Southern Soul in SPAIN
Since trance appeared in Ibiza in the summers of 1991 and 1992, the Spanish scene has been like a roller coaster.
 The magic island lost its power and spontaneity at the end of the nineties because of the police hassle induced by the massive commercial discotheques and conservative authorities.
In the mainland, Madrid had good moments in underground clubs in the early 90’s but techno and house took the head of the electronic scene and by 1995 only Furthur collective was active with 5 or 6 parties a year. At the end of the century, Barcelona had mythical Open Chakra parties in Montmeló and ephemeral city parties at Mandala, THC or Texaco clubs. The Muses Rapt (Juan Verdera) released in 1998 the acclaimed “Spiritual Healing” album. This song is one of the highlights in trance history.
 With the beginning of the new millennium, Catalonia settled as the most activist region in the country with Barcelona Crew (Cosmic Trance and Muskaria) pulling off several parties. Madrid saw 2001 as a new emerging point with Pachamama collective making Tribal Rave event with 1.500 people gathered in a magic place in the Canencia Valley. New collectives and parties made that the Madrilenian scene grow and Ya’sta Club opened in 2003 its weekly Selenium parties that remain healthy until today. That year Cosmic Trance organized Sun Rite Festival near Barcelona that has been the best festival until today (despite of the sound system problems) with the biggest attendance ever: 2.000 people. Skazi, Raja Ram, Biodegradable, Neuromotor and Shakta inaugurated a new era in the Spanish scene.
2004 had two big attempts with Transit Festival and Omni Festival but few people appeared (despite of the great line-up) and didn’t consolidate as options for the Iberian summers.
Tribe of Frog and Psyconnection made beautiful parties in 2004 in Valencia and Toledo regions. That year Muskaria opened La Cova, a new weekly club near Barcelona, placed in a natural cave where people could enjoy GMS, Atomic Pulse or Talamasca.
2005 seemed to be the inflexion point year but the scene has not evolved as everyone expected. Omni 2005 didn’t reach the expectations of production and attendance. Navatek Festival (Psyconnection and XXL Bros) in Toledo had a great production in terms of sound, deco, visuals and artists but only 400 people saw it.
But we also had some good moments: VirusProject made a good open-air party with 1.200 people, Furthur also had 1.000 people in its summer party in the mountain and new collectives appeared in Barcelona (Sindar, Lazytrancers), Madrid (Sinergia) and Valencia (Delysid, PsyLove). Although La Cova ended as weekly session, Muskaria kept making a lot of parties. Ibidelyc Crew also kept the flame in Ibiza.
 Spun Records hosted four events at club privilege called “Spun out in Ibiza”, the events brought over 5000 people and a mixture of artists like G.M.S., Shanti Matkin, Deedrah and Michele Adamson to name a few.
The 2006 summer is full of events being created and supported by Spun and the local Spanish trance clans with “Spun out in Ibiza” events at the club privilege (world largest club), along with parties at Club Eden, Pacha and Namaste.
In the musical aspect, Materia Records Full-On label released “Goodfellas” and “Ultimate Energy” compilations featuring top artists. Psycho Abstract Act released his second album “Living In A Continuous Dejavu”. Also CPU has created a new label “Nutek” that expect his first release in may 2006.
The scene is being benefited because some international artists live now in Spain: Mekkanikka, Sirius Isness, Cosmosis, Spun Family, Dado, Christof Absolum, Dimitri, Celli, Michele Adamson, Starspine, CPU, Etnicanet crew, Alex Tolstey and Inner Action.
Last but not least, La Pura Vida collective made 10 events on the beautiful Castillo del Mar, an outstanding location in the north of La Gomera (Canarian Islands). A monthly event is scheduled for year 2006.
photos by Javier Ripoll (3) & Sergio Diez (1)
Facts
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Population: 40 million
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Four official languages: Castellan (Spanish), Basque, Catalan, Galician.
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Sun, snow, beaches, Fiesta and great gastronomy: What else can you need for your body and soul? A good Siesta.
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2005 Brought a new record of tourists: 55,6 million
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Nowadays governed by a socialist party
Drugs, alcohol and tobacco
In January 2006 a new law limit the tobacco consumption to little bars who want it(less than 100 m2) and smoking rooms in discotheques or restaurants.
Drinking alcohol in the street is forbidden but if you are discreet in beaches or parks you won’t have problems.
Cocaine consumption has duplicated between 1994 and 2004, which makes it the second drug in the country. Cannabis is still the first one. 34% of the students have tried its effects. Hemp culture is growing fast and hash quality today is better than in the past.
