This season Defected's Hannah Thomas will be bringing you weekly updates direct from Ibiza.
Once again, my week’s partying programme kicked off at Amnesia, a club that, as far as I can make out, doesn’t seem to have been hugely affected by the strikingly apparent lull on the island. Although not quite as busy as last week’s opening, Tuesday night’s Together still had over 3,500 shufflers through the doors; the San An faithfuls arriving in their droves to worship yet another eclectic line-up of the DJ elite. In fact, I can’t think back to a time when I’ve ever seen an Ibizan club so rammed so early. By half midnight, the post Pukka Up boat party massive were sweating it out en masse to the sounds of Gorgon City – a wave of seafaring torsos, that unsurprisingly after a daylong free bar, was swaying with gusto to the likes of Breach’s ‘Jack’. Amusing to say the least.
Overall, the less dubstep and more house orientated line-up was always going to be a little more up my street than last week, and I have to say that I felt a mixture of relief and intrigue when I found out I was looking after Gorgon City, Magnetic Man, Ben Pearce and Eats Everything in the main room.
It was the first time I’d seen Skream play since his sudden and well documented switch to the housier side of life and I did wonder what was in store. Skream and Artwork, alongside their overwhelmingly charming and down to earth MC SGT Pokes took centre stage whilst Benga was nowhere to be seen in the DJ booth. And whilst there were some distinct UK garage flavours as Skream dropped RIP Grooves’ ‘Double 99’, the trio’s set was a decidedly house affair; Infinity’s ‘Infinity Ink’ being perhaps the most obvious indicator of their musical direction. Needless to say, the crowd were lapping it up.
Sandwiched between Magnetic Man and Eats Everything, I felt Ben Pearce was a little drowned out – his showcase of his more subtle productions style, coupled with his more reserved stage presence perhaps not obvious and bass driven enough for the tanked up crowd.
Unsurprisingly though, Eats Everything absolutely killed it, for the crowd and me both, when he dropped Hannah Wants and Lorenzo’s ‘Teardrop On the Fire’. It was a faultless set again from the Bristolian, exemplifying what can only be described as a technical mastery behind the decks and talent for engaging with his crowd. I just love the way he so obviously loves what he does; an attitude which was made even more apparent when he asked us whether he could play on for longer!
I promise I shall bring tales from elsewhere for my next instalment but it would be criminal if I didn’t at least mention the week’s most talked about night on the island which saw Marco Carola and Loco Dice go back to back on the Terrace at Amnesia. Once again, Music On was absolutely rammed (almost uncomfortably so) until gone 8 in the morning. The music was nothing short of relentless and the atmosphere electric, but a little part of me would have preferred Carola and Dice to play separately as I felt their set lacked the musical journey Carola’s usually takes. Nevertheless, what felt like a workers’ big night out was a truly special one – the only real downside being I felt way too jaded to head to El Row the following evening. I felt seriously jealous when I heard tales of an epic set from Laurent Garnier, inflatable toy wars and an after party where camels brought round ‘bumps in their humps’. Only in Ibiza!
Beach wise this week, I ventured to the east of the island to Cala Nova, an unspoilt beach around the headland just a 10 minute walk north of the grottier beach of Es Cana. The surrounding scenery is really quite dramatic there; the long arc of golden sand and blissfully turquoise waters offset by a rustic backdrop of rocky red cliffs and pine-clad hills. I was surprised to see some healthy waves for once as well- in actual fact it’s one of the only beaches on the island where it’s possible to surf. It’s also definitely worth paying Punta Verde a visit; a cute family run chiringuito at the northern end of the bay where I was served a gigantic plate of grilled squid, salad and chips. I most definitely felt surfed, stuffed and sun whipped on the picturesque drive back to Talamanca via Cala Llonga.
I also made a concerted ‘effort’ this week to check out some local bars in Ibiza Town. If it’s a relatively cheap beer you’re after whilst watching the world go by, head to Café Sunset, an uber chilled bar located the corner of my favourite square, the Plaza del Parc ,just outside the North-West side of Dalt Vila between the ancient fortifications and the Passeig Vera del Rey. Careful though, as time really does pass you by there. Our ‘quick quiet drink’ turned quickly into a six hour stint. And, just around the corner tucked just behind the old towns walls at the top of Carrer Des Portal Nou is the super cute tapas bar, ‘S’Esclinata. Its giant bean bags, rustic fare and picturesque setting making it a blissful and much needed place to collapse and feed.
Until next week… xx
Defected presents Loco Dice In The House is out 21st July - order from iTunes
This week there are two Defected opening parties; Defected In The House at Booom! with Disclosure (DJ set) on Saturday 13th and Defected at The Tower with Frankie Knuckles Monday 15th - click for full line-up details
