If they were trying to test out the soundproofing of the brand-new Vortex Jazz Club in Dalston, they could hardly have picked a better band than the transformed Acoustic Ladyland. This British quartet takes its name from its Jimi Hendrix inspirations, but has preferred subtle explorations of the guitarist's thematic talents to taking on his blasting energy levels. Until now, that is. On the historic opening night of the Vortex's new premises at Gillett Square in Dalston on Tuesday, Acoustic Ladyland exploded into a rapturously noisy collision of punk, drum'n'bass, rock'n'roll, Albert Ayler and Pharoah Sanders, in a set that was reminscent of cult 80s UK fusion band Pinski Zoo. Drummer Seb Rochford, famously a deliberate, understatedly swinging performer, often sounded like a 21st century Ginger Baker.

The music was probably not typical of what will usually be played at the Vortex. But Rochford, saxophonist Pete Wareham, keyboardist Tom Cawley and bassist Tom Herbert stopped at nothing in their single long set, with Wareham's guttural tenor sax wailing in a maelstrom formed by thunderously subtle, or subtly thunderous drumming, growling basslines and electronic effects that veered from hypnosis-rhythm tickings to hurricane sounds.

With a few breaks for indecipherable announcements, the band hammered through raunchy tenor licks over rumbling drum'n'bass sounds, trancelike dancefloor hooks blurring into free-sax howls, power-chord rock, briefly dreamy episodes for soft horn-playing, jingly keys and Rochford's lazy slow-funk pulse, and a Coltranesque lament. On this evidence Acoustic Ladyland will be one of the big stories of 2005. And welcome to the new Vortex, a story of resourcefulness and determination in itself.

· At Pizza Express Jazz Club, London W1, tonight. Box office: 020-7439 8722.