Despite their name, I wasn’t in a low place at all listening to Tiny Magnetic Pets! With Gilmer being playful on stage as well as their combined electronic exuberance, tonight had me yearning for more gigs and a new album offering too. Tiny Magnetic Pets - you ain’t so tiny at all. This London based lass loved you!

Review, photos and video: Denise Lester