Electronic music is slowly worming its way into the global consciousness at large. Proof, if ever needed, was exemplified when - on a weathered sand stone plateau beneath a 13th Century cathedral - a sun-kissed soiree was held in the name of international progress and continuing hedonism. In collaboration with the organisers of IMS - the Ibiza International Music Summit - Annie Mac Presents - acronymically condensed to AMP - held a figurative send-off to this summer's season with musical contributions from Julio Bashmore, Jessie Ware, Disclosure and of course Mac herself.
The UNESCO heritage site - a quaint and traditional pre-medieval town - was last used for the Grande Finale of the beginning of season conference and featured the likes of Sven Väth, Maya Jane Coles and Scuba. This year marks the first occasion that the Dalt Vila space has been utilised outside of the conference's late May time slot. Annie Mac, eponymous presenter of her own Radio 1 show has - of late - endeavored to increase her presence in the electronic scene by releasing albums and curating parties under her AMP brand. Mirroring her diverse taste and appetite for new music the line-up reflected a popular mix of acts with strong crossover appeal.
On a stage set above the orange ramparts and below the towering spires Bristolian poster boy Julio Bashmore spun an easy variety of current summery cuts. Since unfurling a string of lasting hits upon the clubbing landscape Bashmore has gone slightly quiet indeed his figure - static and hatted - did little to suggest any upcoming outburst. Whilst the sun remained above choices remained safe, expected and completely house orientated, however as the orb dropped Bashmore adopted a similar downward trajectory: shifting into more thoughtful selections. The orchestral hook and clipped Nineties extravagance of Solid Groove's Throwing Stones came as darkness stirred and Bashmore found his feet.
Giant toy-town building blocks emblazoned with the chalky 'AMP' logo glowed white as the party curator took to the stage. Beginning with a high-energy blend of pop house anthems, Mac pressed gooey island hit after hit into the risen palms of the largely British crowd. Taking to the mic and expressing thanks, love and thanks again, Mac was every bit the personable DJ introducing London city vocalist Jessie Ware mid-set to rally the audience and lend her chords to a heavy set garage number: the party barometer winding to ever greater heights. Garage come hip-hop clashed with deep, classic and en vogue house rhythms in mega-mix style flow culminating in Friend Within's The Renegade, the omnipresent irresistibility of its leading sample merging with a brusque analogue bass frame.
After a brief interlude dedicated to assembling their performance setup it was the turn of event headliners and crossover phenomenon Disclosure to present their live show. The relative youngsters - who have exploded onto the world radar after a raft of catchy, genre-straddling drops of joy - used live percussion, bass, pads and vocals to populate a dynamic yet sparse audio baseline. The live percussion kits used by both siblings added a welcome layer of grit to proceedings as the duo flashed from distinct techno flashes to straight dub-bass interims. Jessie Ware re-emerged to add a dose of feminine wiles as she addressed her featuring track, Confess To Me. From what is a very small selection of elements the two manage to build a great variety of structures - new track Help Me Lose My Mind with its clouded, hauntingly melancholic timbre and vocal courtesy of London Grammar, stood as a thought-provoking end, before mainstay Latch tore through the assembled crowd.
Words by Michael Huntington, Photography by James Chapman.
