Ibiza launch season is like a giant chess game...

It is easy to mistake the hustle of high season for the most critical part of summer in Ibiza. Truth is, though, the success of a summer is largely decided before the opening week. By then, the crucial pieces are in place, the deals behind closed doors have been completed, the coups pulled off (or not) and the guidelines laid for how the summer will play out.

The crucial question for Ibiza 2010 is: will an underground resurgence lift the island out of the economic doldrums? Pacha played a bold card in snatching up Cadenza for Sunday nights. But can the self-professed “glamour” club is fully prepared to surf the frothing wave of rave messiness that characterises the Cadenza crew? And will DC10 - spiritual home of the island’s techno crazed contingent - manage to stay open this season? With the Spanish economy in crisis the authorities would be sensible to take up the “live and let live” attitude that helped the island thrive. But since when have Spanish politics (or any politics) had anything to do with common sense? We can but wait and hope. Meanwhile, word is the long-discussed music festival in the San Rafael hippodrome might finally get a licence. Maybe the government finds a one-off event easier to tolerate.

Having survived another year of bullshit rumours about being turned into a supermercado, Space is asserting its bid for credibility with strong DJ picks for Wednesday night’s Kehakuma party. Whatever else happens, Carl Cox’s successful Tuesday night is money in the bank. It would be great to see the sexy South American Warung party take root and flourish we the combination of inexperienced (in Ibiza) promoters and the party-swallowing beast that is Privilege could prove troublesome for this newcomer. Not that age is any proof of wisdom. Amnesia’s grab for the underground euro with their Friday techno night could go either way. Sure, they can command some big names... but won’t it just split the Cocoon audience?

Only one thing is certain: Ibiza is still the spiritual home of the world’s party people. Come rain or recession, the spirit never dies. Everything else is ‘to be confirmed’.

Stayed tuned to I Voice for all the hype, lies and gossip.