A new legacy: Hï Ibiza opening proves the superclub isn't messing around

Matthias Tanzmann, Theatre

As we enter Hï, we soon realise that gone is the car park that's hosted the opening and closing parties over the years and in is the lavish new Garden, a mystical area at the corner of the club with teepees, hidden seating spots and enough greenery to give your local garden centre an early bonus payout. Once through the garden and a bustle across the Club (the new name for the Terrace) we started our adventure in the Theatre.

Previously the Discotech, Hï's new main room doesn't mess around. Visually it's one of the most dazzling and awe-inspiring big rooms on the island with an LED wall taking up the entire back of the room and lights hanging above that slowly move up and down to the beat of each track. The attention to detail is pretty staggering: the walls are laced with strips of lights that change so subtly with the colour of the room that you don't even realise the transition is happening.

As was expected and reported on in the lead up to the opening, there is more of an emphasis on the VIP. Surrounding the sides and back of the room are circle booths that scale upwards surrounding the main floor. However, they don't detract from the vibe of the room, they merely make it look more extravagant and lavish. One person described it like the galactic council from Star Wars and we're inclined to agree.

The first act soundtracking the room when we arrive is Matthias Tanzmann and as Bedouin finish up, Tanzmann receives rapturous applause. He's no stranger to this club and his opening few tracks show it. The trippy, almost lullaby, sounds are quickly traded in for his signature chunk-fuelled tech-house and it becomes very apparent that this club is going to be packing a lot of punch this season. This track from fellow Hï regular Andrea Oliva sums things up just right.

Melon Bomb - Wild Corner

The eagle-eyed readers out there might see the track above and be slightly bemused as to why there's a disco track nestled into the review of a night that's primarily Ibiza-styled house and techno. We were as surprised as you but what's even more outrageous is that 'Sanctified' by Hubie Davison was played in the toilet... Yes, the toilet, the place you go to relieve yourself and take a breather. Hï's newest and most interesting change to the building is that the team has turned the main bathroom into a unisex clubbers paradise called the Wild Corner. The 150, maybe 200-capacity room is lined with cubicles on each side and sinks at one end but the main area is a dancefloor with a fully functioning DJ booth and mutli-coloured light installation above.

Disco troupe Melon Bomb were at the helm in the booth and they were all kitted out with absurd wigs and even more flamboyant dance moves. In fact, wait a second, everyone in there had a wig on and that's because they handed them out to anyone who entered the toilet. At one point it felt compulsory to don a wig to even go in there. Easily the first time that's ever happened.

With the club and theatre both at their busiest points around 2/3am, the Wild Corner actually became the best place to have a dance. As is ever the case with opening parties, the carnage unfolding is usually one that makes you question your own self restraint. It's heaving, it's sweaty and at times you think you won't ever have space to dance again. But in comes the Wild Corner to counter that.

At times, Ibiza can be a serious, heads-down sort of place. Sure there's the hedonism and the fun with nights like Elrow and Glitterbox but that doesn't mean that the whole island is as easy going. Therefore it's completely refreshing to see something like the Wild Corner appear somewhere like this. It's tongue-in-cheek, it's different, it's refreshing. There's a dancefloor in the fucking toilet, with DJs playing amazing disco records and everyone's wearing fluorescent wigs and mullets. Who'd have thought the jewell in Hï's new crown would be that you could have a dance while you use the toilet. We certainly didn't.

Kölsch - The Theatre

Another quick poke of our head into the Club and it's still not time to see the new Terrace in action. Getting across the room is an absolute slog and whether that's testament to the room or because it's the opening party, we're yet to find out. So it's back into the Theatre to check out our current cover star Kölsch take to the stage. This month, we heralded the producer as our future White Isle star in the Ibiza issue and here we get to see why with our own eyes. With a residency coming up for In The Dark at Hï, this is the Danish star's first run out and he works the big room better than we've seen for a while. He closes his eyes, raises his arms, as immerses himself as much the adoring crowd in front of him.

Two dancers scale behind him bringing the whole affair back to Ibiza normality, with over-the-top outfits and overstated dance moves in abundance. We can't help but think it feels a little unnecessary as the music is dark and brooding but the LED walls and lasers realise their full potential here, acting as a tribute to everything Ibiza should be about, the experience. Kölsch, in his element, has a few 'epic' Ibiza moments, none more so than a tech-house remix of 'Bittersweet Symphony' by The Verve, but hearing his remix of 'Alaska' on that system is still giving us goosebumps now.

