X marks the spot as Adriatique take over [UNVRS]

Last week, Adriatique were back in Ibiza, taking their X project to the mighty [UNVRS]. The Siamese label heads didn't come alone, bringing a great line-up including the mighty Maceo Plex as a stand out booking. For us, that was all the info we needed to know. We were there.

There are DJs who play music and then there are the DJs that live and breathe their music - the ones who are capable of creating a deep and meaningful connection with the crowd. The Swiss double-act fall into the latter camp. They can give you shivers.

A few years back, the magic duo were everywhere on the island.

They were Solomun’s choice for his closing party and for one of the best after party ever at 528 Ibiza. Now after a hiatus, they are back in what could very well be a precursor for something more explosive next year.

X marks the spot

The destination of choice is [UNVRS], the new gigantic entity of the Ibizan night life. In the last of couple of years, it has become home to the most famous names and brands in the industry: Carl Cox, elrow and Paradise, to name a handful.

Given its size, it's not always an easy place to fill. The question remained whether the ethereal but punchy music of Adriatique would manage to attract the numbers needed to fill the imposing mega structure. Only a few are worthy.

We arrived at 02:00, at the exact moment Maceo Plex and Son Of Son started their back-to-back. The first track was vintage Maceo, with bouncy hits and groovy vocals. Already, the dancefloor swelling - itself a great achievement, consider the hulking size of [UNVRS].

The music was so pumping, we found ourselves jumping around uncontrollably. The rave had started. As the lyrics in the track say “everybody pull up, let’s roll". We needed no further stimulus. Our correct state of mind had been activated.

Part of the fun of attending [UNVRS] is to walk its labyrinthine underbelly, so we briefly left the dancefloor and to go exploring. We felt like Indiana Jones on his path to discover the Temple Of Doom (without the boobytraps!), but with the catacombs beautifully mesmerising lights. Although Indy would no doubt appreciate the views of Dalt Vila from the .

Eventually, we found our way back to dancefloor where the expert duo was kicking off. More and more like minded people had arrived, seemingly replacing any casuals who had come out of curiousity. The night freaks emerged from their daytime hideouts.

Bouncing and smiling from side-to-side, we sailed through the set. The music had a distinctive marching beat, very typical of Maceo Plex and the Lone Romantic sounds. A little while later, the protagonists of the night took centre stage.

Starting with romantic energy, the Adrians booted their set off in style. Growing in energy, good melodies and a foreboding, omnipresent bass, the dancefloor was hammered. The music took an obscure turn, which we welcomed. It was perfection.

As 04:00 hits, the voice of Jimmy Sommerville started to reverberate around the hyper-club.

"You leave in the morning with everything you own". A deep and emotional remix of Smalltown Boy, gave us goosebumps. They were already setting the tone of the set and the intended direction of travel. This had all the hallmarks of being a good trip.

However, it would have been unwise to let this calming prelude fool you. This was just the beginning of the second half. The boys were ready to kick hard.

Wonderful basslines of bass became the focal point as everybody around us started to dance ecstatically, exchanging knowing nods and flashing grins at one another. In that moment, we recognised the fellow members of our tribe and not a mobile phone in sight.

Beautiful melodies and invigorating sounds lead us from one track to the next. We stomp our feet with the temp, while our mind wanders in the vast sea of imagination provided by the music. So uplifting, so liberating, so much exaltation, so much pleasure.

We put our hands to the sky and clap along to the beat, "Oh honey, oh honey, I'm addicting to the feeling, I want this love forever."

We were lost in the dance, when we spotted all the DJs from earlier in the night join Adriatique in the booth. All of them formed a massive back-to-back and we knew it was about to get tasty. There was a party on the console to rival the one taking place on the dancefloor.

DJs and clubbers alike put their head down and went all the way to the early morning .

We wanted bottle up that feeling so that it lasted forever, but end arrived prematurely as the best nights always tend to do.

When you get lost the music like we were in that cathedral of sound, you lose any comprehension of time. To dance to feel free is all we wanted from the night and Adriatique delivered. On this occasion, X most definitely marked the spot!

Adriatique have two more dates at [UNVRS] this summer. The first is tonight, Thursday 24 September, for the second instalment of X. Then the duo return for the hyper-club's full Closing Party on Saturday 10 October.

You can find tickets to both by clicking here.