Last week, one of Europe's most successful nomadic promoters returned to 528 Ibiza, having picked up a new companion on its cross-continental travels.
Brunch Electronik has consistently delivered. What began as an excuse to introduce the finest electronic music to blissfully laid back Sundays in its native Barcelona, soon became a city institution.
The concept was simple. Unifying a inclination to relax and unwind on Sunday afternoon with food and dancing, it found success almost instantly.
To pool their connections, resources and mailing lists, Brunch Electronik is now allied with The Gardens of Babylon to create a new, wider-reaching version of the party.
The Gardens of Babylon is about everything that's trendy and bohemian in modern clubbing. With market stalls, decorative production and many vintage hats (some Jimi Hendricks would be proud of) and elaborate neck pieces on display. The phrase "hippy chic" springs to mind.
The cumulative effect definitely shines 528 Ibiza in a different light. For this spectacle, it is more colourful and fashionable. The peripheral activity draw parallels to the old Acid Sundays parties, with the concept borrowing the best elements from Cova Santa and Las Dalias.
We enter with Jan Blomqvist in the middle of his set.
To a layman, this might look like any other DJ set that are ten-a-penny on an island devoted to dance music culture. But this man is not a DJ in any traditional sense. First and foremost, he is a live musician and composer - and a talented one at that.
The Berlin-based artist performs his unique brand of music - one which he has dubbed "Concert Techno". It's deep, meaningful and introspective, without losing its ability to make you dance.
In Ibiza this sound relate to hippies realm of sensations, and we guess that is because of its depth, for all the emotions this music communicate. We certainly get the sense that Jan is singing directly to our soul.
His music hits you right in the middle of your chest. The lyrics are littered with metaphors and dual-meanings, meaning you can decide to fly high or to go more insular for a more thought-provoking dancefloor experience.
The party is rolling, as Jan invites a female vocalist to join him on stage. Together, they venture in even more musical depth.
The chosen attire of attendees is elegant. In the crowd, there are many beautiful older women of different ethnicities. They move their body sideways, in what looks like some kind of tantric exercise - yoga-like in its delivery and possibly oriental in origin. It almost feels ritualistic, as much as it does a dance. As you can imagine, the effect is mesmerising.
While Jan is finishing up his set, we take an excursion to the other stage.
The sound of Nasiri is the perfect match for this stage. His organic House fits perfectly with the location. Deep basslines and ethnic sounds create a magical aura. Typical of the legendary Desert Blueshe, the sound of the Tuareg guitar infiltrates many of his tracks.
Beautiful bohos dancing under the sky to exotic flute and electronic bass - this is exactly what The Gardens of Babylon is all about.
Boho culture is currently conquering the world, but it was born here on Ibiza. Compared to other destinations, nowhere does it feel more at home.
The time has now arrived for headline act Ben Böhmer to start a musical adventure across his hardware set-up. Like Jan Blomqvist before him, Ben is not DJing. He is another uncoventionial act, performing his own music in real-time.
After one final visit to the bar, we take our position in the centre of the dancefloor.
The colourful crowd gather for the beginning of the ritual. like ancient human civilsations gathered around the fire, we start to dance through nothing but carnal instinct.
Böhmer's discography is impeccable and, if anything, sounds better live. His music is like warm embrace that can make you jump and smile or that makes you stay on your feet, moving your arms and hands, simulating the incoming waves of this sea while.
Eyes closed, non-optional.
Despite being soft and delicate, it has an undercurrent of that distinctive Trance-y energy that occasionally comes to the surface. The fan from the stage creates a nice current of air and we dance.
Ben starts to interact with the dancefloor, dipping the music to talk with the microphone, creating the illusion of the end, before dropping the bass back in as everything is submerged in yellow light. Everybody present savours each note of this sweet melancholy.
It's very cinematic, hitting a peak that feels almost romantic, but unfortunately the party has reached its conclusion.
This collaboration really feels like two worlds colliding in several ways: DJ culture versus live performance, partying versus eco-consciousness and Brunch Electronik's professionalism and business acumen versus The Gardens of Babylon's community values and hippy mindset.
The modern story of the island started with the hippies and this is the latest evolution of the movement.
Brunch Electronik plus The Gardens of Babylon make the right recipe for a few hour of pure Ibiza hedonism. Don't miss it.
Tickets to the next three dates are on sale now and available to buy below.
PHOTOGRAPHY | by Cris Ann
