For the past seven days I've been busy embracing my inner tourist, as three of my friends touched down on the island for a messy week of vodka, hangovers, sunbathing and more vodka. Yesterday, for the first time, I tried out the party-island staple, the boat-party-to-club double header. After a day of dancing under the sun on board one of Pukka Up's legendary Sunset cruises, we had a quick pit stop at home before re-grouping at Amnesia for their Tuesday night bass extravaganza, Together.
Having established itself as a firm favourite on the clubbing calendar over the past few years, last night saw a whole host of familiar faces return to the San Rafael super-club. Joining Chase and Status - who this year will be hitting the Main Room decks every week as part of their exclusive residency at the night - were joined by Ben Pearce, Pendulum, Kove and Amnesia resident Les Schmitz, while the Terrace was headlined by one of our favourite dub DJs from across the pond, Skrillex.
When we arrived we headed straight to the Terrace, where Jack Beats were in full swing and, despite the fact the night was only just getting started, had the room buzzing with their big bass lines and even bigger breakdowns, going from tracks like Breach's Jack to Sub Focus' Turn Back Time. It was my friends' first trip to Amnesia, and I was filled with a renewed excitement for this incredible club as they wandered around soaking it all in. Together sees the Terrace look more like its neighbour than usual, the inky darkness and strobe lighting usually found in the main room is instead a cohesive theme running though the entirety of the club - that is, until sunrise has other ideas.
We migrated to the Main Room for Ben Pearce, who took the usually drum and bass focused space down a more soulful, house based route, whilst maintaining the heavy bass that the V-Prof sound systems deserve. A floor shaking rework of Hideaway was a refreshing change from Kiesza's summer anthem, and testament to Pearce's innovative sound. Green lasers lit up the crowds, whose excitement rocketed when, after a steady build up, he played his hit What I Might Do.
There was no time for a breather, as straight up next were Chase & Status with their radio-friendly drum 'n' bass, continuing their summer long residency. As well as a selection of their newer work, they didn't leave us disappointed by leaving out their older classics, dropping tracks like Time, Flashing Lights and Blind Faith. These songs, as well as having a personal value after featuring heavily in the soundtrack of my teenage years, are perfect examples of how to ramp up the BPM without sacrificing a decent melody. Nostalgia off the charts, they ended their set - quite fittingly - with End Credits.
We ended the night back over in the Terrace, where Skrillex was busy shaking the rafters; rafters that had been covered in long white streamers somewhere along the night. As ever, he gave us a simple but effective mix of hardcore dance, the relentless bass wobbling and growling its way through the room for the solid ninety minute set. Skrillex is one of those few DJs who, despite not being on everyone's iPods, absolutely smashes it live - his hyper energy and clear love of what he does infecting the crowd every time.
There was still a substantial head count in both rooms when we headed off, me to rest my aching legs after our twelve hour marathon of partying, and my friends to catch their flight home, after what had been an amazing end to their week in Ibiza.
WORDS | Joanna Wright PHOTOGRPAHY | Pukka Up / Amnesia
