Amnesia Shines For Cocoon Ibiza Review.
For a particular generation, it was one of the most highly anticipated parties of the season when Amnesia announced the return of Sven Vath and Cocoon on Sunday, May 19. It got even better when Richie Hawtin and Mano Le Tough were added as support on the night, ensuring the jungle drums were beating on the island of Ibiza, a fresh breeze amid the saturated marketing campaigns for UNVRS. Amnesia astutely introduced a workers’ pass for €25, which included a drink for all residents arriving before midnight. This incentive worked to have the club busy before the witching hour, with many familiar faces noticeable in the crowd as Mano Le Tough warmed up for Richie Hawtin, who came on at 130. With a buzzing atmosphere, the scene was set for a party that would be remembered for years to come.
I arrived at 1:30 just as Richie was taking to the stage, and both the smoking area and The Terrace, the old main room, were heaving with the sounds of pure, base-driven techno. When I entered the Terrace, the bass immediately reverberated through my body. I smiled to myself and caught many others doing the same. It was like a school of techno reunion: past pupils of Cocoon and Enter were present for one night only, ready to party the night away just like we did in the old days. Many of us had arrived on Ibiza’s shores during the golden era of house and trance in the mid to late 90s. Ibiza was a different island back then; people lived in the present, and Ibiza always provided those magical moments of spontaneity that made it so special. The dancefloor was our church, and God was our DJ.
The Amnesia dancers were getting us into the mood on the podiums, drawing in the crowd like sirens on the rocks. Once I adapted to my chest tingling with the bass bins’ thump, I moved around the room. The acoustics were perfect everywhere, and it was a really mixed crowd of male and female, workers, residents and clubbing tourists who had flown in especially for the night. You can always tell the nationality of a clubber by the way they dance, and there were lots of Spanish, British and Italians present with a 50/50 split of males and females. However, I was not there to socialise, only to observe and write this review. I always found trying to talk or shout at anybody in a techno club futile. Smiles, kisses and eye contact were the language of my dancefloor.
The energy was infectious as Richie Hawtin delivered a sublime set. From the second he took to the decks, he put his foot to the floor and revved up the BMPs, never letting up for the whole night. It was true hands in the air and nostalgic smiles as his set kept delivering. The ride was like being driven around Imola by Max Verstappen, without coming in for a pitstop. I didn’t leave the room until he finished his set, handing over to Sven Vath amid a huge cheer coming from the room as both DJs embraced on stage. I had wondered how Sven Vath would follow Hawtin’s full throttle; it wasn’t a warm-up, it was more a full-on assault of the classic techno that established Enter as the island’s number one party at Space during the 2010s.
The Spirit Of Alfredo
Sven started his set with tech house, which gave the podium dancers a chance to take a break. I followed their lead and decided to wander outside to the smoking area to get some fresh air, a drink at the bar, and a smoke. The area was nicely full, with people buzzing about Hawtins’ set and winding down from the effects of over two hours of nonstop bpms pulsating in their bodies. When I returned to the main room, I met an old friend standing on a stone stairway at the back of the room, to the left of the entrance.
They beckoned me to come over, we hugged and kissed, and I was led to an area of Amnesia I had never been to, the roof terrace. We walked through a narrow, wooden. bordered walkway with small rooms to the side before opening out to a long bar serving drinks to a relaxed and social crowd. It was a perfect spot to chat, make introductions, and talk about how good Hawtins’ set had been and Manos set before him. Everyone was still on a high and so happy that they had made the effort to attend. It was like old times again; we all agreed it was one of those special Ibiza moments.
We could hear that Sven was starting to pick it up again, and decided it was time to throw ourselves back into the mosh pit. Svens’ sound has definitely mellowed over the years; his seasons at Akasha were evident in his style, but you would come to expect that with a DJ of Svens’ pedigree and years. Between his set at Amnesia and the after party, Sven played a 16-hour shift that night compared to Richie Hawtin’s much shorter and more intense set. The crowd had hoped that the two DJs would go back to back at some stage, but Richie had to leave early as he was booked to play elsewhere.
It soon became evident that Sven was building his set with precision and timing. He was clearly enjoying himself; he had the crowd in his hands and was feeding off their energy, selecting some interesting tracks. He was solid for the two hours I remained on the dance floor before calling it a night. Ideally, Hawtin’s set should have followed Sven’s, but it was a Cocoon event, and Sven was the headliner DJ. Personally, Hawtin stole the show; it was classic Enter material, so whoever came after him had a hard act to follow. There are rumours that Cocoon will return to Amnesia this summer, and I will be back after what I witnessed last Sunday night.
However, I would be most interested in catching Richie Hawrin again. He was superb as he played my style of techno. Enter was born of Cocoon, and I hold both parties close to my heart. Each was of their time, and I count myself lucky to have experienced both at Space and Amnesia. I also felt privileged to have been at Amnesia on May 18 and to witness the old spirit of Ibiza alive and well on the island. The whole experience was positive, from the smiling, professional and courteous staff to the quality of the people present. A special mention goes to the podium dancers who exquisitely filtered the energy between the DJ and the dancefloor. The sound was authentic and real. Amnesia shone brightly during the night, and you could feel Alfredo’s spirit in the air.
The party reminded us all what a special place Amnesia can be with the right crowd and music present. Now more than ever, it needs our support. Much credit to the club’s owners, who are under enormous pressure to sell up. It would be the easy option to take, as running a club in the current environment is challenging, to say the least. Amnesia stands on a threshold as the future is uncertain. However, the one fact remains that the island of Ibiza would be a poorer place without it.
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