Another monthly update from Matt. This time it's about the summers clubbing events along with the usual reviews and this month, a top 11 list.

August is next on the UK Clubbers mind, and knowing Britain, it's pissing it down and your BBQ has taken a second job as a birdbath. Fear not. there's always plan B. Pack up your glowsticks and thongs and head for Ibiza, where the sun always shines, everyone is beautiful, and dance music is undisputed king.

Ibiza might today be known as the clubbing capital of the world, but it has a long history of wild behaviour. The island was far enough away from the Spanish mainland under the Franco regime to become a laid-back hideaway to left-wing dissidents and artists during the 1950s. When the airport opened in 1958, Ibiza suddenly became both hip and accessible, and during the '60s, the hippies and beatniks started to arrive. Ibiza was the perfect stop-off on the hippy trail, just a short ferry ride on the way to Marrakech, and many visitors stopped-off and never left. Ibiza quickly gained a reputation for excess, free love, drugs and wild parties. In the '80s local DJs pioneered Balearic beat, an eclectic mix of electronica, Latin, afro, and funk, which gave rise to the acid house movement in the UK. The '90s saw profit driven promotions such as Cream, Ministry of Sound, and Manumission arriving on the island. The Ibiza music policy became centred around house and trance, and the island is now the holiday destination for the dedicated clubber.

With the loss of Global Most Wanted at Privilege - officially the world's biggest club and surely one of the most beautiful, trance is slightly losing ground to house on the white isle. The Most Wanted event last year saw sets from psy trance king John 00 Fleming, Gallery resident Gavyn Mytchel and Duty Free Recordings label boss Tall Paul. Chin up though, there's still enough trance about to exhaust even the most up for it clubber.

Tuesday is the busiest day of the week, with no less than three trance events around the island. Armin van Buuren's night Armada at Amnesia is now in its second year. AvB scooped 'Best Resident' at the 2004 Trance Awards for his role at Armada and also released a successful Universal Religion album recorded live in the club. Supporting Armin during August are megastar Paul Oakenfold, fellow Armada producer and DJ Remy, and Markus Schultz. Be sure to catch Armin at the pre-party in San Antonio, where you can also get the free bus to Amnesia. Slinky at Eden holds its opening party on Tuesday August 9th, and is one of the cheaper all-nighters on the island. Eden is not the most glam venue on the island, but home to the San Antonio based nutters at the end of a night out on the lash, if your up for a bit of Anthemic Trance then that's your night. I'll be dropping by on 2nd august to play a set during the Radio 1 Weekend. Further listings are unconfirmed but check Slinky's website for more info. Lastly, a newcomer to Ibiza this year is Extreme Euphoria vs Tidy, every Tuesday at Es Paradis. One for the hard trance fans, perhaps, it is the first time a event of this genre has held regular nights on the island. DJs appearing through August that play at least on a trance tip include BK, Scot Project and Marcos.

Thursday sees one of the biggest events on the island - Cream at Amnesia, winner of 'Best Club' in the 2004 Trance Awards. The line-ups are colossal - both Tiësto and Paul van Dyk are residents (yes you read that right), and also playing during August are Tall Paul, Eddie Halliwell, Gareth Wyn, Nu Nrg, Paul Oakenfold and Adam Sheridan. The 11th August is Cream's 10th Birthday, and will be seriously packed. In fact it's packed every week, but you can't go to Ibiza and not go to Cream. Look out for the stunning club dancers - like caged thoroughbreds - and the thrilling ice cannons.

Friday and Saturday are quiet nights for trance, weirdly, but there's no work on Monday so feel free to large it at Judgement Sundays at Eden. Judge Jules plays every week, and is also joined during August by Ferry Corsten, Matt Hardwick, Vicky Devine, Marco V and Big Al. The Judge delivered the best set I've ever heard him play at Judgement Sunday last summer, and the night won the 2004 Mixmag award for best trance night on Ibiza.

Go to Ibiza. You'll come back exhausted, broke, and you won't get a tan because you'll be sleeping all day, but it's worth it.