Artists
Anahata, Alex Droïd, Hands, Dr. María, Manik, Lucas, Abbot, Toxic, Domi Pastor, Juan Verdera (The Muses Rapt), Mad Markos, Lisergio, Keemiyo, Sum Sindhu, Kali, Nanuk, Diego Sativa, Aum Project, Psycho Abstract, Alienated Buddha, Archan, Isaac, Transmute, Arion
Visuals and Deco
Inga Burina, Orange Corporation, Nagual Creations, Optical Illusions, Dream Colours, Cosmic Turtle, Alerta Gráfica
Collectives
Barcelona: Cosmic Trance, Muskaria, Maya 2012, Virus Project, Sindar, Lazy Trancers, Trikomadelik
Madrid: Furthur, Pachamama, Unlogic, Sinergia
Ibiza: Ibidelyc
Ibiza-Madrid: Psyconnection
Valencia: PsyLove, Delisyd, Tribe of Frog Spain
La Gomera (Canarian Islands): La Pura Vida
Alicante: Ganesha Space Garden
Clubs
Selenium session at Ya’sta Club (Madrid). It’s the only weekly session in the country. International and local artists plays every Saturday in a friendly ambient since 2003. Resident Dj’s: Dr. María and Abbot.
VirusNetCafe (Vilafranca del Penedès, Barcelona). Internet café and games, snacks, variety of tea and juices. Original and changing deco. Chill-Out ambient.
Hikuli (C/Polvoranca 66, Alcorcón, Madrid). Little bar with beautiful indian decoration. You can get some psy-clothes made by Chiki. Good smoke is welcome while psy-ambient music flow in the air.
Labels
Materia, Boshkebeats, Neuronal, Nutek, Stonetone
Shops
PsyLove (Valencia). Clothes, books, hemp paraphernalia, chill-out.
Info Webs
Cosmic Trance, Sinergia, Unlogic, Maya2012
Studios
Sonic Vista Ibiza. (CLASS-A) Audio Mastering studio
Links
Contacts
Text
Sergio Diez (Promoter and 60’s Psy-Rock DJ)
"Afghanistan, Irak…Who’s next? Is there anybody out there that can stop the American Empire?"
Trance in IBIZA
The summer of 2006 brings many new and exciting vibrations happening again in the remote Mediterranean island of Ibiza, once renown for the outdoor trance parties years ago, dating back to 1994 the psychedelic or Goa trance parties kicked off to a small but wildly enthusiastic crowd of local party goers and travelers, with many outdoor events and parities each year, the scene became a mecca to many for trance music.
In retrospect, it's not hard to understand why Ibiza proved so receptive to this music. The island's strong links to India, in particular Goa, stretch back over 25 years. Every summer artisans and travellers returning to Europe from the sub-continent have come to work here in the hippy markets. Inevitably, they introduced the music and clothes of the Goa trance scene. With its temperate climate and breathtakingly beautiful settings, cosmopolitan inhabitants, hippy past and eclectic musical background, the island possessed all the right ingredients to successfully implant this vibrant new movement from Asia.
Over the next three years Ibiza's homegrown trance scene grew rapidly. Parties, often spontaneous, occurred once or twice a week on locations as varied as beaches, mountaintops, forests, seaside caves, in traditional farmhouses and inside medieval barns...
Anywhere you could put up some decor, rig up a sound system and stomp up some dust would do. Bigger parties saw well-known DJs and groups such as Etnica, G.M.S., N. Doof and Juno Reactor play to hundreds of people. TIP records visited the island regularly and backed parties in legendary settings such as Can Punta, a majestic clifftop site where multitudinous tribal gatherings lasting up to three days were held.
Around the year 2000, Police and judicial pressure to stop the outdoor scene + tolls and the fines accumulated, bankrupting those involved but effectively circumscribed any such events in future. Around 2002, the free spirited out door parties came to an end, people had to start making illegal campo parties in very remote and hard to access areas in fear of getting caught by police. With the slow rise of trance music back in Ibiza since 2002, the outdoor parties started to kick off again in 2004 with the growth in the trance community at large, many artists and labels inspired by the tranquility of Ibiza have helped the island get back on its feet once more as the trance island. The list of Labels include Etnicanet Records, Nice Dreams Music, Spirit Zone , Spun Records, 3d Vision Records.
The list of artists living in Ibiza include Etnica, G.M.S. , Deedrah, Synthetic, Bushman, Shanti Matkin, Earthling, Soundaholix, Zorba, Absolum. With many studio and artists collaborating together, it’s a inspirational place for all.
In 2005, Spun Records hosted four events at club privilege called “Spun out in
Ibiza”, the events brought over 5000 people and a mixture of artists like G.M.S., Shanti Matkin, Deedrah & Michele Adamson to name a few.
The 2006 summer is full of events being created and supported by Spun records & the local Spanish trance clans. Spun Records is holding events called “Spun out in Ibiza” at the famous club privilege (world largest club), along with parties at Club Eden, Pacha & Namaste.
Links
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