REVIEW: Krystal Klear @ Village Underground, London

Photo Credits: @boltonmore

This weekend, I finally got the pleasure to see Krystal Klear at Village Underground, and he exceeded all expectations.

His set was phenomenal- a flawless blend of electric 80s and 90s fusion, underpinned by melodic house beats and powerful synths, which kept the dancefloor grooving until the early hours.

Funk, soul, and disco tracks set the tone for the beginning of the evening, a joyful welcome as the crowd began to fill the intimate room, before he switched it up a notch around midnight.

Krystal Klear has a rare ability to transform well-known classics into unprecedented masterpieces, layering tracks, such as Madonna’s Get into the Groove, with intense riffs to rework them into his own samples of art. A skill that not many artists can execute as gracefully as this rising star.

The venue, Village Underground, complimented the vibe of Krystal Klear’s set. Originally a Victorian coal store, the small warehouse allowed ravers to connect with the music, with the rare opportunity to watch Krystal Klear perform first-hand.

Throughout the set, his mischievous personality gleamed as he playfully teased the crowd with fragments of our favourite tracks, subtlety weaving the next tune into his mix. Playing way later than expected, he refused to finish his set until his masterwork was complete, ignoring staff who insisted that he stopped- disco’s loveable rogue.

All the while, Krystal Klear remained a true gentleman. Devilish and cheeky, yet so polite and innocent, his Irish charm had the whole crowd captivated and he was truly in his element.

I think any set that features Prince pulls on my heart strings, tapping into my personal prince obsession, but Krystal Klear’s timing was simply faultless. After an utterly relentless, grove-laden set, he chose to close the night with 80s classic, I Would Die 4 U, a heartfelt and impassioned Prince tune. The perfect way to round off a very special evening.

Krystal Klear has had a euphoric year. Following the release of Neutron Dance in 2018, the Dublin born DJ has well-deservedly established himself as a colossal figure in the nu-disco scene, placing his unique, yet distinguishable beats at the very heart of electronic dance music.

Friday night was truly remarkable and showcased this DJ’s raw talent and passion for music. The set was a tribute to all of Krystal Klear’s icons and influences, and it felt like a journey through his personal song library.

I can’t wait to catch Krystal Klear again soon.