This summer, a new party has arrived at the beautiful venue lost in the hills of Ibiza, Cova Santa. Promising an ultra surreal experience, full of art and entertainment, Gala by Ibán Mendoza had already tickled our curiosity.
Along with a manifesto that platforms live artists on equal billing with their DJ counterparts, Gala sets itself apart from other parties.
We went to check it out to see if the rumblings were right...
Gala by Ibán Mendoza brings surrealism to life
As soon as we entered, we were greeted by the scent of South American custom Palo Santo drifting down the hillside. The party was still in its early stages, but already the excitement levels were starting to creep up.
Cova Santa was stunning as usual; a Balinese-like structure in the middle of Ibiza - the stuff of the dreams. For people, this outdoor section of the party is what Cova Santa is all about.
At this point, Magnetizm were on the decks, playing funky, jumping tunes that made the clubbers dance, while mesmerising melodies cut through the air, heightening our senses.
At Cova Santa, the artistic edge has always played an important factor. Parties here always feature bespoke production and a distinct visual theme. Gala is the same. The party’s theme is one of surrealism, as illustrated by stylish reinterpretations of the works of Salvador Dali.
The Spanish artist’s most iconic masterpieces were displayed around the club, including the nightmarish spindled-legged spider elephants from the Temptation of Saint Anthony and the melting clocks of the Persistence of Memory.
Performers with melted Dali clocks manoeuvred between the stage and the dancefloor, weaving between attendees. Then they started a choreographed routine in front of the booth. A stilt walker waded through the crowd, covering them with a canvas covered in lights.
After the engaging House of Magnetizm, it was time for the live performance of Allen Husley to close the outdoor stage.
Donning a black fedora hat, Hendrix style, and a guitar in his hands, he launched into lines of bass with his electronic devices, strumming his instrument and singing over the top. It was an audacious mixture of Rock and electronics. "Rockatronics".
People started cheering when they recognised the chords of an electronic version of Dire Straits' Sultan Of Swing.
Husley continued his set, finishing on a revisited version of Ella Fitzgerald's Summertime. Though that might sound like a rogue choice on paper, surprisingly it worked well, driving the open-air stage to a satisfactory resolution.
Moving to the downstairs club
Partially carved into the hillside, the downstairs club looks like a cave and has a real subterranean feel. The place was packed, with Ibán Mendoza kicking hard with an undeniably groovy, yet progressive sound.
Down there, it felt much more like an underground basement club than an artsy, multi-functional venue. The duality of Cova Santa is one of its biggest selling points. The new setting was matched by the quality of the music on display. Everybody was dancing; nobody was still.
Our host Ibán dropped a very cool rework of History Repeating by Propellerheads.
The club is already a very intimate space, but suddenly it began to feel cosier and even more enclosed, and we noticed that the atmosphere had changed... Instead of the previous jumps, people were now moving in a more hypnotic manner.
One man band Jan Blomqvist had arrived on stage for his live headline set.
Displaying all his craftsmanship, Jan gave us a performance at the high level for which he's famous.
Paradoxically, his music felt like a warm blanket yet had a cold bleakness to it. Jan manages to combine introspective lyrics with synthesised club beats with a deftness unlike any other.
His music is very personal and expressive, but never overindulgent, inviting the audience into his insecurities and flaws. In doing so, he explores avenues of electronic music that many other artists feel unable, or afraid, to touch.
It is music suitable for dancing, of course, but equally for dreaming too. We closed our eyes and absorbed ourselves into the melodies as the night snaked into the early hours.
Cova Santa has always been a destination where hippy chic intersects with clubbing and Gala slots seamlessly into its existing programme.
While Gala might not yet have the same profile as the established Woomoon, it attracts a similar bohemian crowd while also having the benefit of having that little bit of extra room to truly express yourself.
With its mature crowd, incredible bookings and distinct surrealist decor, Gala could well become one of Cova Santa's most essential parties of the near future.
Coming up, there are many more sensational live acts joining Ibán Mendoza, including Booka Shade, Henrik Schwarz, Mathew Jonson, Rodriguez Jr, GHEIST, Fritz Kalkbrenner and Medusa Odyssey. With nine more dates to choose from, head below and find your date now.
WORDS | by Stefano Larricia
