History in
the Making
A carnvival-esque Basement Jaxx show brings
IMS to a close and marks the fi rst electronic
music event to be held in the ancient setting of
Dalt Vila.
“J
ust look at this place, can Bestival’s Rob Da Bank and synth-rock
you believe we’re having a band The Filthy Dukes have brought us to
rave up here?” questions sundown and with headliners Basement
Pete Tong over his lights-out Jaxx now minutes away from starting, we’re
techno grooves. From within the ancient set for a night that could join Alfredo’s ’87
elevated walls of the old fort in the Dalt Amnesia sets and Grace Jones dancing na-
Vila, we look out on the breath-stealing ked in the rain at Privilege in Ibiza’s cultural
view of Ibiza Town’s harbour. As questions history books.
go, Tong’s is a pretty fair one.
A charmed, cobbled fortress of moonlit More than that, though, tonight’s fi nale
eateries, clinking wine glasses, leisured concert for the second International Music
strollers and convivial chatter, Ibiza Town’s Summit nods to rebuilding bridges between
Dalt Vila might normally represent a retreat the electronic music community and the
from the electronic tempos that dominate Ibiza Consell. Described by keynote speaker
the island but tonight dance music has François K as “the start of something spe-
fi nally infi ltrated its most picturesque spot. cial”, last year’s event was proudly observed industry for failing to grasp a future entirely than the smoke and mirrors facade of most
by the government who duly signed up as free of physical music product, arguing that live dance acts, the Basement Jaxx pair
sponsors for this year’s three-day event. even downloads are on the way out. always come armed with an expressive
Okay, so they aren’t about to start swinging But it is events like tonight that will bring carnival riot of multiple vocalists, wildly
the doors of DC10 open. But by handing the IMS to the attention of the wider public. costumed dancers and soundsystem styled
over the keys to this UNESCO world heritage Local kids are smiling atop their parents DJ interludes.
site they’ve given another emphatic bless- shoulders at the back, hardened UK and Rolling onto the stage in a silver dress,
ing to a conference that harbours realistic European clubbers are getting down at the vocalist Vula Malinga sets a fi erce pace with
ambitions to become as instrumental as front and Balearic legends like Alfredo and a rousing rendition of stomping psych-funk
Sonar, as famous as Miami’s WMC and as Danny Rampling are smiling appreciatively anthem ‘Good Luck’ and is soon joined by
respected as the Amsterdam Dance Event. from the sides. fellow singer Sharlene Hector. Blasting
Progressively minded, innovatively through more costume changes than
programmed and full of fi erce debate, this It might be a ‘rave’ in the most family- Madonna — from chunky chains and ghetto
year’s conference (held at the fi ve-star Gran friendly sense but when Felix Buxton and get-up to sexy summer dresses — the sassy
Hotel) united dance music’s most infl u- Simon Ratcliffe, aka Basement Jaxx, take pair own the stage for much of the next 90-
ential minds with keynote speaker Richie to the stage any defi nition quibbles are minutes, while Australian singer Brandon
Hawtin lambasting the dinosaurs of the washed away in a tornado of colour. Rather Reilly parades in a skeleton suit for many
of the tracks from the Jaxx’ forthcoming
album ‘Scars’.
But Felix and Simon are far from static bit-
part players in their own show. Simon’s lei-
sured guitar strumming takes centre stage
for a blissful acoustic rendition of ‘Romeo’
before cranking out some serious electric
riffage on the pop-leaning synthesised rock
of future single ‘Raindrops’, where Felix
contributes vocodered vocals. Sounding
like The Killers stuffed through The Jaxx’s
crunchy beat factory it holds up against
their classics, but it’s when they drop tracks
like the ragga-house surge of ‘Jump ‘N’
Shout’ — accompanied by the rowdy chants
and boisterous, alpha-male bravado of MC
Slarta John — that the scene transforms
into a blitz of stomping smiles.
Just when we think the energy will subside,
www.djmag.com
057
DJIB1.AAA1_bjaxx.indd 57 8/6/09 10:07:26
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