If it’s true that wine gets better with age, then we can apply the very same about Tom Novy. Hip, wild, and definitely a shit-starter who knows how to rock a mean party, Tom seems to be getting ’loco’-er whereas most DJs’ passion embark to fade away and we get to see the image behind the icon. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him in Windsor, and it was one of the most memorable clubbing nights Boom Boom Room nightclub has experienced, full of energy and wicked tunes. Mr. Novy is the featured artist in DanceTrippin’s latest webcast.

Tom Novy – Live at Space

Aktualnie dostępne są wybrane sety z sobotniej imprezy z obydwu scen, sety będą sukcesywnie uzupełniane, zachęcamy do ściągania!

Sunrise Festival 2009

Piątek 24.07.2009 (wkrótce)

The Ring (wszystkie sety wkrótce)

Matush
Mark Mendes
Robert M
Hernan Cattaneo
Funkerman
Sebastien Leger
Benjamin Bates presents Bates45
Eddie Thoneick
Toxic Noiz

The Cube (wszystkie sety wkrótce)

Fafaq
Jochen Miller
W&W
Rank 1
ATB
Sander van Doorn
Johan Gielen
Simon Patterson
@lex

Sobota 25.07.2009

The Ring:

Levy (wkrótce)
Muzzaik
Cez Are Kane
Bart B More
Etienne de Crecy (wkrótce)
Joachim Garraud (wkrótce)
Fergie
Francesco Diaz
Karol XVII & MB Valence (wkrótce)

The Cube

Sasha Dubrovsky (wkrótce)
Sound Players (wkrótce)
Marcus Schossow
Ferry Corsten
Marco V
Eddie Halliwell (wkrótce)
John O’Callaghan (wkrótce)
Sean Tyas (wkrótce)
Jay Bae (wkrótce)

Niedziela 26.07.2009

Afterparty (wszystkie sety wkrótce)

Maxx
Tommy
Novy
T.M
Bartes
Neevald
Jerry Ropero
Tom Novy
Miqro
Maiqel

Sunset Music Awards (wszystkie sety wkrótce)

Inox & Vivka
Diabllo
Gregory feat. Kostek
DJ W feat. Sebastian S
Bryan Kearney
Kris
B2B

Smrť je bránou do nového života, iného “tela”, cestou k šťastiu duše. Kresťanská tradícia nás nenecháva v pochybnostiach: smrť je čosi konečné. Národy Východu však vedia, že smrť je len “zmenou šatu” a že sa znova vraciame na Zem v novom tele. 0 tom sú presvedčení aj mystici všetkých čias…
Tibetskí lámovia, ktorí bežne dokážu vystúpiť zo svojho tela, to vedia celkom iste…
Keď sa blíži smrť, organizmus človeka je pripravený: spúšťa procesy znecitlivenia. Takto je smrť sama osebe bezbolestná. Nanajvýš z nejakého dôvodu bolí telo. Ale postupne aj jeho funkcie zaniknú a aj ono prestane bolieť. Keď pľúca prestanú pumpovať vzduch, srdce biť, mozog zomiera a po ňom zvyšok tela. Tento proces trvá asi tri dni. Keby sme mali vyvinuté “tretie oko”, mohli by sme vidieť nezvyčajný jav: človek naposledy vdýchne a vtedy sa pomaly nad jeho telom začína formovať obláčik. Pláva v podobe striebornej šnúry, zvyčajne z okolia pupka.Hustne a naberá tvar tela, ktoré opúšťa a vzápätí sa nad ním začne vznášať. Táto strieborná šnúra spája fyzické telo s astrálnym (obláčik). Postupne sa stáva čoraz tenším až nakoniec zmizne. Až vtedy je fyzické telo mŕtve a “hmla”, čiže naše vedomie alebo duša, “odletí” do iného života.

Takmer všetky kultúry sa zhodujú v tom, že mŕtveho treba pochovať až po troch dňoch a mnohé národy dokonca po celý tento čas mŕtveho strážia. Rozhovory pri truhle, žiaľ, zúfalstvo a plač či nepotrebný pohyb vzďaľujúca sa duša pociťuje ako bolesť prechádzajúceho chladu. Po uvedenom čase duša pokojne odíde a dostáva sa do iných sfér. To, čo sa deje potom, opisujú rôzne kultúry odlišným spôsobom, hoci princíp je rovnaký: “súdny deň”, komnata spomienok, film minulého života, súdna stolica, sebahodnotenie a podobne. Napríklad v tibetskej tradícii nik nikoho nesúdi, iba človek sám, čo je najprísnejší sudca. Človek vidí akýsi “film svojho života” jeho najdôležitejšie chvíle, pričom sa vciťuje aj do postavenie druhých osôb, ktorým povedzme ublížil: vníma a preciťuje to, čo si ony mysleli, čo cítili…

Povedané veľmi zjednodušene, potom duša postupuje na sebe vlastnú úroveň: znamená to, že na tú úroveň, na ktorú sa svojím myslením, konaním, cítením dostala. Po nevyhnutnom štádiu odpočinku “spánku” (ktorého dĺžka takisto záleží od duchovnej úrovne človeka) sa duša učí, čo urobila zle, čo nezvládla. Stretáva sa so svojimi duchovnými majstrami, ktorí jej radia, akú lekciu

musí absolvovať, aby získala skúsenosť a postúpila na vyšší stupeň v hierarchii dokonalosti. Podľa niektorých východných učení v tomto období je aj určené, či v novom vtelení má byť mužom, alebo ženou, v akých podmienkach má žiť, aby sa čo najviac naučila a dozvedela to, čo sa naučiť má. Podľa tibetskej tradície prichádzame na svet raz ako muži raz ako ženy podľa toho, akú lekciu máme spracovať, prebrať.

Po absolvovaní cyklu znovuzrodení už vieme, že sa sem nevrátime. Osoby, ktoré sú na Zemi poslednýkrát, majú zvyčajne ťažký život. Neuvedomujeme si, že sú to vlastne šťastní ľudia, ktorí trpia, aby sa očistili od karmických dlhov a očistili sa na ďalšiu cestu, na ktorej už nebudú musieť získavať skúsenosti prostredníctvom hrubohmotného tela. Lebo život pokračuje ďalej, po špirále…

Podľa spomínanej tradície takéto duše pri návrate do sveta tieňov dlhší čas odpočívajú, “obnovujú sa”, aby znova začali púť, ale už v inej skutočnosti, v inom rozmere. Tam, kde je bezpečne, teplo a dobre.

Prečo sa potom ľudia tak veľmi boja smrti, keď nás tam čaká pokoj, láska? Na druhej strane mnohí, ktorí sa rozhodnú pre odchod z tohto sveta vlastnou rukou, sú , presvedčení, že ich problémy a starosti smrť vyrieši. To vôbec nie je pravda. Vrodený strach pred smrťou núti človeka prežiť na Zemi to, čo mu je “zapísané”. Inak by jeho duchovný rozvoj nebol možný. Samovražda nič nevyrieši ani neurýchli. Samovrah sa bude na Zem vracať dovtedy, kým si neodrobí nezvládnutú lekciu, a to väčšinou za sťažených podmienok. Z tohto pravidla výnimky neexistujú. Samovražda je akt proti životu nielen telesnému, ale aj duchovnému.

Keď nadíde náš čas, nebojme sa smrti. Tam, na druhej strane, nás čakajú bytosti, ktoré nám chcú pomôcť. Boh nie je trestajúci ani pomstivý, iba my sme mu dali takéto ľudské prívlastky. Boh je láska, a preto každý, aj ten “najhorší” z nás, má šancu – ak zmení svoju nenávisť či túžbu po pomste, strach na lásku a súcit.

Po tom čo som sa ja dozvedel o duchovnom svete, prestal som sa báť.

Last November we had the wonderful opportunity to meet several people while attending Pinot Days in Chicago – one of whom was Adam Lee of Siduri Wines.  Since then we have brought some Siduri and Novy (their Syrah label) into Cafe le Grand and have been spreading the word about these great wines.  Today we had the absolute pleasure of meeting Adam & Dianna Lee at Siduri Wines in Santa Rosa.  Adam took a couple hours to show us around, share their story and thoughts on winemaking and wine drinking – and pour us several glasses from tank and barrel.

Ron & Loreen with Adam Lee of Siduri

( Adam asked that I explain his attire… see, we were his only tour today and he was headed to a Jimmy Buffet concert… apparently Jimmy Buffet is a huge wine guy and quite the fan of Siduri… so Adam was headed backstage to hang out with the band!)

Adam & Dianna’s story ( which is written about in detail on their very complete website  http://www.siduri.com/index.html ) starts in Texas, where they met at Neiman-Marcus.  Adam was the wine buyer while Dianna worked in the gourmet foods department.  Following a dream, they headed to California and in 1994 they launched Siduri wines.  Since this time they have specialized in vineyard designate Pinot Noir and Syrah (being bottled under the Novy label… named for Dianna’s maiden name).  They source grapes from specific sites from Oregon to the California Central Coast – seeking the true expression of the place… and doing a damn good job!  Some of their smaller projects include a dessert wine, a Nebbiolo and a Viognier.

