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It's hard to believe now, but ten years ago guys like Paul Oakenfold and Pete Tong ruled the roost in clubland. A decade on, and things couldn't be more different - in fact it's hard quite to fathom how the white isle and indeed, dance music, has changed in the time since. New sounds, like new drugs, have come and gone, and nowadays Ibiza incorporates everything from dubstep to rock music in to its seasonal roster. There are however, a number of Djs who've still managed to maintain their appeal despite straying down commercial roads. One of these men is Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim, whose Tuesday night set at Carl Cox's 'Join Our Revolution' party was one of the most anticipated of 2010 so far. With Bedrock label owner John Digweed also joining Cox at the party, the wheels where already set in motion for a special night indeed.

In all truth however, the night expectedly belonged to the reformed Brighton native. Ok, so I've grown out of much of his music in recent times, but in terms of pure, unpretentious fun, little beats catching one of the first genuine Dj superstars in action. With a set featuring many an Ibiza classic (Armand van Helden's remix of Tori Amos' 'Professional Widow', Public Domain's 'Rock da Funky Beats'), Mr. Cook captivated his audience throughout with a blend of heavy, surefire party starters. Surprisingly straying away from the opportunity to play a set comprising almost totally of his own crowd-pleasing productions, he ploughed through with a technical ability and ease with which I was under the impression was entirely nonexistent.

Well structured and programmed proficiently throughout, the mixing was refreshingly meticulous and while a number of his electrohouse anthems weren't to my own taste, they more than satisfied the heaving Space discoteca. While there was doubtlessly little spontaneity attached to the set, Fatboy still excelled in what he presumably set out to do, notably captivating the audience from start to finish. Ending with the singalong anthem that is his own 'Rockafeller Skank', the Skint label boss played like a man with a renowned vibrancy for a craft he practically personified in the mid to late 90's. While no means the most underground sounding set you'll hear this summer, Slim's set was nonetheless a potent reminder of why we all love dance music in the first place and with fun in abundance, more underground Djs would do well to take note.

Ringleader Cox was up next and the Intec boss toyed with the crowd in a similar manner, using techno remixes of commercial anthems such as Basement Jaxx's 'Where's Your Head At?' to shrewdly keep the crowd onside. John Digweed was playing his own blend of percussive heavy techno from the off in the terrace and while he held his own in typically assured manner, it had become abundantly clear half an hour in that he wasn't going to match the atmosphere of Fatboy's previous set. If too many Cook's spoil the broth, no one it seemed, bothered to tell Norman. An invigorated return.

Photo by Space-Ibiza © 2010. All rights reserved.

The Revolution Continues with Carl Cox

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