Club review: We Love Space with Claude VonStroke and Groove Armada, 01/07/12

We Love, one of the biggest club nights at Space, is already a few weeks into its season. And with nights by many different labels including Innervisions, Dirtybird and 20:20 Vision showcasing whole array of different DJs from all corners of techno and house music, there's certainly something for everyone week in, week out. Tonight was no different, the line-up consisting of Groove Armada, Claude Von Stroke, DJ Hell and Smokin Jo amongst others.
 
When we got there Smokin Jo was rocking it out on La Terraza. I hadn't realised she was a woman so that was a real treat; there's something about a woman DJ'ing that captivates my mind! And she was getting well into it, which in turn led to the crowd of ravers in front of her buzzing from her vibes. Her party techno consisted of old and new favourites such as Nic Fanciulli's remix of Loco Dice's 'Definition' and lots of drum rolls, drops and groovy basslines. Smokin Jo is one of the residents of We Love – fitting considering she knows how to get a proper party started... and We Love really is a big one!
 
Next up Claude VonStroke took up his post on the main stage after a warm up from Hessle Audio's Ben UFO. The Dirtybird master immediately set about  bouncing his bass heavy beats out across the packed room, with snaps of vocals laced over the 'get-down-low' bass. Everybody was getting down to the floor, throwing shapes at each other to hip hop breakdowns in tunes like French Fries 'Yo Vogue', before huge drops into faster, simple basslines. FCL's Weemix of Audiojack's 'Stay Glued' electrified the atmosphere, vamped up with some acid techno over the top; either a remix or just Claude working his magic.
 
Claude's set was perfect, but we felt it would be rude not to check out Groove Armada on La Terraza. As we walked in, everybody's hands were in the air to the Daft Punk classic 'One More Time'; a great point to enter the room! From this, their Red Light visuals (from their Red Light live set) were part of the package, as the duo smashed out styles of techno and electro to the even more packed terrace, their faces synchronised live with bright effects behind them, white lights forming and disintegrating in the shapes of their makers. After a little while we took it back to the main room to catch the last of Mr. Dirtybird's set.
 
VonStroke drew his set to a close with an amazing remix of Basement Jaxx' 'Fly Life', a tune which is getting smashed out here on the White Isle. I have heard numerous remixes courtesy of the likes of Loco Dice and Claude and I don't know where they are getting them from but they give the anthem very different and exciting twists. Claude's version was very fun, the high pitched horns looping over and over again to give surges of euphoria across the crowd and a highly energetic beat. As he finished, so did we and we decided to call it a day with a great degree of satisfaction. As usual, Claude VonStroke had blown the roof off with a representation of his and Justin Martin's unique and loved label, and this had worked perfectly in the main room of one of Ibiza's biggest clubs, Space.
 
So that was another quality night at We Love to add to the list! This was my first since the smashing opening last month and I expect to be partying at many more. We Love must be one of the biggest nights in Ibiza, and so it should be. Each year they invite a fresh selection of talent along for the ride (this year expect to see faces such as Scuba and The Two Bears) amongst the favourites who never let them like Joris Voorn, Derrick May and Carl Craig. Make sure to buy your tickets in advance because as you can imagine this event is very popular!

Words: Jack Law

Read more Ibiza news, reviews and features

See We Love Space listings

See all Ibiza 2012 listings and buy tickets

Tickets are no longer available for this event