World-famous underground streaming giant Boiler Room, hosting musical masterminds Bicep at Ibiza clubbing institution Amnesia, now that’s a holy trinity of electronic music if ever there was one.
Following a successful debut last summer, Boiler Room returns to Ibiza, bringing its signature 360-degree booth setup and strict policy for championing cutting-edge sounds.
Heading up the first of seven instalments, Bicep were joined by rising and established DJs who each delivered plenty of Shazam-worthy moments from the get-go, and simply, it would be rude not to share.
So, direct from the dancefloor, here are ten cool cuts that soundtracked Boiler Room's opening night.
Track IDs that raised the roof on Boiler Room
ATRIP | Fussy | ATRIP
Boiler Room breaks no sweat pulling in the huge names, but their carefully curated line-ups have always been about championing the next breakthrough acts, and UK doublet IceMorph are a new name to land on my radar.
As far as first impressions go, anyone well-versed in ATRIP’s bouncy bass mutations gets my stamp of approval. It’s all to play for from here.
Serious Danger | Battle Plate | Fresh Records
Under the sweltering pressure of this 90s UKG full-body slammer, Amnesia’s expansive Terrace momentarily morphed into an intimate, basement rave energy at brute force and Garage speed.
Young-guns IceMorph digging out a genre-defining track, Battle Plate’s stature is a downright flex of musical literacy. Come on, guys, you’re just showing off now!
MALUGI, Paul Sirrell | Be My Lover | Columbia Records
Soon, we pop our heads into the Main Room where the energy is equally as relentless. MALUGI is dropping his dancefloor desonator, Be My Lover. No chance of a quick breather then, we're completely engulfed by the blaze of Hard House heat.
X CLUB. | Desire to Stay | Steel City Dance Discs
Soon, it's time for headliners Bicep to position themselves in the epicentre of the party, and the 360 DJ booth. Ravers are packed in behind the decks and across the dancefloor, ready to surrender all control of the night to the Irish duo.
They ease us in on the first few drops with X CLUB.’s Desire to Stay, soon casting a spell of euphoric House and Trance around the room. Deep in the subconscious, something tells me these moments of serenity are purposely fleeting, and a shift of tempo is on the way.
YVES | Ruff | Southpoint
Brimming with raw grit, a snarling bassline, siren alarms and scattershot vocal chops, this New-School Garage stomper delivered exactly as intended.
Bicep | Opal (Four Tet Remix) | Ninja Tune
With little to no warning, Bicep cued up this hypnotic masterpiece. Eyes closed, bodies swayed, as the glimmering chords brought on a tidal wave of emotion.
Bicep & Hammer | CHROMA 007 STEALL | CHROMA
The crowd-pleasers continue a stellar number from Bicep and Hammer. Any time these guys link up in the studio, the output is absolute fire. What starts as a slow-burner takes you through an emotive journey of lush synths, percussive jabs and melodic breaks.
RAFFA GUIDO | Famaz (Bicep Edit)
Stirring the musical pot once again, Bicep now dabble in Afro House realms with their dubbed-out, downtempo unreleased edit of Famax. The original was arguably one of the hottest tracks of the summer last year, and it still goes slaps.
Effy | 2011 | Fragrance Recordings
Taking us into the home run stretch of Bicep’s is Effy’s recent breakbeat bouncer, 2011, released earlier this year, which immediately smokes out a warm feeling of nostalgia across the crowd.
You know the feeling when the crowd locks in, the lights hit right, and you’re living out a rose-tinted memory in real time. That’s what clubbing is about.
Bicep | Glue | Ninja Tune
In the final moments, only one ID could make the cut. It is, of course, Bicep’s defining record, Glue. A track etched so deeply into the fabric of contemporary electronic music, it’s practically gospel.
As soon as those shimmering synths land, smiles beam around the room, arms shoot up in the air, and together we transcend.
Ready and raring to do it all over again? Same!
Boiler Room Ibiza is back next Thursday, 19 June, with another carefully curated line-up, featuring Horsegiirl, DJ Giogla and Shygirl and more.
With headliners Chase & Status, The Streets, Giggs and Sugababes locked in across the summer.
Weekly line-ups are listed below and tickets are available to purchase now.
HEADER IMAGE | By Ariel Casco
