Whilst Ibiza's clubbing pull has a wide catchment from fresh youngster to greying veterans, during a particular weekend of the year, the average age on the dance floor spikes. It also happens to be one of our favourites. A period when the ideals of a simpler era return for but a few days.
It can only be the annual Clockwork Orange weekender.
Celebrating an applause-worthy 25 years in 2019, the four day jaunt seems to increase in popularity with each passing year. Former dedicated clubbers who have long since hung up their weekly dancing shoes, descend on the island en masse to show the new generation how things are done.
With four official parties spread over four action-packed days, we donned the orange tee and marched with Danny Gould's tangerine army. Here's a pick of the best sets from Friday 19 July to Monday 22 July.
Tristan Ingram, The Living Room, Benimussa Park
Friday 19 July
Tucked away behind the main stage and the swimming pool - yes, there's a pool! - Benimussa Park's living room emerges. Christened Newphoria for Clockstock, the soundtrack there was, unsurprisingly, a little more current than the rest of the weekend.
Tristan Ingram had the intimate room jumping, playing new tracks from Solardo, FISHER, Saved Records and Alan Fitzpatrick's mammoth We Do What We Want. However, Weiss's recent outing on Toolroom was our highlight and - we think - the ideal balance, being a new record with back-in-the-day appeal.
Tristan is back on Ibiza as part of the ONE MORE TIME festivities at the end of summer.
Danny Rampling, Tree House, Benimussa Park
Friday 19 July
So the story goes that Danny, Nick and Paul went on holiday in 1987… okay, we'll save you a repeat of that often scrutinized piece of folklore. But there's no disputing that Danny Rampling was instrumental in those acid house early days.
Refusing to skip a beat, the once-retired Rampling rolled back the years to a sea of orange and smiling faces. We have never seen Benimussa Park as busy, and we rarely have the privilege of partying alongside such an engaging, friendly crowd.
Jason Bye, Es Paradis
Friday 19 July
Every summer, the island presents moments that transcend the years and provide life-affirming memories. Approaching Es Paradis and seeing a queue snake around the block was a good indicator we were about to be presented by one.
Talk about crowd reaction of the night, we wonder how many would've predicted dance floor eruptions courtesy of ABBA at the start of the day? Byesie went onto slay two further sets at Amnesia and Café Mambo. And, yes, Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie got repeat plays at both.
Guilty pleasure? Unashamedly so. The official anthem to Clockwork Orange's 25th anniversary? Nothing else comes close in our book. Absolute terry.
Seb Fontaine, The Terrace, Amnesia
Sunday 21 July
As great as those afternoons were, the truth of the matter is that Clockwork's popularity has outgrown the beach. Amnesia, then, for an all dayer was new territory and a complete overhaul to the usual format. Would it prove as successful? Of course it would.
Alfredo attracted a modest early crowd, before a half-full terrace for Brandon Block & Alex P. By the time Graeme Park had stepped off the decks, the room was bursting. How great was it to party with the sun broaching the skylights?
In the end, the club room had to be opened two hours earlier than planned to cope with the overflow. Seb Fontaine laid on a high-octane set to discourage attendees from flooding next door. This track had us reaching for the lasers.
We hope that the Amnesia leg will be back in future years.
Danny Clockwork, Café Mambo
Monday 22 July
We must heap praise at the feet of Danny for the last 25 years and the continued success of Clockwork - and its magnetic ability to bring a community together year on year. It was fitting that he would close an epic weekend with a dreamy sunset performance at Café Mambo.
As is required for these twilight moments, the tempo was slower and the track selection eclectic. In the true spirit of the Balearic beat, he played everything from the Rolling Stones to the Human League, Frankie Goes To Hollywood to Sade and it was perfect.
Though we think this choice summarized the rebellious streak of the Orange Army.
Now we've fully recovered from the weekend, we'll knuckle down between the pages of his newly published memoirs - as hazy as some of those years may have been! The independently released Gould Blimey is available to purchase now. Essential reading for the Clockwork faithful.
Until next year, Clockwork...
Magical as always, Clockwork weekender is a reminder that age is only a number. We partied alongside people as young as 18 all the way through to those in 60s, 70s (... 80s?)
We don't stop dancing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop dancing.
Clockwork Orange also underlines the importance of building a community. Not only Clockwork but also any party that stands the test of time, all have one thing in common: these parties feel like a reunion on the dance floor.
Want to relive Clockwork Orange's weekender - or maybe get a feel for what it's all about? Then check-out our Spotify playlist below. This contains only tracks we heard and identified across all four parties. Enjoy!
Want to be a part of Clockwork's community in year 26? The dates for 2020 are out already.
Save Thursday 9 July to Monday 13 July 2020 in your diary. That's a week earlier than in 2018 and '19.
