It's not a very promising prospect. An old rowing club in the arse end of nowhere named after a blues singer. Is the Robert Johnson really one of the best techno clubs in the world?

After a 15-minute walk from the nearest train station, through the deserted suburb of Offenbach, you might very well wonder what could be so special as to drag people so far from electronic civilisation. And once you get inside the venue, at 131 Nordring, you might still be underwhelmed.

There really isn't anything to mark this down as one of the best nightclubs in the world until they crank the soundsystem. Sound bores are always banging on about how loud music doesn't have to be damaging to the ears if the system is set up right, and the Robert Johnson is the best proof of that we've come across.

But the sound isn't the only thing that the Robert Johnson has got going for it. The lack of glamour, the difficulty getting there and a great booking policy means that it draws a great crowd of music lovers. Across the lake Sven Väth's Cocoon might be trendier, but the Robert Johnson is the place that the underground seek out.

The enthusiasm for the music shines through, but that's not to say it's a geekfest. Models and hipsters rub shoulders with older clubbers and everything rolls on until the crowd gets worn out or wanders off, meaning that nights can close anytime from 5am until past midday.

This year the club, which is owned by Playhouse label boss Ata, has launched its own mix series. But in typical Robert Johnson style they asked their residents - Chloé, Prins Thomas, Liquid and Ivan Smagghe - to represent them.

Chloé described the Robert Johnson experience as "a night where it doesn't matter where you come from, what you normally listen to and what scene you belong to".

As important as the residents clearly are to the Robert Johnson, it hasn't stopped the club attracting the best names out to the suburbs. In the last couple of months Moodymann, Richardo Villalobos, Pilooski and Magda have all made their way to Offenbach.