Adam Lee pulling barrel samples

In tasting through all of the tank & barrel samples and hearing Adam’s passion was nearly the same message in a different medium.  Each wine was clearly a word, sentence or paragraph in liquid form.  We found the final blended wines to be very complete and very expressive, while the various blocks and clones were obviously a part of something bigger – something to be determined when the time is right – just a part or chapter from the complete story.  All in all it was an impressive display of what Adam thinks when putting together his wines.  The single vineyard wines, which are really the heart of their program were like great single works – expressive, complete on their own and specific to their intent.

Adam in the barrel room

Adam is not alone in this venture.  In addition to Dianna, he’s got the obvious invaluable and dedicated assistance of assistant winemaker Ryan Zepaltas, who we also had the pleasure of meeting.  In addition to helping out at Siduri, Ryan is also doing his own thing under the Zepaltas label (http://zepaltaswines.com/).  The other very cool thing about meeting Ryan is that he is from Eau Claire, WI.  Having this commonality (me having gone to UWEC) we chatted about WI and our favorite watering holes on Water Street.

Ryan Zepaltas supervising filtering of a special dessert wine

 I think it’s pretty clear that we had a great time tasting and talking with Adam and our thanks go out to their hospitality.  We strongly encourage you to seek out these wines – and we’d be more than willing to bring in anything from Siduri/Novy that you’d be interested in buying.

Thanks for checking out our blog and we look forward to seeing you at CLG – where we’re changing the way you look at wine!

Regards,

Ron

Mais um grande DJ está bookado para tocar na próxima festa do super clube Green Valley, em Camboriú, Santa Catarina. Desta vez a grande estrela do line-up é o DJ alemão Tom Novy, uma unanimidade entre os fãs de house music. A festa será no dia 11 de abril, sábado.

Persistência, solidez e e criatividade sempre pautaram o trabalho do alemão Tom Novy. DJ e produtor ele foi o autor de inúmeros hits e muitas vezes entrou nos charts britânicos a alemães nos últimos 8 anos. “Without Your Love” e “Your Body” chegaram no top 40 inglês.

Tom começou a produzir música em 1994 e desde então coleciona uma série de Eps, compilações e remixes sob sua assinatura. Ele foi o primeiro DJ alemão a gravar o mais do que tradicional CD mix Anual da Ministry of Sound junto ao mito Boy George.

Tom é definitivamente um produtor focado na house music, contudo seu trabalho na área de produção musical consegue fluir em outras direções. Um de seus mais comentados trabalhos foi junto ao produtor e cantor Louie Bega com um remix de Mambo #5 – considerado pela critica especializada como “melhor que a versão original”.

A faixa “Superstar” de sua autoria foi tida pela revista Raveline como uma “umas das 10 mais importante faixas de dance music da história”. Funkie é com certeza uma das melhores maneiras de se definir o trabalho de Tom.

“Comecei minha carreira em 1990 com Hip Hop, depois descobri o Techno, ultimamente minha paixão é o House Music. Tenho certeza que a música que amo hoje em dia é o resultado da fusão destes estilos. Carrego o groove do Hip Hop, com o peso do techno e a sensualidade e modernismo do House music”. Tom chegou ao 37° lugar nas paradas britânicas neste ano com a faixa “your Body”.

Além de Tom Novy o line-up da festa inclui o DJ paulista Mario Fischetti, residente da Green Valley, abrindo a pista para o DJ alemão. Depois da apresentação de Tom Novy quem assume o comando da trilha sonora é o DJ português Pete Tha Zouk.

O telefone de informações para o público é (47) 3360-8097. Para reserva de camarotes o telefone é (47) 9903-4303. A Green Valley fica à Rua Rio Mamoré, 1083 – Rio Pequeno – Camboriú – Santa Catarina. O site é www.greenvalleyart.br .

Os ingressos on line estão à venda através do site www.mariasticket.com.br.

Confira o flyer do evento:

Another Saturday in Paris, another MPA wine tasting.  This time around John and I decided to take advantage of our Christmas vacation back home in the States.  So we put together what was sure to be an intense, exciting, and potentially even a little bloody blind face off between French, American and Australian wine (3 syrahs and 2 gewurztraminers).

The inspiration was the famous (or infamous from the French perspective) “Judgment of Paris” blind tasting back in 1976.  The best wines of California were paired up against the best wines of France and to everyone’s bewiliderment the US came out on top.  The complete summary can be found at the very end of this blog.

In the case of the MPA Judgment of Paris there are many clear distinctions.  First our focus was on value-driven wines no more than 20 euros or 20 US bucks.  Second, we compared Alsace to California and the Northern Rhone Valley to California and Australia.  The original Judgment of Paris paired up California against Bordeaux, focusing only on the who’s who list of bottlings.

And voilà, however much it pains me to say it (sarcasm), France came out on top with a very classic Old World style syrah from Saint-Joseph in the Northern Rhone Valley.  Although, the only wine that really did not fair well was the Alsace Gewurztraminer.  Overall I was very happy with how all the other wines performed.  And a further look into the individual ratings shows interestingly enough that the Americans actually liked the French syrah even more than the French.

Of course this is all in good fun.  At the end of the day who the heck cares?!  If you really appreciate wine, then there’s no such thing as 1st, 2nd or 3rd, there’s only what you like.  So drink what you like and explore as many different wine types and regions as possible!

The MPA Breakdown…

1st Place – French Syrah
2007 Saint-Joseph, André Perret, 16,50 euros
Appellation: Saint Joseph, Vallé du Rhone Nord
Source: Lavinia, Paris
MPA 13.9 Rating: Very terroir driven nose with aromas of leather, dampness, smoke, honey and fresh earth.  A very, very smooth palate with a medium body, light tannins, balance and complexity.  There are flavors of blueberry, blackberry, chocolate.
Robin, “easy listening version of the Australian shiraz”
Genevieve, “Paris metro”
Alexandre, “mushrooms”
Xiaoya, “flowers and cheese”
Kenny, “distant red candy Starburt or Skittles on the very backend of the nose”
Tim, “grapes”
Joseph, “metallic smell, tasted like water was added”
Kenny’s 16 Rating: Aromas of wet forest, smoke and leather with distant red candy Starburt or Skittles on the very backend of the nose.  An acidic, medium-bodied palate with silky and subtle tannins and great balance.  There are flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate, and blueberries.

2nd Place – American Gewurztraminer
2007 Hook & Ladder Gewurztraminer, $17.99 USD
Appellation: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Source: Wine Vault, Columbus OH
MPA 12.5 Rating: Aromas of flowers, apple, lemon, and minerals.  Very effervescent and acidic palate; and also dry, complex and bitter.  Flavors of lemon, apple, pear and hot spice.
Robin, “petrol”
Sanj, “sense of terroir”
Miki San, “Tabasco”
Tim, “cane sugar”
Joseph, “drying pollinated leafs after rainfall”
Kenny’s 14 Rating: A subtle and acidic nose with a strong minerality, white pepper and mango.  A very effervescent, dry wine with flavors of lemon and orange.

3rd Place – American Syrah
2006 Novy Syrah, Novy Cellars, $20 USD
Appellation: Sonoma County, California
Source: Andersons, Columbus OH
Wine Spectator 90 Rating: This is notably peppery, but joined by fresh plum and wild berry fruit that’s supple, graceful, complex and spicy, gaining length and traction on the finish. Drink now through 2012. 1,385 cases made.
MPA 12.4 Rating: Aromas of earth, spice, cherries, plum, blackberries, port wine, black licorice, oak, pepper and minerals.  Full-bodied, acidic and sour with light tannins and a long finish.  There are flavors of chocolate, smoke, plum, blackberries, hot spice, vanilla, oak, and black licorice.
John, “unpleasant and sour”
Casey, “smells like dirt”
Xiaoya, “rubber”
Cynthia, “damp forest”
Kenny, “light barn nose and milk chocolate finish”
Miki San, “hot cocoa”
Kenny’s 15 Rating: Big alcohol on the nose with aromas of pepper, earth, light barn, black cherry and oak.  A full-bodied, acidic wine with velvety tannins and flavors of smoke, plums, blueberries, sour cherry and a milk chocolate finish.

4th Place – Australian Shiraz
2006 2 Up Shiraz, $14.99 USD
Appellation: McLaren Vale, Southern Australia
Source: Andersons, Columbus OH
Wine Spectator 87 Rating: Creamy and generous with its currant and rhubarb flavors, finishing with a grainy texture and pretty layers of fruit and spice. Drink now through 2012. 15,000 cases imported.
MPA 12.3 Rating: A very strong and alcoholic nose with aromas of blackberries, oak, plum, and seaweed.  An overwhelming, fruit forward, full-bodied, tannic palate with strong flavors of black cherry followed by plum, spice, licorice and vanilla.
Jeremy, “fish and leather jacket”
Xiaoya, “BBQ”
Kenny, “very fruiter”
Miki San, “Chinese herbal medicine”
Joseph, “rusty”
Kenny’s 15 Rating: Black fruit, subtle earth and cedar on the nose.  A very fruity and bitter, full-bodied wine.  There are flavors of blueberry, cherry, and lots of black licorice as well as a subtle background of citric zest.