It's time, we're ready to take on the Club and it's something we've been eagerly awaiting. Anticipation for this has been sky high since it was announced that Hï was taking over the reigns from Space. Although the Discotech was always the main event at Space, the Terrace has always been one of the most-loved rooms in clubland and its rich history as one of the best spaces will always remain.

So, it's now called the 'Club' and we're instantly struck by the booth's change of position. It's moved 90 degrees to the left hand side of the room, meaning the windows outside are now on your right if you're facing the DJs. Confused? Yeah we were a little bit ourselves, it took us ages to get our bearing's despite only having to navigate two rooms, three if you count the Wild Corner.

There are hints and glimpses of the old Space as we remember it but enough has been done to the venue to make it feel different without completely ridding us of the vibe the club used to hold. Back in the Club (still feels weird calling it that) Joris Voorn, aka the Ibiza don, is back home. He's played in this venue more times that we can count and he's about to embark on a new mission to make Hï his new stomping ground. His usual brand of sparky, emotive tech-house is ever present but it's a bit harder now that it's coming up to 5am. He's giving the beefed-up soundsystem a proper workout and Dark Science's 'Rust', a Space classic in its own right, sounds better than ever.

Black Coffee - The Theatre

As we enter the final stretch of the opening party, it's beginning to thin out a bit. Considering most parties wrap up at 6/7am, it's a bit of an endurance test to make it into the following afternoon. With no re-entry allowed, it's a good test of your staying power but with the biggest names yet to play, there's enough quality music to keep people standing. Another one of the club's new residents and arguably one of the hottest names on the island takes control after Kölsch and Black Coffee wastes no time showing clubbers his statement of intent for the season. The Theatre is awash with orange and gold lights, a colour plan that's been ever-changing to match the DJ playing.

Rolling drums, impeccable mixing and outlandish use of the effects merge together to create something unforgettable. It seems that every DJ tonight wants to showcase a sound that's more direct and intense to go with a new venue, that is with the exception of a crowd-pleasing 'Show Me Love' remix he plays halfway through his set.

A confident and assured debut from Black Coffee in one of the coolest new rooms in Ibiza. It's deep, it's ethereal and it's a highlight of the night.

Luciano - The Theatre

Once Black Coffee finishes up, here comes a real Ibiza daddy, someone who's rolled out music on the island for over a decade and someone who commands a certain amount of respect whenever he sets foot into a club on the island. Swiss hero Luciano churns out bubbling tech-house in the Theatre and finally there's loads of room to really get down. Despite it being close to 10am, the dancing inside hasn't become subdued or mongy, it's become more frantic, almost boisterous. There's no way the bpm has dipped below 128 and it's a furious display of Ibiza tech, Ibiza tech being the house that bops and bounces with a slew of sexiness and smoulder. His big moment? Of course it was when he played a thick, stomping edit of 'Higher State of Consciousness' by Josh Wink, a track we've heard go down in that room many times before and one we're sure we'll hear there again.

Apollonia - Club

The final shebang, the last hurrah. To the brave who made it to this point, you're treated to a four-hour masterclass from three of the coolest cats in the game. Apollonia seemed like a fitting choice to welcome in the sunlight and to take dancers down the final stretch. As they take to the decks, the room is a little quiet but by about 9.30am it's full to the rafters. The club isn't as light as the Terrace used to be it so lends itself to heads-down raving but that doesn't mean the tunes had to be as serious. The vinyl-only house sensations sweep though dozens of unreleased tracks, Apollonia-heaters that have yet to see the light of day but when combined with a sprinkling of house classics like 2nd Shift's 'It's Been a Long Time', the feel in the room was that of jubilation.

And that was it. Space had officially closed it doors and Hï's had finally opened theirs. Considering the amount of pressure steeped on the club to live up to its predecessor's legacy, we think it was an overall success. Enough has changed within the venue to make it feel fresh and exciting, like walking into a new superclub, but there's history in those walls and Hï have done a brilliant job of retaining that feel to the club. The sound is great, the DJs are ready for a big season and the toilet is shit hot.

We can't wait to go back.

Funster is Mixmag's Deputy Digital Editor. Follow him on Twitter