Single Reviews

MotorCycle - Around You (Armind)
Dave Dresden & Josh Gabriel deliver the follow up to the massive hit "When the rush comes". Its not quite what I expected. Kicks off sounding like there fantastic remix of Avbove & Beyonds "No One On Earth" and then breaks out into a totally different genre with a bit dirty indie rock guitar and a vocal more Alanis Morisette. So far its a great piece of work but not sure about how it breaks out into happy trance at the end.
Rating: 4/5

Above & Beyond v's Andy Moor - Air for Life (Anjunabeats)
Two Titans of Trance meet to create a monster which is has all the hallmarks of both sides of the team. Its definitely got an original edge. Took me a few listens for it to grow on me. Expect driving electro style bassline with Strings and enchanting vocal snippits.
Rating: 4/5

Luminary - My World (Lost Language)
Andy Moor delivers yet another blinding remix in his proggy melodic style. Great female vocal and clubber lyrics underpinned by funking basslines and pristine production.
Rating: 5/5

Mike Foyle v Signal Runners - Love Theme (Armarda)
New signing to the Armarda label. Very driving and chunky p8ice of trance with Classical piano drop that sounds like.....yeh you guessed it, a love theme. Just oozes with Class and signifies the beginning of what looks like a promising career for Mr Foyle.
Rating: 5/5

Solar Stone & Jes - Like a Waterfall (Deep Blue)
The Solar boys have always come up trumps with there ambient workouts and this follows neatly in the footsteps of the massive "Release" with a great vocal from Jes who I think fronted the Motorcycle "Rush Comes" track. Also an opener for Tiesto's new album. Looking forward to the day these guys sit down and make an album, sometime soon I hope!!
Rating: 4/5

Rachael Starr - Till there was you (CDR)
This is the new release from Gabriel & Dresden's own label and with skipping beats and driving syns that are reminiscent of early Dogzilla. A great track that manages to drive the dance floor at a relatively low tempo with a fairly pop-tastic vocal with night club crush lyrics. Keep your ears peeled for more killer tunes from the G&D label.
Rating: 5/5

Vegan - Amnesia (Primal Love)
I'm not sure where got this track, think it was from the guys at Audio Jelly when I did there webcast the other month. I has all the overtones of 1998 by Binary Finary but sounds well and truly updated. Driving synths and huge breakdowns with no cheddar in sight.
Rating: 4/5

Marco V - Life Away (Be yourself)
Typical driving beats and floor damage bassli9nes are order of the Day from the V camp. With a vocal sounding like Underworlds Born Slippy chanting about the morning after the night out or perhaps something deeper. Big breakdown with distorted punch lines make it one for the boys. Ere we go lads!!!
Rating: 4/5

Deep Dish - Say Hello (CDR)
Dylan Ryhmes delivers an absolute corker of a mix of this follow up to the legendary Flash Dance. Probably more at home in the breaks pages but hey, I spun it out a few times so far and it set the floor alight when it kicks off acidic style after the break. Other mixes from PVD and others are ok, but nothing compares really.
Rating: 5/5

Mike Foyle - Ship Wrecked (CDR)Yeh, two reviews for this guy......sorry just had to get in there first with this one!! This is actually a demo I was sent some time ago and it has grown on me big time. With a track already buzzing up the trance DJ's across the board on Armarda this looks like it could be a massive follow up. Probably the most pretty piece of music I've heard all year with Classical Pianos and "On the Beach" atmospheres. Could be the next Chicaine "Off Shore".
Rating: 5/5


Album Review

Matt Darey - Up Front Trance
Well its one of the perks of being a reviewer and DJ producer. It was bound to happen, reviewing my own album. Just what it says on the label. All gotta say really is this is a collection of the best of what I've been bigging up in this column for the last 6 months or so. Its full to the brim with trance gems and everyone has been thoroughly road tested by yours truly. Tilt, Perry O Neil, Li Kwan, White Room, Art of Trance, Blank & Jones, Ernest & Bastian, Martin Roth, Kyau v's Albert, LSG, Oliver Prime, Sandler and loads more. More info at mattdarey.com


Matt Darey Top 10 July 2005

1. Headstrong - Close Your Eyes (dp)
2. Above & Beyond v's Andy Moor - Air for Life (Anjunabeats)
3. Rachael Star - Till there was you (Organized Nature)
4. Mike Foyle v's signal runners - Love Theme (Armarda)
5. Vegan - Amnesia (Primal Love)
6. Matt Darey - Eternity ( dp CDR)
7. AYU - Appears (Kayu v's Albert Dub (Euphonic)
8. Marcel Woods - Cherry Blossom (CDR)
9. Deep Dish - Say Hello - Dylan Rymes (CDR)
10. Tiesto v's Sam Sharp - Love Error (CDR)
11. Alex Morph - Harvest -New Club mix (CDR)