5th Place – French Gewurztraminer
2007 Gewurztraminer, Willy Gisselbrecht, 10,50 euros
Appellation: Vin d’Alsace
Source: La Grande Epicerie, Le Bon Marché
MPA 11.6 Rating: Aromas of flowers, fig, peach, lychee, overripe fruit, and citrus.  Sweet, bitter, soft and unbalanced, with flavors of apple, flowers and honey
Robin, “a little cloying”
Sanj, “Elderflower”
Jeremy, “velvet honey”
Xiaoya, “cheese”
Miki San, “green apple Jolly Rancher”
Joseph, “candy bar”
Emmanuelle, “Mirabelle”
Kenny’s 13 Rating: Aromas of lychee, flowers and syrup.  An off-dry wine with flavors of spice, lime and lime peel, lychee, flowers, and apple.

Blind Pick Winner
Nick Holman (Cynthia’s husband) takes the prize, accurately guessing all 5 bottles and their respective country of origin.  John and I batted 1000 as well but naturally we’re disqualified from the fierce competition.

MPA Ratings…

The Judgment of Paris

The Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 or the “Judgment of Paris” was a wine competition organized in Paris on 24 May 1976 by Steven Spurrier, a British wine merchant, at that time revered by wine merchants and experts all across France.  The top French wine experts of the day were invited to participate in a blind tasting of the highest-quality chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon wines from France and California.  California wines rated best in every category, which caused surprise and utter bewilderment among the French critics as France was generally regarded as being the foremost producer of the world’s best wines.  The San Francisco Wine Tasting of 1978 soon followed as a rematch of the same wines and vintages and once again California wines rated better.  The 30th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris was held on 24 May 2006 with the same vintages and original panel of judges, plus an additional crew of new wine experts.  Once again the California wines stole the show.

30th Anniversary Results:

1st Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971
2nd Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973
3rd Mayacamas Vineyards 1971 (tie)
4th Heitz Wine Cellars Martha’s Vineyard 1970 (tie)
5th Clos Du Val Winery 1972
6th Château Mouton-Rothschild 1970
7th Château Montrose 1970
8th Château Haut-Brion 1970
9th Château Leoville Las Cases 1971
10th Freemark Abbey Winery 1967

Implications to the wine industry:

George M. Taber from Time magazine was the only reporter present at the original tasting in 1976, since no one took the event seriously, thinking that the California wines would be embarrassed.  Time immediately reported the results on a worldwide scale.  However, the tasting was not significant for the French press who virtually ignored the story for three months until Le Figaro published an article titled “Did the war of the cru take place?” describing the results as “laughable,” and said they “cannot be taken seriously.”  Six months after the tasting Le Monde wrote a similarly toned article.  For as much as a year after the tasting, leaders of the French wine industry banned Spurrier from the nation’s prestigious wine-tasting tour, and Mr. Spurrier was even ushered out of a few of France’s more prestigious wine estates.  Both countries are considered to have benefited from the tasting.  California wines gained international appreciation, boosting sales and production.  France further refined their winemaking practices, which some argue had become too habit driven as a result of so much history and tribal knowledge.

Two movies have been made about the tasting, “Bottle Shock” and “Judgment of Paris”, as well as a book, also titled “Judgment of Paris”, the latter two both authored by George Taber.

Criticism:

Naturally criticism abounds.  For starters some claim that the vintage selection was poor for the French wine.  However, when consulting vintage charts from US and French sources, both countries have very comparable vintage ratings within the timeframe in question.  Additional critics state that it’s unfair or rather irrelevant to compare French wines to California wines, since the styles are so different.  French wines are classified as Old World and are generally more subtle, acidic and expressive of their terroir.  California wines are classified as New World and tend to be much more fruit forward and oaked.

Sources: Wikipedia.com & Winelibrary TV Interview of George Taber

Guest Post by Steve Novy, Green Line Architects

As green architects, we are often asked to design a truly green home. Here’s how we do it:

There is so much complexity in designing a green home, we use what we call an integrated or “whole systems” design process. This process looks at the interaction of all the systems in and around the home with the intent of having all of those systems work together to gain maximum efficiency in the design and operation. Whole Systems Designs integrate all of the site, building and occupant needs. They also set the bar for reducing impacts on the earth.

No single system, like solar hot water panels, can make a home green. So, to get to truly green designs, we take cues from historical architecture and add to that what we learn from design in nature. This can be a somewhat challenging task. To achieve this level of design, we address all the following issues:

• Appropriateness of the site for development: (Some places shouldn’t be developed!)
• Aesthetics: (Just because its green doesn’t mean it can’t be beautiful; it must be.)
• Comfort: (Green buildings are naturally comfortable.)
• Space efficiency: (Smaller is better when you’re trying to reduce impacts.)
• Energy efficiency: (An energy efficient home costs less to operate and demands less from our municipal infrastructure)
• Quality and durability: (Houses should last a long time, 75 years or more, and materials should last, too, and be low-maintenance.)
• Responsible material use: (Materials should be from rapidly renewable sources and should be found locally whenever possible, such as engineered wood products made from aspen trees.)
• Healthy indoor environments: (Great indoor air quality makes for a healthy home.)
• Reuse and recycling: (Materials can be selected that have an “afterlife!”)
• Lifecycle design: (Finding out how long it takes for a system to pay for itself helps you decide which system to use.)
• Reduced water use: (The utmost in importance in our arid mountain and high desert climates.)

It’s quite a list, I know. To do it right takes a small team of talented individuals. You may have an architect, a builder, a structural engineer, mechanical engineer, lighting designer, acoustic engineer … it all depends on the project and the priorities of the owner.

We assemble this fantastic design team in what we call a “design charrette.” A design charrette can be as simple as having the owner, architect and contractor at the table for key meetings, or as involved as a two day marathon with all of the stakeholders in the same room hashing out design ideas. The advantage gained from a design charrette is that the team members get to know each other by working together up front on the project. Great amounts of information can be analyzed and synthesized into design ideas when the entire team is working together; essentially, multiple heads are better than one for brainstorming creative solutions to tricky design challenges. And everyone walks away from the design charrette with a clear idea of his responsibilities on the project and his next tasks.

You’re probably asking yourself: Does it cost more to get really green using this whole systems approach? Probably in the design, but not necessarily in the construction. The beauty of a fully integrated, whole systems design is that many of the systems get downsized and sometimes even eliminated! What we’ve found is that if you attack the problem from all angles, you arrive at a solution that is so efficient that it becomes simple and cost-effective.

So, be creative, understand your impacts, and whenever you can, go whole hog!

For more information on Whole Systems Design, Google: Building Science Corporation, Living Building Challenge, LEED for Homes, and Built Green Colorado.

Steven A. Novy, AIA is a principal and partner in Green Line Architects, PC. A small collaborative firm in Carbondale, Colo., that is committed to designing truly sustainable, beautiful, functional homes. www.greenlinearchitects.com

“Where the fuck have you been?”, “answer your phone, loser” and “call me back, cunto” are only three of the recurring questions come statements that I’ve had the pleasure of handling lately, all delivered with the vitriol and belligerence normally only reserved for the morally corrupt in our society be they rapists or American Republican’s.

Admittedly I have been somewhat elusive over these past few weeks; however my friends and colleagues alike seem to cast illusions of me merely shirking their attempts at communication where in fact I have been undercover diving deep into the murky depths of our glorious underworld, risking sanity and major organ malfunction all in the name of research.

It all started shortly after my last correspondence, 2 very good friends had announced they would be joining me for some frolications as the closing parties were about to begin in earnest, in order to protect their identity and infer their innocence their names have been changed,

Friday 7^th September 2007-10-27 

And so it was, with the arrival of Pablo and Howard, two of my very bestest friends had seen fit to come and assist me with my coverage of the final weeks of my summer of malcontent. Myself, Pablo and Howard go way back, having forged a strong bond in our adolescence it became so that in my homeland we were rarely seen socialising apart, and while fate forces it’s hand upon many relationships the power of times tide done little for our appreciation of each other. While all certainly cut from different cloth there was always an immense feeling of invincibility when the three amigo’s ventured into the underbelly of society.

Pablo, with his ease in unknown company could start a party in an empty room, and often had, was not without his frailties, often akin to accusations of aloofness to the point of banal intensity, and not being the suavest of individuals wore a forlorn look often appropriated with stroke victims, but he was  someone I kept close to my heart. While Howard a much more introverted soul, would always be there for during the bad times and the diabolical.

What better place to meet my platoon, than as the sun was setting upon a glistening ocean outside the Cade del Mar, often derided for its Bavarian friendly barkeeps, and disregard for anything not draped in white linen, this legend needs to be allowed some warranted distaste for anything which it distastes. After 25 years this bastion of chillout must have some amount of detest for the mass market it has helped produce, like all pioneers. However it is still setting the standards where other bargain basement comps will surely follow in a year or so. Myself and Howard were more than happy here in our tranquil surroundings, but after what seemed like an age, Pablo reappeared announcing there would be no need for dinner tonight as he had just had dessert.

Being his edgy self, Pablo was somewhat opposed to the idea of venturing any further than was absolutely necessary, and while he will never have any complaints from Howard when it comes to pushing boats, we retired to the sanctity of the villa to consider our imminent futures….We Love…to transgress.

