The Kit Kat Klub at Kuala Lumpur's Sheraton Imperial Hotel hosted the one-off Nu Breed event organised by residents, Orbit RPM. Targeted at 'serious' clubbers, the night showcased Orbit's DJs and was a preview of future events at the club.
 

The Klub has been open for the past three months and is a marked improvement over its predecessor, the Atlantis Club. The gaudy, underwater themed décor that would have given an aquaphobe nightmares is gone, and has been replaced by a cleaner, more streamlined look. The venue's layout hasn't changed much, with the bar located immediately to the left of the entrance, a seating area to the right, and the raised stage/dancefloor is in the middle, with the DJ booth tucked in the far corner. There are also separate sections for a restaurant and martini lounge as well as a piano and cigar lounge.
 

A spanking new AV system and DJ setup has also been installed. The most notable addition to the AV rig are the large, almost cineplex-like double-decker video screens by the dancefloor where trippy visuals are projected -- something absent from most other clubs. Drinkers, however, will have to dig deep into their pockets because the drinks here don't come cheap, at RM55 for a jug of Carlsberg.

As the night began, Backroom veteran, Jeff, provided a heavy progressive soundtrack for a sparse crowd of smartly dressed twenty-somethings with cocktails in hand (and the odd older Caucasian man enjoying the company of a young woman). The club usually puts on cabaret and diva impersonation performances, but tonight was a departure from the usual treat of choreographed lip-synching and emoting, so divas decked out in feathered headgear and tiger-print bikinis sashayed around seductively, giving the impression of a place that could give you a grand old good time if you could afford it. As no one was ready to brave the raised dancefloor, hired professional dancers took to the stage while a few patrons gyrated near their seats.

Backslash, a junglist who seemed to have disappeared from the scene since the days of the drum n bass sessions at Ohm Private and Carbon made his return felt, laying down a brief mix of drum n bass stormers, assisted by MC Sam with his crowd hyping. It was a pity, though, that most present could not appreciate the helter-skelter beats, but the consolation is that there are plans to turn Thursdays into regular drum n bass affairs.

The crowd hyping continued with Limitededition, another ex-Backroom resident, returning to the progressive programme complete with MC and rather uniquely, live harmonica by Eric E. Those thinking about a new 'folk-prog' genre would be greatly mistaken, as the eerie sounds of the heavily reverbed harmonica hauntingly permeated the music.
 

By 2 a.m., the crowd had increased and trance DJ, Mr. Q, took over for the final set with his uplifting anthems and atmospheric breakdowns, prompting spontaneous arm raising and coaxing a number away from their seats -- the best response all night.
 
It's early days yet for Orbit and their crew of capable DJs at the Kit Kat Klub, but since the so-called Asian Heritage Row is nearby with a strip of upmarket bars and lounges like Bar Savanh, it will probably take a really high-profile event to draw in 'serious' clubbers. There are suggestions that Orbit will play host to other promoters who may bring superclub-branded events to this venue. With other established promoters considering the club for their own events, KL's core clubbers would be well advised to watch this space.

-Words + Pics: Keith, Kelvin

•Comment on this review!