Admittedly, I'd be fibbing if I claimed that the promise of KAYTRANADA's Ibiza debut (and his larger-than-life surprise guest!) hadn't aroused my curiosity. That said, it was still always the Club Room and it's Detroit-focused love-in that swooned my sensibilities on Sunday 13 July.
For all it's reputation as a "retro" Disco party, Glitterbox has consistently programmed its tenure at Hï Ibiza with a high-calibre of artist.
That has been most evident in the pressure-cooker Club Room. Sure, you get the big room, singalong anthems with powerful diva vocals in The Theatre. But next door. you can count on crate-digging prowess from some of the most respected DJs in the game.
This time, it boasted two second generation artists from Techno city - and one of their daughters.
On one of her first public sets with her dad, youngling Lyric famously went off-script, playing Katy Perry and Martin Garrix's Animals at Movement Detroit. Her father, Robert Hood - the man responsible for the Minimal movement, admired her chuzpah! They were audacious selections.
In the years since, Robert has assimilated Lyric into his revived, gospel-leaning Floorplan project. They not only produce music together, but tour as a back-to-back tandem.
Although, on recent evidence, the ballsy selections are still very much part of the package...
Eric Prydz's Pjanoo mixed into Losing It by FISHER was certainly an eyebrow-raiser that caught our crew off guard. The folly of youth? Or free from the burden of expectation? Answer entirely subjective, depending on which camp you stand in.
These tracks got their crowd reaction, as you can imagine. Neither would have felt out of place in the main room. Fortunately, Floorplan had plenty more weapons to bring even the most stubborn of music snobs back onside.
LP Giobbi's You Are was the smile-inducing number than had serotonin racing to the surface. It's a piece of music that would not feel out of place in a Hans Zimmer score. Barely a month old, it has the makings of a future Ibiza classic. I hope we get to hear it played out again soon.
It's in these moments why Glitterbox can never be written off. DJs taking risks create some of our fondest clubbing memories. They might not always hit the mark, but when they do, they become ingrained on our temporal lobe.
The night continued in safe hands, with the controls handed over to Moodymann. Old friends Robert and Kenny - two of their city's favourite sons - shared a warm embrace in the intermission. Their continued contribution to electronic music cannot be overstated.
Afterwards, it wasn't long before the allure of The Theatre had us straying next door to see the night out in fabulous fashion. As good as the spectacle was there, it was still the Club Room and the endless possibilities its protagonists threw up, that held my heart.
There are plenty more goodies in store before Glitterbox wraps up its 2025 campaign on 5 October. This clubber's eyes are instantly drawn to Moodymann's return on 17 August and the date with DJ Harvey and Gerd Janson on 7 September. You can find tickets and full listings below.
Meanwhile, Floorplan are back for the huge Glitterbox X BBC Radio 1 Dance takeover on 3 August.
PHOTOGRAPHY | by Connor Baker