Sunday 9th September 2007

The initial 2 days of their retreat had passed without serious incident, much to my surprise and relief, but this was Sunday, this was where legends were made and souls broken, what with it being a special Sunday, it was decided in advance that an early start would be required and the necessary breakfasts were consumed, so much so that we were not to far behind the all-nighters who were filing in as we arrived for Vitalik’s Sunday morning minimal manoeuvres. Ryan O’Gorman was on duty in the discoteca, as we chased our contemporaries’ early morning inebriation attempts, I was struck by the feeling that many of them were trying to heal last nights pain, where contrary we were attempting to inflict tonight’s. The operation was a resounding success, and after an ill-informed trip to the aguamar, where we flumed like day releases the euphoria of shooting down winding half-cut pipes can only be countered by the despair of the same water shooting through your already obliterated sinuses. Pablo was having none of it and demanded a return to a more adult playground, where he could continue to act like a child.

After a quick change in the communal area provided (apologies to that large family form Bradford) the bags were slung in to the car and we were back at the bar on the sunset terrace as Oscar Colorado threw down his set. Unfortunately, I’ve found that the only exciting thing about this man is his name, the first time I heard it I had preconceptions of an amazing cowboy Muppet, not that they were completed unfounded, so I suggested what I always do in these situations, vamos la premier etage.

Time and again I’ve soap-boxed about this little gem, and it was here that we chilled as the day got cooler listening to some deep house on the roof terrace on a lazy Sunday afternoon. We Love…the Small Faces.

Again while Howard couldn’t have been more content, Pablo was again getting ancy. He iterated that he came for some sweaty action, and while I suggested that I would do all I could to make his holiday memorable there was a line I wasn’t prepared to cross for no man.

Thankfully we came to an accord as Smokin’ Jo was now getting the terraza steamy so we enveloped ourselves in the masses as we came up to her funkin tech house workout. as the night tore on I recall thinking how well everyone was getting on, especially with my new friends, Pablo was an exceptional popular, but he’s always been like that, to a point where we were literally quaffing some strange woman’s champagne in the vip, she didn’t even seem to mind as long as she had Pablo’s attention.

Not one to stay to long in such environs I headed to the discoteca to catch Ben Korbel ripping it up. The Sounds man, was certainly living up to his branding as he incorporated the trancey-synths that have become synonymous with this years driving prog-tech sound, all good for another, suggested Howard, and off we went again, back to rescue Pablo from the claws of cruella.

All this as Hot Chip were taking over the reigns of the terraza, this being their first exploits on the island was going to make things interesting. Playing a more up-tempo version of their electro to an almost techno beat the crowd lapped it as they rocked through their set. I was in the mood now and going nowhere, but for the bar and back to my spot. Ben Watt had by now taken over the booth and with it the crowd cementing the legacy that he left for us a few months before.

Now excuse my professional indifference but the next thing I can clearly recall is me telling Pablo that champagne doesn’t make you float as I attempted to retrieve him from the pool.

We Love…unconsciousness

Tuesday 9^th September

The torturous soul-searching that follows such sessions cloaked my Monday as if it was one of the storms that are often associated with this time of the season but as the sun  broke through the villa on Tuesday morning I felt my demons rescind with it.

Pablo’s courting on Sunday night had not gone unnoticed and while myself and Howard felt obliged to ridicule his performance we were still more than happy to accompany him with his invitation to some VIP villa bash tonight.

Now, I’ve always hated these soiree’s for many reasons, but primarily because no-one ever invites me and secondary on the odd occasion I do manage to gatecrash an unsuspecting crowd of bona fide VIPs’ I find the banality of their company only slightly more enjoyable than my normal Monday evening self-loathing sessions. However with the prospect of free food and the chance to be in company of far superior beauty to myself I slapped the old spice on and was ready to roll.

Secluded in the pine forests between San Raphael and Santa Gertrudis lay our destination and upon arrival it became clear that this party would differ somewhat from your average sanan balcony set, breezing past the salmon canapés and directly to the bar to introduce myself to my best friend for the night I then went, two drinks in hand, in search of my first VIPs after what seemed like an age of cruising the crowds I found one, only, unexpectedly he was in the impromptu dj booth, a certain A-list dj who’s identity will remain a secret to keep his integrity intact, when questioned as to who he knew here? or why he was present, he answered quite succinctly, nobody and money. Perturbed and bemused I went to freshen myself in the bathroom taking Pablo with me we mused over the lack of present superstars of heads of state. This took more time than usual and after a good forty minutes we re-launched ourselves amongst the supposed jet set to.  Not wanting to be rude I then began to introduce myself, somewhat agitatedly back,  to my reserved company, to be met by a Russian guy here on holiday who new an Israeli who was putting the party on whom he done business with once, and then it struck, these bastards weren’t VIP’s they were just stinking rich, disgusted by my peers fraudulent claims I returned to the washroom, which done nothing to dilute my distaste. This recent presumption of money creating someone’s importance is foreign to me, some of the richest people I have never known could not be more unimportant to me if they were selling hamburgers outside I synchronised swimming gala.

My appal for my hosts expelled itself in a somewhat uncouth manner when I caught up with aforementioned stinking rich Israeli in the form of me question of what importance his wealth was to me and as such justify not only his importance, but very important status, ( I’d had a few), a man in a non-remarkable suit asked me to leave and take my cohorts with me. I left.

 Back where I belong in the grimy surrounding’s of the Limelight bar in the port  we enjoyed the hospitality of a far better host, in Ahmed, the cheery Moroccan seemed to have no boundary for his repulsion for our previous hosts manner, funny seeing as they’d never met.

P.S we thank the big man with the strings that we hear our dear friend Gerard is doing well and on the road to recovery.

Sunday 16th September 2007

After the disco bloodbath of last week I promised myself I was going to tread with more care on this one.  Arriving to catch the end of Oli Faulkner’s efx workout I was able to move around the terrace quite comfortably enjoying the wiggles and squiggles before Ralph Lawson joined him in the booth to release his drums.  taking a while to get going after about 30mins the floor was primed for some serious manoeuvres, as was I having spent the duration of my visit propping up the bar. However it was all a well thought out plan, while saving myself for Kissy Sell-Out. I hadn’t heard the freak DJ yet but his tunes and remixes had being doing damage throughout this year so I was looking forward to hearing his madness, restricted to a short set, probably worked out, as his electro insanity was quite disparate and launching with 2-unlimted is wrong in anybody’s book. the crowd soon forgave him and by the time he was handing them over he had done himself justice, although still disappointed.

Friend of the family, Bones was treating the el Salon to some unusual flavour’s but had a busier room than most for that set but onwards I travelled into the discoteca to prep myself for some Zabiela shenanigans, by now the sun was long gone and the pretty faces of the daytime crowd had made way for a more ghoulish clientele, no doubt anticipating the appearance of the dark lords Tiefschwarz. By the time they appeared the massive room was rocking to JZ’s skills justifying his recent accolade as best British DJ by DJ Mag with some manic scratching. While Succumbing to the black music of the brothers grim, I decided I wanted a spot for the return of Mehdi on the terrace, billed with closing spot of the terraza such was the devastation of his performance at the 2nd party he returned without his Ed Banger stable to truly obliterate the Terraza. Rolling through his own productions such as lucky girl, and tracks such as phantom, and a cheeky Blue Monday bootleg, to close with a bit of R.A.T.M, priceless. 

Wednesday 19th September 2007

The highlight of the Ibiza season for many years now has been without doubt, the We Love staff party, stars and clergymen alike scramble for their golden tickets to the hoedown in the hills, which this year decamped to Aura on the to San Juan.

An excellent little oasis away from all sorts of preying eyes, we were treated to culinary delicacies far beyond our usual daily breads, but it would surprise you how many in attendance don’t come to eat, trying to served at the free bar is just down right dangerous, so it was with a sense of relief that we were directed through to our dining area without any serious casualties. The staff done us the honour of dealing with our food quickly and after we had consumed our feast and the first strains of Alex’s after dinner beats fell a good friend of mine suggested that we show Pablo where the bathroom was. Unfortunately Pablo got lost on the way to the bathroom but we did meet Howard there, regrettably a catastrophe ensued, and I spent the following 2hours clawing my way around a gravel car park trying to find the exit. Oh how I laughed when I got to the other side. By this point the bar was nearly dry and but for Scott Martin’s beats and 3 hastily devoured bottles of rioja this night could have all to easily been a disaster. After a tricky drive back said friend announced he would like to make up for his earlier indiscretions, and thus retired back to his with Howard until the sun came up.

Sunday 23rd September

By now Pablo and Howard’s outstayed welcome was starting to irritate me somewhat and prior to venturing towards We Love’s penultimate party I had convinced them that their skills would be better served on other shores and thus promptly booked them tickets for the following morning, thus making this one rather emotional.

We arrived early evening, the sun still blistering, and headed straight to the sunset terrace as Tony Haze was starting his set, the floor was packed and we were ready to delouse ourselves of last nights cobwebs. The three of us didn’t wait about and got set about our goals as Tony Haze flew through his set of electro house with a smattering of surprises, highlighting with Crescendolls and a cheeky Born Slippy boot. The terrace was bouncing as he made way for Jason Bye to turn the direction down a more tribal path, all of us loving every last minute.

A little bit of a breather was required so an hour spent on the premier etage was called for, allowing us to dissect what had gone before and prophesise about was yet to come, that was if we could get Pablo away from his fans.

