Celebrating birthdays in Ibiza is a bit like adding another participant at "open-minded" night spot Beverly in Port des Torrent – nice but not strictly necessary. There’re so many people getting it on in August that the White Isle is literally writhing with party traffic.
Cream @ Amnesia - August 11, 2005
The weekend just been saw much moresome fun. Starting on Thursday (August 11) Cream creamed themselves at Amnesia for the 10th year running with the kind of line up that makes the whole world sit up and take notice - Paul van Dyk, Tiësto, Mylo, Jacques Lu Cont, Annie Mac, Gareth Wyn, NU NRG and Touche all touched down.
Cream @ Amnesia - August 11, 2005
Cream @ Amnesia - August 11, 2005
Cream @ Amnesia - August 11, 2005
Cream @ Amnesia - August 11, 2005
When we popped in van Dyk was generating the happy ravey atmosphere that has seen them attract younger fans who have in their turn become part of more than a decade’s worth of high achievement.
Jack the [unt (above) had obviously taken
Radio 1 recorded Tiësto’s set for broadcast and kept up the mum-pumping pressure with a beach party on Friday at Mambo in San An, featuring David "Because I'm Famous" Guetta and Timo Maas overseen by Pete Tong.
Radio One @ Mambo - August 12, 2005
“Tonight you’ve got a few different options like Pure Pacha and Manumission’s Ibiza Rocks at Privilege, but tomorrow night the only place to be is Space,” intoned Tong, effectively washing the brains of the impressionable club tourists massed in front of him.
The Manumission crew had probably barely recovered from Monday’s exertions and their 11th birthday of the Friday before but their insomniac public will not be denied. Especially not when rave band extraordinaire Faithless are headlining in the main room.
Ibiza Rocks @ Privilege - August 12, 2005
Ibiza Rocks @ Privilege - August 12, 2005
Maxi Jazz (above), Sister Bliss and cohorts are undeniably masters at inducing spine-tingling euphoria. They’ve got three or four tunes that will be dance floor megaton bombs as long as there are sound systems to play them. They’re rumoured to be splitting up and if this proves to be the case they will bow out as world beaters.
Ibiza Rocks @ Privilege - August 12, 2005
Talking to Ibiza Spotlight after the conclusion of Faithless’ performance, Ibiza Rocks and loyal Beeb man Zane Lowe (right, with the mic) said “Tonight’s just been incredible. This is the first night we’ve had the main room open as well. People were incredibly energised after their show. They’re looking for something else and we’ve got that.”
“That” was the Music Box. Appearing at 4am were the Futureheads, the all-singing indie quartet from Sunderland, UK, personally sequestered by Lowe for the debut Ibiza Rocks season.
Known for ‘Decent Days and Nights’, ‘A to B’, a cover of ‘Hounds of Love’ by Kate Bush and now front man Barry Hyde’s criminally boofy haircut (below), their rapid-fire delivery and chiming guitars gave their chanting fans exactly what they were looking for.
the Futureheads @ the Music Box - August 12, 2005
Zane too is an avowed crowd pleaser and gives a Balearic-ly bonafide definition of his dj style: “[My tunes are] a mix between current contemporary hits, some interesting newer stuff and real classics. It’s almost like a Sherpa Tenzing theory you know - you can’t climb Everest with just one person. The hits enable the newer songs to break through. It’s a student bar philosophy, mixed with a bit of Heavenly Social back in the day when people would play Public Enemy next to Chemical Brothers, next to Bob Dylan. I’m just looking for the right vibe, the right mood. I’m not looking to necessarily play the hottest shit at the same tempo. I’m just looking to keep people happy.”
What was the process for choosing/booking the bands this year at Ibiza Rocks?
Zane Lowe: We had a wish list, me and Andy [McKay], and it was a case of trying to work out who was available. Andy asked my opinion, I gave him a selection and he contributed some bands which he thought might work. We got about seventy per cent of what we wanted. Most bands don’t need much convincing to come to Ibiza. They’ve just spent the last two years travelling round the world playing the same style venues so then to come to a beautiful island and sit in sunshine and swim and play a gig at three in the morning is dreamboat.
And the djs?
I chose [Paul] Epworth and Andy chose the rest.
What makes a band suitable for Ibiza?
Someone with some soul, someone who’s making music that you can shake your arse to. And all those bands can. It’s the first year so it’s early days but ultimately it will work. It’s gonna become a staple part of this island and that’s what we’re looking for.
The Guardian says you’ve been “lauded for helping to restore Radio 1's battered reputation and stabilise falling listening figures”. Was that in the job description?
No. That’s a compliment but it’s also kind of an insult. It’s a lovely thing for the Guardian to say personally, but obviously being a patriotic BBC employee, I’m not sure they had a “battered reputation”. But I’ll take it.
What’s it like to be back in Ibiza?
Great man. I came here about six or seven years ago with my wife for the first time, it was our first ever holiday together before we were married. It was horrible. We were on a package deal and it was not what I expected. So it was nice to come back and have some work to do and get looked after by such great people. We’ve been getting the royal treatment man, it’s been brilliant. I’ve also added another date which is next Friday with the Audio Bullys. Me and the Bullys made a pact – you do it, I’ll do it – so I’m locked in. It’s a profitable holiday actually. It’s the first time I’ve ever gone away and made money.
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Whether number two on the Ibiza Rocks bill, Goldfrapp, merit their price tag is a point much mooted by their fans, disappointed by another no show.
Instead we got relative unknowns the Kooks from Brighton, who looked better that the ‘Heads but whose songs were less familiar resultingly in a correspondingly lessened crowd reaction. However their superior styling (see below) is likelihood to see them pull ahead of their compatriots in the long run.
a Kook @ the Music Box - August 12, 2005
The last half of the weekend belonged to Space. If there was any doubt in the minds of the Radio 1 programmers that their audience is still receptive to club music then it must have been dispelled by the daunting scenes at entrance to the famous Playa d’en Bossa club. A queue the entire length of the venue awaited all those not in possession of an internet ticket available exclusively from this site.
Radio 1 @ Space - August 13, 2005
Inside on the refurbed terrace Laurent Garnier was bewitching all present with his arty yet danceable brand of techno.
Further inspection revealed Above & Beyond (below) were entertaining those with a penchant for whooshy trance played over the discoteca's futuristic sound system.
Radio One @ Space - August 13, 2005
Radio 1 @ Space - August 13, 2005
A mere two hours after that lot were swept out with the broken glass and mislaid mobile phones We Love turned the key in Space's ignition for another Sunday drive.
This has been happening for sixteen years since progenitor Pepe Rosello (left) decided he’d use all the experience gained importing contraband tunes and open up a place to play them very loudly and gain them the maximum response possible. This fiendishly uncomplicated approach has gained him the accolade of the best in the business numerous times.
We Love Space - August 14, 2005
Señor Rosello was of course there but graciously dedicated the occasion to us punters, professional and hot amateurs alike.
We Love Space - August 14, 2005
After a heartfelt wave of applause 2ManyDjs (above) took to the decks for a set that showed their mastery of big room environments. They launched the discoteca into the stratosphere on their first performance for We Love back in June and then pulled off the same trick with an energy-laden set that incorporated everything from Primal Scream to classic electronica by way of the Jive Bunny mastermix.
We Love Space - August 14, 2005
C’mon everybody!
Also starring Jeff Mills, Dan Ghenacia, Smokin' Jo, Tiga, Tim Sheridan, Paul Woolford and Mr Muscles, AKA Bob Sinclar (below).
We Love Space - August 14, 2005