We dispatched our resident Italian club reporter, Stefano, to venture into San Antonio and check-out his country's Cocoricò presents GALACTICA opening party at Eden. Here's what went down on Tuesday 26 May.
A night out in San Antonio always guarantees a particular type of revelry that borders on the chaotic. As we approach midnight, the streets are awash with all kinds of characters, making it not only humorous, but creating a sense of anticipation. Anything can happen on nights like this.
Following a warm-up session featuring beer and cocktails, we arrive at the road that Eden sits on, and we are pleased to note that there is a lot of footfall. A good omen for the opening of Cocoricò presents GALACTICA. We could not have hoped for a better start.
Eden is facing increasingly stiff competition as it goes up against the island's powerhouses, but it should never be written off. Its interior is slick - dark but illuminated with LEDs and lasers, with metallic fascias that blend with blackness.
The lights and production are top class, all contributing to the atmosphere on the dancefloor.
All that said, the real pièce de résistance is the formidable sound system - a stunning Void Incubus Gold that spits music out at full decibel. Even the speakers have a cybernetic, futuristic shape that seems to have come straight out of science-fiction.
Upon entering, we can't help but notice the dancefloor is already packed with clubbers letting loose and that the music is blasting non-stop - and still only 00:30. Welcome to GALACTICA!
The sound is imperious - almost violent, going from Hardstyle to Hard Techno with frequent moments of pure bass distortion.
Some of our friends, unfamiliar with with this brash , are stunned and agape at the wonderful human chaos playing out in front of us. Surely there's a limit to the number of beats a human can dance to a minute? Apparently not!
We smile seeing the surprise painted across their faces. For some, it's probably their first Hard Techno party and they're struggling to process the audibles being served up. Personally, it's been a while since I experienced such a heavy start to a night.
It's apparent the DJs don't want to waste any time in getting straight into the action.
Young Neapolitan DJ Gianni di Bernardo offers no respite, channelling this raging musical river into a single, incessant DJ set. Powerful distortions pass through the speakers and rain down on the delirious audience. A syncopated light show makes everything even more exhilarating.
There's nothing left to do, except jump. "Jump" being the operative word, since the music draws us into an almost animalistic movement where adrenaline reigns supreme. A wonderful sense of liberation pervades us and we feel ourselves drawn into the mix.
While we dance, we meet some of the team behind the GALACTICA. The passion for their party - and Techno in general - cannot be overlooked. You can see there's real love in what they do. They also show us an Italian flag with the words 'Push or Go Home' written on it.
People on the dancefloor begin to realise that wearing a T-shirt is redundant. Despite more than adequate air-conditioning, the dancefloor is a furnace.
The drinks start to take effect and the syncopated rhythm starts to make us fly, some people dance with tribal Techno moves and some move their heads as if they were at a Metal concert. Call me crazy, but in my opinion there is a lot of parallels between Hard Techno and Metal.
My delight at having appropriate footwear for a night like this is priceless.
The time comes to change gear in the booth, providing an opportunity to escape to smoking area and put more fuel in the proverbial tank. Replenished, we can start again. Now it's time for Restricted, who hits even harder than his predecessor.
Despite the fact we're in the British and Irish heartland, the crowd is made up of mostly Italian, Spanish and Latinos - a wonderful combination of crazy clubbers devoted to this particular strain of electronic music.
Behind the DJ, beautiful dancers dressed like they're at a party straight out of a Mad Max movie, perform wonderful techno choreography.
Restricted plough away like a madman, one Techno hammer followed by another. Furthering our earlier comparison to Hard Rock, the voice of Jacoby Shaddix from Papa Roach explodes from the speakers.
Everyone screams in unison to this thumping reimagining of a Nu-Metal classic, "THIS IS MY LAST RESORT". Suddenly dancing is the only thing on our mind.
We move towards one of the walls of speakers halfway down the dancefloor - towering technological monoliths reverberating with powerful bass. We get as close as possible to them, until we can feel the air moving to the beat of the music.
Now the musical style veers towards Industrial Techno, dispensing with melodies all other unnecessary frills, a brutal straight kick. This sometimes divisive and undeniably brutal music unites clubbers in a tribal ritual. We, ourselves, feel part of the tribe.
Smiles are exchanged and the atmosphere is one of pure kinship; you understand that we're all part of the same thing: the love for the music unites us and makes us dance without judgement.
We feel like we used to in the old days in Italian clubs. How wonderful to rediscover these feelings again. Time, however, passes inexorably. The dancing and the sweating and bittersweet moment of the last track arriving.
Our accelerated body pump course comes to its conclusion. A night out for those who want to dance and get fit. Who needs to go to the gym when they can come and sweat one out at GALACTICA?
The club with the famous glass pyramid has arrived on Ibiza with conviction. Long live the madness! A madness that works brilliantly and delivers non-stop thrills.
What a night it was. The music was incredible, reaching Techno's furthermost limits of the utmost brutality. For the weak hearted, this was not. We skipped like we hadn't in a long time - along with everybody else in the club.
It was a wonderful night for lovers of this genre who accept no compromises, all presented by the most famous Italian club in the world: Cocoricò - the one with the pyramid roof. Only with this version, we swap the pyramid-shaped club for the one with a domed roof. And it still works.
It was also beautiful to see Eden full of people, reminding us of the unlimited potential the club has. With nights like GALACTICA, it's a joy to see it firing on all cylinders.
For anyone who wants an unpretentious, ego-free dance with people who love their music, Cocoricò presents GALACTICA is the one. No phones, no posers, just a thirst for freedom and Techno.
Starting with Charlie Sparks and Yasmin Gardezi tomorrow night, tickets to the remaining 14 parties are on sale now and available to buy below.
WORDS | by Stefano Lariccia