An often neglected caja roja was our next port where we soaked up Paul ”I don’t play breaks anymore” troubles Arnolds breaks set as he got things underway in the chew the fat room. Electro party breaks and the contained crowd were going nuts even for this early hour. But the world doesn’t stop spinning for anyone and the next place we found ourselves was in the discoteca grooving to Serge Santiago’s ubiquitous unique beats. Warming up the club perfectly for one of tonight’s headliners, One + One, ending their world tour in the same room where the concept took shape exactly a year ago to the day. Emotions running nearly as high as the duo’s charismatic manager Serge. The earlier set time allowing the massive Maidstone contingent to celebrate the end of tour in style and looking at the back bar of Space, where they had set up camp you could of swore there would of been a fleet of XR3i’s in the car park waiting to ferry them home.

Leaving them to their Pernod’s I ventured to the terrace fro Andy Cato’s last solo gig of the summer as he breezed through his proggy acid sound to a frenzied dance floor, all this and Matt & Layo had still to round things off for us. Matt having been on and off a wagon more times than a stage coach driver was on blistering form bringing the night to a close amidst howls of appreciation.

Unfortunately it was not to end their as we retired to the one+one after party at the ever friendly Ocean Drive, but even by our standards we were pushing it as fifty infused loons introduced themselves to the marina breakfast club.

My work was done, all that was left was to introduce the now quivering brace of Pablo and Howard to their waiting driver and wish them luck on their 14 hour journey.

 Hasta Lluego

Friday 28th September 2007

After the carnage of after-party, dc-10 and cocoon closing  my week’s been spent in the salubrious company at a friends villa, this man was vip2me, a close business contact of Pablo from back home he had very kindly invited me to join him in his villa which looked had been designed by Don Johnson, everything was to hand to a point where after Thursday’s small get together finished sometime around Saturday afternoon I don’t know who felt more used, me or him, all innocently on both our parts I’m sure. Good company, good sounds, great security.

Sunday 30th September 2007

So, is this it, 16 long weeks and it’s come to this, but this wasn’t time for reflection that would come. Today was about the closing party and the chaos that would unfold over the following day(s). Even by normal standards this one was ridiculous in size. It started for me on the terraza, just gone high noon as Dave Beer was playing to the early crowd still rolling from his earlier exploits in Leeds at Basics the night before that man was on form, taking into account the time of day and keep it friendly with a few classics. After Tony Haze had done his bit it was Dave’s sparring partner Buckley’s turn to up the gains as this session got into itself. Serge Santiago then picked up the reign’s and by now I was rolling, not a good sign seeing as there was still 14 hours to go, but the rest of crowd seemed to have the same idea, unable than to do anything other than party to Serge’s techy electro. All this and all of my friends weren’t even talking to me, more converned as to where Pablo and Howard had got to.

Upstairs Scott Martin was getting all emotional playing his final sunsets, and as I came to party I headed for the darkness of the discoteca to feel Oli Faulkner ripping up the first of the days zombies. On the terrace the renaissance man, Cassius was showing what we missed last year, by stepping up with a bag of house delights with that French touch that I love to go for, and so I did. On the dancefloor properly for the first time of the day, the man tore up the terraza as the sun was going down, it was properly packed by now, but the crowd had somehow agree to move in unison to avoid any agro. An unexpected extended set from the Frenchman was well received as Paul Woolford had forgot to set his alarm clock again, but when he did come on was well worth the wait. Flying straight into Man with Guitar. Things were heading along quite nicely.

It was then David Guetta’s turn to bring his selection of upfront house to the terrace, obviously a main draw for a lot of the crowd, although not for me. So I went for some much needed downtime in the el salon. By the time I had recharged the gigolo’s were displaying their wares in the form of a short set from label man David Careta, a huge clued up crowd had been waiting patiently for this and as Hell oversaw his prodigy he must have pleased with the ‘floors response to one of his main men’s sounds.

This was where I was to remain until that is I got the call that 2manydjs were about to bring it to the terraza, so I returned to my spot and pounded the dance floor with all the other delirious punters, having to catch a flight the brothers left bang on 6 which left it up to resident David Phillips and little help from Bones to close what has been an indescribable summer, apart from the fact I’ve been describing it for you. badly

Is this it?

Is it fuck!

I’ll be in touch soon with more of my innate ramblings

A N Other We Lover

www.welove-music.com

www.myspace.com/welove_music 

I’ve never accepted the auto-negativity of the “what goes up must come down” brigade having always satisfied my unjustified optimism with my own “what comes down must go up” mantra, screw Newton and his apple-cart. It is with this sense of unbridalled sanguinity that I’m embracing September having survived the madness of August and while sad in the knowledge the end is nigh excited by the fact that the best is yet to come. It is widely agreed that September holds more allure to the majority of people here than any other month of the year, the restaurants are quieter, the roads less hazardous and the weather brings an ethereal spring like quality to it. The clubs are filled with a slightly more discerning crowd that are ready for one final push of hedonism before the doors close on the final closing parties. But we still have some way to go yet.

Wednesday nights habitual culinery treat led me to bambuddha grove, Jon Moon’s disturbing fusion of tantric sex and thai cuisine, decorated with all the vigour of an acid casualty pining for his lost soul. I hadn’t been up here in a while, mainly due to my realisation in previous seasons that the food rarely matched up to it’s accolade of being a must visit on the ibiza resaturant circuit. However my misgivings have done nothing to stem it’s firm inclusion in the consciousness of many clubbers who make it their main night out for a slap up meal when their appetites return. It was under such duress that I found myself there the other night and I’m big enough to admit when I’m wrong. My memories and experience could not have been more disparate. While I found the incessant burning of incense and aforementioned Pollock inspired neon-assault on the walls verging on the nauseus the food was anything but. The fillet I had rivalled any other I’ve had on this island and the wasabi-mash served as much appreciated sinus clearer. My cheesecake dessert was the only genuine attempt at it I’ve found over here and staff couldn’t have been more attentive if my shirt was made out of 500 euro bills. Respect is due.

The following night I continued my adventures at Privilege for Monza I shuffled as enhusiastically as I could to Magda’s brand of gypsy techno, as aurally inoffencsive I found her groove, I couldn’t manage to do anymore than that, so retired back to the villa for somemore appropriate sedatives.

On to Sunday and not that we tend to need it but we yet another excuse to get down to our birthday suits, as Sasha returned to host his annual knees-up. But the big man could wait, I launched into this session while the sun was still up as Jason Bye had the sunset terrace rolling to his trademark beats mixing up his electro tribal sound with some of the seasons big hitters, highlight being being tune of the summer contender, transit time.

After I had built up enough of a sweat it was upstairs to the Premier Etage to catch some Alex Wolfenden toying with the last of the days sun and throwing everything from MJ to Al Green at the swelling numbers.

But night had arrived and it was time to get down to the serious business, Groove Armada had returned and by the time it struck midnight the terrace was jumping in unison to the duo’s party set, I was in the middle of it all, loving it. From there to my first foray into the discoteca where behrouz was playing a stormig progressive techno set warming the way for birthday boy Sasha to take over the controls, no doubt a lot of the crowds headliner as his sets become fewer and farther due to his stateside commitments I was bowled away having not heard him in such a long time. Really bouncy acid with the effects over the top that made you feel like you were turning inside out.

After which it was the turn of protege James Zabiela to run the night home bringing his skills to the closing set as the crowds pounded to the last beat.

 Here’s to Birthdays

A N Other We Lover

www.welove-music.com

www.myspace.com/welove_music

Forget the the Coccon after parties or the ridiculous haircuts, to be regarded as a true ibizan seasoner the must have has to be the quintessential beubonic august flu. You really can’t get though August without, yes for the past 4 days I have been transformed into a quivering wreck with all the motor skills of an altsheimer sufferer fresh from the gym.As my body has slowly been shutting down one would hope for the care and sympathies of ones fellow man, even if it’s just for Karma’s sake but all I’ve been offered is the witticisms that go along the lines of “flu eh, Columbian” yes fuckwit, I’m suffering from Columbian flu, the cartels of south America have amassed their multi-billion pound empires on the back of rendering their clientele trembling wimpering shadows of their former selves, Max Clifford couldn’t have done a better pr job, I hear the warlords in Afghanistan are working on a side-effect that causes their poppies to make their users eyes bleed, all in the hope that it will make their product a little more marketable to the no brainer imbeciles who continue to mock my pain, happy smoking.So you will forgive my usual optimistic outlooks being somewhat vacant this week as the pain filters through my defunct shell with every letter I type. Anyway’s those of you who may be interested in my usual movements, I doubt will be less interested with the amount of discharge I have produced or the brain-numbing movies I have watched during my convalescence.Friday night and the darkness of the week is becoming light again, feeling somewhat frisky and adventurous to try out my renewed sense of mobility I decided to give Manumission a crack after my somewhat unsavoury observations of yesterweek. Manumission having debunked from Privilege have now joined forces with Made In Italy to present of a megamix of splendid variety. But I wasn’t going with any preconceptions.On arriving I was surprised by just how similar both crowds were, less the language barrier and obvious fashion tastes. The displeasure at each crowds attendance was palpatable. One love, eh.The lineup was huge however with Made in Italy supplying We Lover Steve Lawler while Ammunition presenting an array of talent including Mark Ronson, Arctic Monkeys, Tom Middleton and Fatboy Slim. Unfortunately I was not alone in my observations that instead of the cutting musical diversity that I hoped for instead was a jumble of anarchic disfluency.

