Ibiza is being squeezed, according to two tough talking promoter/djs with many years experience of operating on the Med island that remains the summer home of house music.
Perhaps it's not surprising to hear this given that we're talking to Andy G, ex-resident at Bora Bora, the very noisy beach club that was silenced at the end of the 2004 high season.
However neither he nor his partner in grime Ryan O'Gorman nor their numerous friends and party acquaintances are likely to shut up anytime soon, judging by the pounding sounds emanating from the small bar in Clapham outside of which we are stood. Electric Sex at Inigo is full, on the decks is the popular Manumission ressie Colin Peters, and in front of him is an intriguing mixture of White Isle-philes and local drinkers who've stumbled in off the street.
Tonight's steamy gig proves it's not that hard to find a warm welcome in a typically hungover and frigid UK in January. Focused anarchy is what these guys foment - they were behind the cave after party to end all after parties once Space, Dc10, and nastydirtysexmusic at El Ayoun had ceased trading last year.
Read on to find out their instant opinions on all the pressing issues in club land today, including Brandon "Mind the hidden cameras, mate" Block's recent drug scandal.
Spotlight: Why do Electric Sex here at Inigo?
Andy G: Inigo is a bar which has the entire vibe. We have people dancing on tables. It's a Sunday party, which is what we really wanted to do. Everyone can come together after a weekend's clubbing. It's very free.
Ryan: Finances don't come into it. Basically we're doing it for the love.
Spotlight: Andy I read on your site (www.djandyg.com) you received praise from Danny Tenaglia, Smokin' Jo, Tim Sheridan and Clive Henry. Who said the nicest thing about you, and what did they say?
A: I think it was Tim Sheridan, who came up to me with Danny Tenaglia at Bora Bora once and said “The only reason we come down here on a Tuesday is to hear you play.” And that was really nice because he actually said it from the heart. He's such a fucking lovely bloke.
Spotlight: Tell us about the Ibiza connection here tonight.
Andy: We've been working at Itaca in San An the last seven years.
Ryan: Way too long.
A: And 16 in Ibiza between us. We started to throw a few parties over the last few summers, like the cave parties.
R: What we've been doing is giving Ibiza back to the people. It's not even a sound bite, this is true. The cave party was so representative of what we've been doing, what with the whole clamp down. We truly love Ibiza with all our hearts and souls. And we've given everything we have for the last year.
A: It's like a girlfriend.
R: You put your life on hold for it. And we're just a bit sick of people being taxed for having a good time.
Spotlight: What's your opinion on recent comments from a spokesman of the Association of Discotecas, who said "We have no interest in seeing legal venues closed down. The people who instruct and carry out the law in Spain are the authorities and not the nightclubs."
R: I think the moral of the story is you never know what happens in Ibiza. You can into the politics, but when it gets down to it, you really never ever know the truth. In general, it's becoming less free.
A: Fair enough you have the legalities of it. Obviously the clubs pay thousands of euros for their licences and it's a very big business, but they are squeezing the scene. Yes, they have to stick to the law, but sticking to the law isn't the way the house music scene grew. It's not the whole ethic. It's not about judges and stuff. It's all about dancing to repetitive beats and having a fucking great time.
R: And the people who own the clubs are the people who are in politics in Ibiza. Do y'know what I mean? They're mayors.
A: But I think the bigger the business gets the less the atmosphere gets. It squeezes it out and people aren't interested.
R: People go to Ibiza 'cos they've got an image in their head of freedom. What struck me when I first went to Ibiza was the freedom of the whole thing. And it's becoming less and less free as the years go on.
A: But it's making the ground more fertile to do little parties.
R: That's why we're here. The underground parties and pirate radio stations. A bit of underground resistance.
A: Hence Electric Sex.
Spotlight: Did you see Brandon Block on the BBC drugland documentary?
R: Who cares. It means nothing.
Spotlight: Should djs act as go betweens in drug deals?
R: It's irrelevant.
A: It doesn't matter at all. It's completely up to them.
R: There's media, and then there's real life.
Spotlight: How many tsunami benefit gigs have you been to?
A: There was a big thing in Thailand that Gee and Oliver played at. I was really tempted to play but I wasn't able to go.
Spotlight: How likely is it that the journos who say dance music is dead actually go to clubs very much?
R: Well they're all working for the Guardian and the fucking Mirror. So they can fuck right off.
A: Obviously they didn't get their fucking bung from Fabric or whatever and decided to slate it.
R: They all used to work for Mixmag and Dj and now they're part of the global comedown.
A: They were in it for the wrong reasons.
Spotlight: Will you be doing Ibiza 2005? What's it gonna be like?
R: Most definitely man, we're gonna turn things around. We're gonna give it back to the people, I'm telling ya.
A: People are just starting to turn against the big clubs and I think this a prime time for people who have been on the island and given so much to the island, to join together and to have a really fucking good party. And people are doing it.
R: Nastydirty are the pioneers along with ourselves. We will be doing underground parties in 2005. Next year it's gonna be island parties. You thought the cave party was sick man, wait for the island parties.
- crowd shots courtesy of dontstayin.com. Thanks John!