What we had this weekend was another onslaught of opening parties awakening across the island, but despite being a greedy beat muncher, especially when it falls from the techno tree, I had to hold myself with some restraint because DC-10's Circoloco opening was my earmarked session. Evading eardrum damage all weekend, and with a pair of soft-skinned feet ready for a march through a party that's considered a rite of passage, I entered DC-10's garden grounds more than ready for a hammering.
Earlier in the day, I'd described its line-up as a big fat egg of solid yolkery. I've been chucking back the memory boosting omega-3 capsules for months, but you still wouldn't see me capable of rallying off the full list of big names in the opening party line of duty, without leaving out a couple of members. Reading through their line-ups is an emotional experience, always full of unintelligible sounds escaping in reaction to the mixing masterminds set to lead the party. Back to the egg, and the first yolk stir didn't come from any of the DJs on the bill, as I'd expected, but from a fellow Ibiza Spotlighter's endurance food supply. Now, last year I got on the game of lining my waistband with an emergency packet of ibérico ham to success, but safekeeping an unprotected hard-boiled egg in her bag proved a bit ambitious and the yolk became a DC-10 casualty. R.I.P.
One egg cracked, but not forgotten, and I was off kicking through the gates to the kingdom of aural pleasure with Dan Ghenacia vs Dyed Soundorom in the garden. They ransacked their collection and pitched off a running showdown of uptempo, energising and smile-inducing cuts, laden with tribal house stimulation, including DJ Sneak's pumper, ‘Love'. This fervor was maintained with conviction by Tania Vulcano vs Cassy and power trio Seth Troxler and The Martinez Brothers who had control over the pack of revelers with the likes of Tiger Stripes' tropically tinged ‘Body Shake', Kevin Knapp's remix of Audion's club weapon, ‘Vibrate', and Butch's blistering release, ‘Dope'.
Over in DC-10's roofed quarters and we had Spanish DJ, John Talabot, rolling through a melodic, ethereal set in the terrace while Ellen Allien stormed through a high-octane, straight-up techno set in the main room, which fed directly into my clubbing appetite. Taking over the reins from Allien was Jackmaster in session with Tom Trago, who took it down a notch in a bounce bumper set that rinsed Mr. G's ‘S.O.T.U's' and Deetron's edit of Radio Slave's 'Let It Rain'.
Anyone familiar with DC-10 knows that personal space is a lofty demand - some fall by the wayside, while most fight through in their dedication to dance. Finding a sweet spot is key to making it through to the final sweaty end when you emerge feeling like a top dog barking about the bass. If you're into the heavy stuff, DVS1 is your man and he gave us it good in session with Gerd Janson. We got a solid punch to the ear vents with the likes of DJ Hmc's gurgling throttle ‘6am'. Fast forward to 6am and we were with the powerhouses who would take the show into the closing tangle with robed sorcerer, Damian Lazarus, holding court in the main room with heavier, head-reclining verve than the groove-jacking action that held supreme with Davide Squillace and Matthias Tanzmann in charge on the terrace.
It was a session that maintained Circoloco's position as being a reliable source of sonic pleasure. If you make it to taste it, protect your egg snacks from destruction.
WORDS | Aimee Lawrence PHOTOGRAPHY | James Chapman