And so, I headed back under my rock with mixed feelings of bewilderment and disappointment. Tomorrow’s another day.

And so it was, after the week I had I thought it best to renew my substandard pigmentation to white after I had descended to a mucky shade of grey after my infirmity so it was not until after 5 in the afternoon that I got my now unofficial starters pistol that is Elio Riso laying down the last of his afternoons beats to make way for Tony Haze. After 2 hours of slowly picking up the pace the terraza was heaving as the sun started to set and the disturbing site of Dave Beer was visible in the booth from the dancefloor, complete with inflatable guitar, I wasn’t ready for this, I’m a sick man.

Over on the Sunset Terrace the peak time crowds for that room, the masses were jumping to Tom Novy’s house, with Tom seemingly enjoying it as much as anyone. The fluency was perfect as the upfront crowds left the openair terrace to descend on the terraza which was starting to groove to Dimitri From Paris’ grooves, making his debut for the party he was visibly blown away by the enormity of the space. The man’s legacy has already been written is the history books but I think this was a new challenge even for him, and I have to give his dues as he went though his box picking up disco classic after classic, next it was Andy Catos turn to fly solo from the booth enjoying the freedom away from his usual constraints to produce a more progressive acidic sound that ebbed and flowed nicely.

In the disctoeca Smokin Jo was presiding over her goons as the Nude/Warehouse collaboration took over the discoteca for 3 hours of freaks and geeks. Transforming the room into a circus on the right side of wrongness with the back drop of Jo’s slamming tech house, quite the spectacle. After which Ewan Pearson picked up the pieces and drove my night home. Enough to make you sick.

Bit’s and Pieces

A N Other We Lover

www.welove-music.com

www.myspace/welove_music

The ever burning passion that keeps our devotion to the dance floor alive is the feeling of unity that binds us together in clubs across the world. It is with undescribable sadness that our tribe is one less this week with the passing of Tony Wilson. True also that throughout the industry we are prone to the infections of sycophantism, so I will try and keep this is as brash as I can.

The word brash could have been invented for Tony Wilson, the man was fully aware that he wasn’t put on this earth to be liked, and he stuck to his mission with gusto. What he did do was champion his own ideals and people with vigour.

From bringing the early punk scene north from London to his native Manchester so began a road that if it had not been travelled I suspect we would not have the global dance scene we enjoy today. But to be fair, Tony Wilson didn’t care much for global domination, purely making Manchester the epi-centre of culture for a short space of time was enough.

While forming Factory Records and presenting the talents of OMD, Happy Mondays, James, and iconically Joy Division and the succeeding New Order. Tony Wilson opened Fac 51 the Hacienda in 1982 and after the rave explosion in 97/88 Wilson along with DJ’s such as Mike Pickering, Graeme Park, Sasha and Laurent Garnier cemented The Hacienda as the Godfather of clubbing but this isn’t a history lesson. These words are merely to lament the range and impact that Tony Wilson has had on all our lives. But as sad I am at his passing, reflecting on what he helped to create can not keep a smile from my face for too long. Here’s to a rich man who chased his own dreams and never chased the money.

And so, after the news on Saturday, did it feel right to be celebrating the birthday of Space the next day, well yes, it did, couldn’t have felt more right actually. Unfortunately I’ve been to a few wakes in my time and when the day comes for my send off if it’s anything like Sundays was I’ll be greeting St. Peter with a smile.

Space’s 18th birthday party was due to be rather large, old enough to drink now, you see and with Groove Armada, Bob Sinclar, Jeff Mills, Dan Ghenacia, James Zabiela, Nic Fancuilli and Paul Woolford blowing out the candles I was prepared for anything, I had even brought enough cake for everyone.

It was with the afore mentioned fancuilli that the festivities really got underway on the terrace with swarms of Italians, Spanish and British converging together to play a rather disorganised version of musical chairs. (I won, again I brought my own and kept it in my pocket). But after Tom and Andy rocked up no one was looking to be sitting down, set 2 of the summer and they’re getting better. For the vast majority of their set I was found pogo-ing from one side of the terrace to the other. However, one mis-timed pogo too many and I was captivated by the charms of Zabiela, destroying the discoteca with whatever it is that he does, I swear the man must be some kind of mutant freak and the blur of blonde hair banging inside the booth is just a ruse of misdirection as his extra freaky hands spring forth from his abdomen to facillitate his alleged wizardry.

Anyway enough with the conspiracies for now, more later. During the changeover from James we’re not fooled Zabiela to Jeff a breath of fresh air please Mills the fuc y fum misfits made it apparent that they had yet again escaped from their zoo to whip the crowd into hystreonics, via their bizarre interpretations of inanimate buggery.

On the terrace enigmatic frenchman Bob Sinclar was pulling all sort of tunes from his bag from Dj Kool’s let me clear my throat to his own new release Sound of Freedom. Having had my fill I jumped back to the disctoteca to here the start of Dan Ghencias set returing to Space for the 1st time this summer, as expected Dan dropped a gear from Jeff Mills’ exploitations and then started to rebuild. Which left me in the perfect mind to round off my night with the man Paul Woolford.

By my ear Woolford was playing an edgier more underground set than he has been of late on the terrace drawing the crowd further and further in to his groove until it culminated in one of the finest moments I’ve ever had on the terrace. Leaving the crowd to hang for a beat from his last record and as the drums stuttered the start of Blue Monday the poignancy was not lost on the crowd as it erupted.

I think anybody present would agree, God maybe gave Rock and Roll to us, but we’ve got Tony Wilson to thank for Acid House.

A N Other We Lover

www.welove-music.com

www.myspace.com/welove_music

November, we would all agree does tend to be one of the colder months of the year, This is no more apparent than in the 1^st few weeks of august when the fornication of our forefathers really comes to light, the last few weeks have seen more birthday parties than Mr Wimpy on a bank holiday weekend. Pete Tong, Carl Cox and James Kyte have all thrown bashes of varying extravagance and on Thursday night Mathew B hosted his bash at S’Estanyol beach.

Never one to be involved in low key affairs, Bushwacka and organisers Sid and Joe had contrived to create a memorable night with Mathews sparring partner Layo looking after the tunes and a mysterious punch doing the rounds the only downer of the night was the guardia appearing on queue at 0030 to close the party down….for 20 mins until they left and festivities resumed until the small hours.

Saturday night and by this time of year, the port is struggling to contain the sheer numbers that gather for ferrogusto. It actually now takes longer to park your car than it does to get served at one of the bustling bars. Never being one to be put off by a crowd I eventually nestled in Locura. A beautiful little bar secluded in the back streets that surround the Dalt Villa. Away from the masses I was able to lubricate myself comfortably until the small hours.

Sunday’s seem to be coming around quicker with each passing week, and as I arrived just before 5pm this one looked to be gearing up to be one of the busiest. No time to hang around I headed straight for the terrace to catch Oli Faulkner warming up the terrace for the coming carnage. Sugarshacks resident was doing a fine job as Elio Riso then stepped up to lay down plenty of his own productions.

A quick pop over to the Sunset Terrace relayed any fears that Jason Bye was getting over comfortable with his pre sunset spot. This was the point in the day when the crowds were really setting themselves up and Jason certainly wasn’t for holding them back. Back on the Terrace, Tony Haze was playing his 1^st gig in the room and doing a fine job filling the room up for Buckley. Laying down tracks from Samin, very quickly becoming a summer favourite and the new rerub of Eyerer’s, Haunting. Buckley very quickly took the ‘floor to the next level pushing the room harder with moroderesque keys, and a definitive groove. The big man clearly enjoying his set as much as the people on the dance floor.

After a well earned rest on Bora Bora it was back inside to catch the man with the Golden Fleece, David Guetta, by now the Terrace was packed and bouncing to the Frenchman’s unmistakable sound. While inside man of the moment Claude Von Stroke was delivering a lesson in accessible techno. Now, I was aware of all his Dirty Bird shenanigans, but I had never actually heard the big man play before. Think big bouncy squelchy bass-lines with a driving beat throughout. Setting the scene perfectly for the legend that is Carl Craig to round the night off.

The man’s music just eschews intelligence. Far and away the best techno set I’ve ever heard at Space or anywhere else for that matter. A master class from a master, watching the smiling faces surrounding me on the dance floor as he close with Knights of The Jaguar was beautiful. Having been hypnotised by Craig’s beats I only came to as the last beats echoed around me but just off in the distance, well the terrace to be precise I could here Tiefschwarz winding down. With a quick hop skip and a jump I was able to here the last 2 tunes of their set before I had to once again head off to endure what Monday was to bring.

A N Other We Lover 

www.welove-music.com

www.myspace.com/welove_music

All this hullaballoo about climate change, world wars, biblical flooding has left me a little perplexed. Having lived the life of a heathen for far too long now, even when I’ve known better, I’ve now seen the blazing light, and it’s bright. The big man gave us enough warning, sent us enough messengers, and what did we do? burn them, nail them and drown them, you name it.

