Amnesia Opening Party 2013

DMC World’s Matt Caldwell was right in the thick of it all…


The sun rises for another season at one of the white isle’s most iconic destinations…

The Ibiza party season is already well underway with the likes of Space, Privilege, Sankeys and others already marking the start of the summer with their respective opening parties. This week the spotlight shined brightly over Amnesia where thousands of dance music fanatics from around the world made the pilgrimage to the club for what was a characteristically outrageous start Ibiza 2013.

Back To School…

As you turn into the famous club’s entrance you can taste the excitement in the air for the imminent festivities that lay ahead. Armies of excited fans stream into the gates – many proudly donning the club’s branding on their t shirts, bags and even tattoos – all in support of the world-renowned venue and its infamous parties. There’s a “first day at school” feeling in the air as both the club and its staff proudly open up shop to the hundreds of thousands that will visit over the summer. As you walk through the doors into the vast club you’re faced with your first decision of the night – the dark and iconic main room or the outrageously sized terrace.

Home Improvements…

The main room line-up pushed aside any time for warm up slots and on arrival Marcel Dettman was already steamrolling through the club’s supercharged sound system with his trademark pulsating Techno workouts. Some structural refinements over the summer now sees the DJ booth lowered to almost floor level, giving the main room a more intimate feel – despite the size of the famous room. Marcel stands to the right of the main crowd in the dimly lit up booth which is typically well stocked with an arsenal of smoke machines, monitors and lights. The bottom end of every one of Dettman’s bass heavy 808 and 909 kick drums sends shockwaves into the abdomens of the thousands already surrounding the booth. A generation of experience in manipulating breakdowns and sound fx has given Dettman an element of surprise as he builds tension behind the mixer before catching the whole club by surprise with ferocious bass heavy drops that are intensified with blasts of Amnesia’s world famous smoke cannons.

The Terrace…

As you work your way through the masses into the grand hall that we know as The Terrace – the whole atmosphere shifts from the dark, twisted and morphing soundscapes of Marcel Dettman into a carnival of tribalistic, deep and totally wild drums, percussion and bass with Maceo Plex, Davide Squillace, Martinez Brothers, Mar-T and others ready and waiting. The surrounding VIP balcony spans the entire hall and is full from left to right with pumping arms overhanging the edges urging the crowds below to go wild – not that they needed much encouragement. If the main room was dark and hypnotic – The Terrace was more ‘Ibiza’ as we know it in 2013. Matinee branded fans were passed around in their hundreds offering a welcomed cool down from the collective heat generated by the thousands of ceaseless dancers. The energy in the huge hall was frantic and did not back down for a moment. Even as the DJs stripped back their mixes and slowed down the beats – the crowds maintained a rigorous energy that had all the hallmarks of an Ibiza opening night.

Breakfast Club…

Still in full force after hours of relentless dancing, the crowds of Amnesia showed no signs of fatigue as the first rays of Balearic sun splintered through the glass roof of The Terrace. Dark silhouettes of crowds became visible faces, but there was no sign of things slowing down. The Terrace turned into a zoo of party animals who maintained the pace even after the marathon night behind us. From a height you could see both the lit up Terrace to the left and peek into the still pitch black main room to the right – offering a contrast that was surreal to witness. There was no concept of time in the still heaving main room and I’m sure many of the main room loyalists had no idea it was already light. The sun added to the temperature inside, which made the frequent blasts of cool clouds of smoke even more refreshing as the clock ticked on. Paul Ritch saw in the morning inside with a live show that left the hardcore elite of the crowd hungry to see the party through to its end. If you’ve been to Amnesia, but have not witnessed the sun rise whilst the party rolls on – add it to your Ibiza to do list right away. An army of locals began to arrive with the sun – clearly already aware that the peak of the party was beyond usual clubbing hours.

Pick Of The Night…

For me the set of the night had to go to Pan-Pot. The pair stormed the main-room with a barrage of pristinely produced Techno, which through Amnesia’s speakers really stepped the night up to its peak. The duo has become a staple in the diets of those hungry for forward-thinking electronic music and you can’t argue with their plaudits. There was no shortage of talent and new music throughout the night – but the German duo clearly had all focus on the future and where the music we all want to hear is heading.  The synths and warping sounds shot around the room giving Pan-Pot a personality and individuality that made them in my opinion the standout set of the night. The headline acts delivered as expected and all made the opening a glowing success, but it’s a pleasure to see new fan-favourites making a big impact on such a giant stage.

Amnesia has always been a mecca for quality electronic music and their line-up for the 2013 opening reinforced that status that has helped keep them at the top of the pile for so long. Some other clubs on the island opted for more commercially viable headline acts for opening parties this year – but Amnesia compiled a line-up targeted directly at the House and Techno loyalists that want to hear the sounds of the future today. The famous venue has a host of world-class nights lined up throughout the summer and if they are anything like the opening – we can’t wait to go back for more.

http://www.amnesia.es
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http://www.youtube.com/user/amnesiaibizatv