Totally disagree with you on this, and I have been a huge critic of Pacha in the past. Cadenza with Luciano, Reboot, Carl Craig etc? Stale? Give me a break. Tong with Matthias Tanzmann, Guy Gerber, Laurent Garnier, Sasha etc. Friday's have been the best they have for years - better than when Tong used to host it.
Defected for me (though only been 3 times this year) is totally on the money if you are into that deep house sound. They are getting better and better and less commercial by the year IMO.
Saw Cadenza crew at Ushuaia opening and they were truly dull, uninspiring and "over" imho. Actually some of the worst stuff I've heard played in a club anywhere all year. Also playing
really boring stuff I had to walk away from at Mambo preparties on two occasions. A friend saw Reboot at Fabric and wished he hadn't bothered. Luciano at free parties can be great but a Cadenza club night just doesn't do it for me, sorry - personal view : I think they've gone to pot.
Little more of inspiration with Defected for me this year (listened to showcases on the radio and went to preparties twice this year - heard nothing to tempt me to go to one of their nights even though I do agree the label is a bit better than it used to be, just isn't good enough to make a great club night). So on the whole have heard little from any of the labels which run nights at Pacha to really inspire.
Pacha is a nice club but I often end up in the funky room / upstairs so can't really see the point in paying those prices for that more than once every couple of years.. and I prefer clubs without significant VIP areas.
I agree Pacha Fridays probably had some better guests than they have for a while but you only get that at the end of the evening (if the pattern of commercial DJ - Tong - Guest still holds). However, would need to be better overall line-up across the night to tempt me to pay to go to Pacha on a Friday (as wouldn't stay downstairs for either the commercial DJs or for Tong .. and no disrespect but I couldn't spend an evening in the Global Room with Trevor Nelson at the helm).
I'm probably hard to please - it comes with many years of clubbing and I'm not saying all these nights won't still "do it" for people less fussy than I am. These are just my views - but big clubs in Ibiza are expensive and for that money you have a right to expect a really superb night, not just a good one - well, if it's my money we're talking about you do, anyhow !
The only 'big club' which has tempted me to go this year across a range of months and days of the week is Space. Have toyed with all the others but just felt they weren't offering enough for what they were, or were either too eclectic (e.g. Tonight, where even Sasha played one of his worst sets in an age in July) or big Trance nights (great for trance fans - which I was too some moons ago, so I'm not dissing here !!), the music at which I don't really enjoy any more - my tastes have just changed.
Revolution & Kehakuma nights both good (Revolution blindingly outstanding on two occasions), though even Kehakuma got a bit too rammed in the Terrace after a while. Plenty of smaller venues and DC-10, however, have been really really good and I feel deserve far more attention than they get. Probably wouldn't go back to Ushuaia, though.
It's not just the line-ups it's how the DJs deliver on a night and perform in a particular context/club that makes a night really great musically. I guess what I'm saying is that whilst I understand the draw of the superclubs - and love a
great night at one - it's the intimate and often impromptu nights at smaller venues which are often both relaxed and of outstanding quality. These venues often host big-name DJs who also play the superclubs, and along with DC-10, are the true gems and 'big boys' of Ibiza for me. Would rather be at one of these in the early hours than at an expensive 'ok' night in a big club. I reckon if more people tried them they might be surprised at how good the alternatives can be..
There have been a few copy cats already but nothing will match manumission in its hey day.
Agree. Hopefully someone innovative might come along with something different but equally great.
Dont really agree la troya and matinee are both very busy nights every week, both being able to fill the club week after week
Interesting - glad these nights are still successful. Impressions and reality again.