One such messenger seemed to slip through our keepers nets however. Nostrdamus wasn’t a man to mince his words, he was French after all, and thankfully for us had a penchant for this little Island of ours. For, while the UK wades around in the aftermath of the biggest shower since our gallic friend last picked up his quill and the middle-east teeters further towards our inevitable armagedon, we here in Ibiza can rest easy as our presumptuous scribe prophesised that “Ibiza will be Earth’s final refuge after Armageddon”, magic. Engines running, lightbulbs on, lets go disco.

Nostradamus must have stood out from his fellow beardstrokers, as did Rick James, now Ibiza has welcomed back Mr C., he’s super-freaky, for his DC-10 soiree, joined by his mischievous Dollz At Play. This is where I found myself last Wednesday for some perfect mid-week moves. The atmosphere and tunes are nice and not quite as hedonistic as the Monday gathering.

On the subject of DC-10 residencies it seems as they are welcoming one in Andreas et al are ushering another one out the door, prior to it even commencing in fact. Josh Wink, who not so long ago was splattered over every dance music magazine announcing his new union with Circoloco. However, apprently in one such publication the acid king jumbled the following; promotors are the off their all and heads disorganised the crowd and all drug-fucked are incapable loons hearing of the nevermind music to it dancing.

I’ve never been a master of word jumbles, but to me it certainly sounded a bit harsh even offensive, strange coming from Josh, who won’t even drink milk as it encourages twisting cows nipples in order for our own gratification. Another false prophecy by the way, Josh, as agreed they all say they don’t like getting their nipplies twisted, but we know they love it really.

Thursday night and myself and some wonderful company took the road less travelled to Sol d’en Serra, very quickly marking itself as one of the places in Ibiza. Built into the rocks just south of Cala Llonga, the three tiers that make up the venue from beach to cliff-top offer total luxury which can be savoured during the day via the sumptuous loungers and cocktail menu.

However it was night time, just after sunset when we sat. Perfectly located on the middle tier we sat and chose a selection of the sushi to start and some bad-ass fillet steak for our main. The whole night was perfect but booking is definately required.

The contrast could not have been more severe when we returned on Saturday for the 2nd session of silliness procured by the Mulletover boys, or to be more precise boy, as Rob Star was the only one present due to Geddes showing a greater amount of hygene than usual and washing his passport the previous night. Although his presence was definately missed the support from Jaime and Rocky proved a perfect soundtrack for a very memorable night amid a perfect backdrop, fireworks the lot. I found the party tamer than usual which was quite welcoming, as there were so many friendly faces catching up as opposed to being able to speak as is the norm at these parties.

Sunday, Sunday, so good to me. Not just for the Mamas & Papas who seemed to prefer the morning after the night before but for the guys and girls who are pounding the dancefloors on a weekly basis at We Love… even by normal standards this one was going to be a marathon, who was I going to be able to catch Dave Beer, Cagedbaby, Ben Watt, Sneak, Glimmers, Princess Superstar, Hell and Layo & Bushwacka. Correct me if I’m wrong  but that’s a lineup for a festival not a club, and on a Sunday of all days? when we’re supposed to be reflecting? the big man would not be pleased, cue floods.

What can be written about Dave Beer that hasn’t already, well the latex power-rangers mask is certainly an addition to his repartee, and if there was ever a man who should wear a mask…However he was brought here not to scare small children but to get the terrace warmed up for Cagedbaby’s live show, which he did with aplomb. Cagedbaby who looks like he’s wearing a mask but actually isn’t got into his electro groove very quickly keeping it accessible yet quirky as the swelling terrace crowd responded to every click and drop. Raise the Roof especially eh… raised the roof

Ben Watt followed and flowed easily from deep house to techno eschewing that now sound which is very much down to him via his Buzzin Fly label. The ex-EBTH man seemed to relish his 1st set for We Love and I would ceratinly expect to see him back in the coming seasons judging by the response of the crowd.

I usually need a breather by this time on Sunday but the acts were coming thick and fast, and fully aware of my responsibilities to you guys I had to get my head down and get on with it because, DJ Sneak was in the house, yeah. The unmistakable, aurally and asthetically unmistakable DJ Sneak. House music continually evolves thats one of the reasons why We Love… it so and many DJ’s who can’t adapt simply get left behind. Sneak is the exception to this rule, you could walk into any club in the world and within 2 beats you would know that Sneaks Boomp is the house. Classic chicago boompty house music. The terrace was absolutely rocking as the other big man kept the floor locked in a constant groove. We Love…to wiggle

 The Glimmers, trying their hardest not to make their set, flying straight from Global Gather and their flight touching down 30mins before they were due to mix their 1st tune, they arrived in the booth miraculously with 1 tune to spare as David Phillips handed over the reigns of the mammoth Discoteca soundsytem. Personally, this is what my night was waiting for, these boys are up there in my top 5, with their mix of space rock disco, and classic house party music, and they did not dissappoint. Rocking all the way until Hell turned up to usher the crowd down his satanic path.

All that was left of the evening for me was to bound between the 2 main rooms to catch Layo & Bushwacka and the glam electro of Princess Superstar. Having caught Matt & Layo on their previous visit, I chose to spend most of my time stomping to the one-off chance of electro queen Princess Superstar.  Driving through Herberts, Moving like a train and culminating with an encore of Justice Vs Simian. Please forgive me.

Peace be with you

Another We Lover

www.welove-music.com

www.myspcae.com/welove_music.com

What with July nearly over the sunset and the impending throng of August creeping up from the east, the seasons constitution is starting to become clear. Now, routine can be seen as a bad thing, but when it generally involoves hearing your favourite djs, playing the freshest music, on the best soundsystems whilst making time for eating the finest food, in excellant restuarants under a glow from a continually shining sun, routine unfortunately is sometimes a way of life.

But even now the season is still shaking us up just as we’re getting settled, this week I returned to Space on Tuesday after seemingly having just left it on the monday morning, separated ownly by a self induced coma, for the opening party of Carl Cox, King of clubs. Yes the big man had returned for another season at Space and brought with him a crown. At the opening he was joined by electro techno legend Green Velvet, looking resplendant in a white linen suit, and a pair of goggles? His set was pure techno, but not the pounding variety his host is synonymous with, starting spacey and slowly building up to a funky crescendo. Catching him showing off his Chicago boompty dance whilst singing over the top of Blue Monday has got be a highlight of the season so far for me, for one reason or another.

Carl Cox then proceeded to alter the mood from antipation to pandamoneum as the massive crowds packed themselves into the Discoteca. The Terrace was also going off to Fedde Le Grande, whom changed quite a few peoples opinions of him in a few short hours. Those turning up to hear the cheese-fest implied by his productions would have been sorely disappointed as he produced a startling set of proper house music.

The rest of my week consisted of a large amount of cotton wool and a very dark room, until the weekend arrived that is and the now habitual visitation of the port on Saturday night. Match bar, sister bar of our beloved pre-Fabric boozer on the Clerkenwell Road, have set up shop in the premises formally known as Mambo/Cube bar. Bringing with it its stylish asthetic and brilliant cocktail staff, who get this, smile while they work. Try the purple one, or green one, or yellow one, or orange one, or the purple one again.

5 O’clock in the afternoon and the queues were already as big as I had seen them this summer as I arrived @We Love. By the time I had my obligatory alcoholic smoothie (perfect, as you can be healthy on acai berries while getting royaly at the same time) @ Passion in Playa D’en Bossa I was feeling quite frisky as I watched the ever increasing swathes pass by me towards the entrance of Space.

Elio Riso was doing his weekly warmup on the terrace building from an empty room until the dancefloor was filled ready for the night to come. His style is perfect for that time, very electronic but still keep the beats at a groove rather than a pound. Scott Martin, whom I’ve fawned over in my first blog was keeping things genteel on the premier etage as I felt the sun dissapate over the San Jose hills, this was all much more respectable behaviour than I have become accustomed to as I caught up with friends in my own yellow submarine.

Time to start working I mused, as I headed back on to the terrace to catch Alex Smoke doing his live set. Anyone who is familiar with the Soma boys sound will be aware he’s got a groove, doing his deep minimal thing, seemlessly over-lapping tracks from his two recent albums, but maybe more from Paradolia.

This paved the way perfectly for the return of the prodigal Steve Lawler, fucking hell was he ready to show what we’ve been missing, The former Terrace resident has evolved from his tribal past to present a stunning set of deep techno, tech house and still with the obligatory sprinkle of big tunes that the terrace always needs. I can’t convey just how electric the room was while he was playing, really really impressive.

In the Discoteca Paul Woolford was playing for the 2nd week running to a crowd baying for it hard and fast in preparation of the Detroit legend Jeff Mills. A main exclusive for we love, and has been for the past 5 years, I thought after enduring Carl Cox’s techno bedlam on the Tuesday prior I was prepared for anything. How wrong was I, Mills couldn’t have done anymore damage if he had left the booth and single-handedly beaten every one of the crowd with his personalised axis iron bar. We Love..blistering techno.

The style and quickness of his mixing is mind blowing and how he finds time whilst in a continuous mix to punish his 909 with the same viciousness as he attacks the dancfloor, is not for me to ponder, peerless.

All the while this techno legend was running amok inside another in the making, Miss Kitten was rounding off festivities on the terrace. Mixing up Italo, Techno and Electro to a storming reception from the dancfloor. No excuses, shes got one more set this summer, get your flights booked.

A N Other We Lover

www.welove-music.com

www.myspace.com/welove_music

“Blog: a personal chronological log of thoughts, blogs often reflects the personality of the author.” Now that’s been clarified I’ll have no need to continually justify my unarguable bias for We Love…, see like many of us I spend 8 months of my year pogo-ing from one dance floor to the next in search of that feeling we get when the visuals light up the floor, and the drop on “that” tune kicks in and all of a sudden you’re surrounded by familiar faces feeling exactly the same. I’ve been lucky enough to experience that feeling in clubs the world over. The difference with We Love… is when you walk in to that car park and the sun’s beating down on you nearly as hard as the bass that’s reverberating from the club is, you know that feelings coming, hell you know.

 To have that anticipation flowing over me was a relief more than anything, as since I arrived last week the island’s chat has been more about the parties that weren’t happening than the ones that were, and make no mistake We Love stands with DC-10, Amnesia & Bora, and looks forward to them resolving there difficulties asap. Who amongst us have not once, but far too often found ourselves in the midst of the chemical rollercoaster that departs from Bora early Sunday afternoon before looping the loop through the terrace and discoteca @ We Love… before the darkness of Dc descends until being released by Richie or Ricardo, sometime Tuesday morning, and the sooner the ride opens again the better for all concerned, especially those in the counselling business. 

Thankfully Sunday was a day when politics were put aside, and the serious business was brought back to the fore. Proceedings were initiated by the increasingly reliable Vitalic duo, of Joe Upton and Ryan O’Gorman who seemed to be handling the post traumatic stress of having to endure their weekly pre-party @ the blue rose. The increasing lengths that those boys will go to in order to bring the party is nothing short of remarkable, however over 16 long weeks I just hope they manage to keep it up. If the opening is a measure of their stamina I feel we have nothing to worry about, as the two were still found cruising the ‘floor into the early hours, still beaming from there inaugural stint in the discoteca. 

Obviously, the sunset terrace is where the party is really at during the sunshine hours, and any of us that were lucky enough to catch Jason Bye launching himself into the season will surely agree that he’s the one of the most underated and consistant residents around, mixing up Crystal Waters and Trentemoller, anyone? A sign o the times perhaps.

Speaking of reliable, the sun’s been known for its consistency also, apparently you can set your clock by it, I think Scott Martin certainly does as just as our sun was setting behind the premier etage he dropped his tempo to his trademark sunset mini-mix, I’m not intelligent enough to describe what Balearica is, I’d simply advise anybody seeking a definition to get upstairs as the sun goes down. 

Meanwhile, Jaime and Alfredo were keeping things cool with a mix of deep tech house and tunes of yester year in the new El Salon room, allowing the crowds some much needed breathers. Next door Serge Santiago, was introducing his sounds to the by now, rocking, terrace. He doesn’t like describing his tunes so I will, edgy? Doesn’t really come close, think Dr. Gonzo @ a police convention. Add some tech funk and process extensively with an efx1000. Now we’re dancing. 

The Groove Armada docked bang on cue @0030 bringing with it, it’s guaranteed stow of jump-up disco insanity, without doubt this was what most of the crowd were waiting for, the boys sailed effortlessly through re-edit after exclusive of their own material, some new, some classics, Culminating with a shuddering re-edit of Song for Mutya, We Love….to bounce. 

At the same time antipodean electro rockers, The Presets were blasting there way through their back catalogue, as they got the Gigolo party underway in the Discoteca, now, having seen many live bands attempt to win over a dancefloor unsuccessfully the response the duo got from the main room must have surpassed even their greatest hopes, another moment in the annals. Which set the man with a thousand names, Riton up perfectly for a mesmorising set, nodding heavily to his new We Love… compilation cd. 

Fuck new rave or whatever you want to tag scenester rock today. RightOn?, bombarded the discoteca with what can only be described as 2007 rave, giving huge props to the sounds that we’ve danced to before but firmly projecting them into our future. Ringtone? Mercilessly shook the place with Yellos’ The Race and Duke Dermonts Lean & Bounce, I strongly advise checking the comp’ if you’ve not caught Serge or RootOn?’s in preparation for joining us on the dancefloor. 

This is where things unfortunately start to become a little hazey, but like any professional blogger would in such circumstances, I remembered to make note after note of Hell and Tiefschwarz closing the discoteca and terrace respectively. However the resultant nonsense that constituted my observations are likely only to be viewed by my lawyer and a state funded psychiatrist should any of my projections come to pass.

Quite how after chewing the fat with ‘Trouble Arnold (you know you’re in bother when that crew start trying to distance themselves from you) I made it on to a hill to join Rob and Geddes for their impromptu Mulletover party in the valley, is something which  may remain a mystery for the time being, I think it’s possibly the only hill I’ve ever surmounted with greater ease than I have had descending it. Not bad for starters,  

A N Other WeLover… 

www.welove-music.com

www.myspace.com/welove_music

Leonard Reiss wrote “time stands still for no man”, now, I doubt if he ever experienced Ibiza in June, but if he did indeed encounter the rapidly increasing insanity of this place I think he would possibly have chosen his words somewhat more evocatively.

How in the blink of my minds eye we arrived back at We Love…Space for their second installment is merely a mirage of snapshots from a budget camera purchased circa ‘88. Most are beyond use though memories to keep are enjoying the new Mambo layout, gone are the cramped arrangements of past years and including the new boardwalk it feels distinctly more riviera than san antonio. Alex Wolfenden, We Love’s new Premier Etage resident, is found down there most nights laying down 80’s and Northern Soul classics, a refreshing change of direction from the usual top twenty hype chart that is played in most bars throughout the area.

Friday night seen Manumission continuing their legendary parties at Privilege, always pushing the envelope forward, especially in the  last few years with their Ibiza Rocks concept, eclipsing their original “shock and awe” tactics. None the less throughout their 12 years at privilege I don’t think they’ve ever created a more disturbing event than rolling out Steve EsVive as an “escort” for their manumission girls, an accident waiting to happen if ever there was one.

Which brought us to Sunday, and with the news that DC-10 was allowed to open clubbers were preparing themselves for the first real test of the season. The heat on Sunday certainly didn’t help as temperatures rose to the mid thirties. Tom Novy, oblivious to the peril of his funky flock continued to exascerbate conditions by incessantly blowing more hot air on to the dancefloor.

 While on the terraza Buckley took over the reigns from Elio Riso, to provide a more discreet yet non the less jackin electro set to the by now, packed ‘floor. It’s becoming more apparent over the last two weeks that the crowds are coming down earlier and earlier to the terrazza and has now embedded itself as a place where people come to party night or day, roof or no roof, and the sound keeps on getting better thanks to the attentivness of pedro et all.

Dave Phillips, the old towns newest bar proprietor, was not letting his new responsiblities getting in the way of his bread buttering, setting up the discoteca perfectly for the carnage that was undoubtedly about to unfold. All the while Jon Sa Trinxa, was demonstrating why he was the perfect choice for Space’s new compilation, Tranquil. Playing dub re-rub of present day rockers such as the white stripes to ska and soul classics. We Love…to skank.

By now the sweat streaming from your intreped bloggers being was about enough to sink a small vessel, yet unabaited I attempted to consume equal amounts in hierbas, purely to keep a  biological balance that would facillatate my preservation. Now, apparently there is no smoke without fire so quite what I was thinking heading for the terraza to catch the end of smokin’ Jo blazing through her bag is quite beyond me only when I had the common sense to return to the disctotecas gloriously air conditioned realms did I truly believe that I could survive this night.

 Mr C had just commenced his journey into the depths of acid house and as the sunset terraza came to a close the swarms began to fill vast room.

More el salon, I mused.

Unfortunately, there is no rest for the wicked, the 3am fidgets, or midgets. After all with Nic Fancuilli stirring the terraza crowd up with classics Octave One and Deep Dish it would have been rude not to impose my deteriorating resemblence to my former self on the unsuspecting ‘floor. His deft use of efx literaly make the hairs on the back your neck stand up. All this without his partner in crime, James Zabiela appearing next week as One + One. We Love… to anticipate.

Headlining the discoteca, the Ed Bangers crew brought with them grande fromage Pedro Winter aka Busy P and two of his most prodigeous proteges; DJ Mehdi and SeBaStIaN. This is what I was waiting for. 4 hours of non-stop french-disco-electro-rock madness, tearing their way through tracks from the label such as Tesstarosa, Signature and Limousine. Absolutely fucking amazing!

 Layo & Bushwacka weren’t letting the insanity of the discoteca getting in the way of their own b2b shenanigans playing a slightly housier beat than normal due to their 1st of 2 terraza sets.

Giving a polite nod to the watching fancuilli as they rolled out his grammy award nominated re-edit of Tiefschwarz’s Damage collaboration with Tracey Thorn.

Understand this, if you can’t stand the heat…….. stop lying on your back in a car park as another days sunshine starts to beat down on you, much better, dust yourself off and enter the asylum that constitutes DC-10, welcome back.

 A N Other WeLover

 www.welove-music.com

www.myspace.com/welove_music