Space forever: Remembering one of Ibiza's most iconic clubs

Mixmag's Ralph Moore reflects on 17-years worth of partying at the legendary Space Ibiza

When I first came to Ibiza in 1999, it was already well known that Space was the place. Home on a Sunday with Darren Hughes featured the most progressive and on-point line-ups on the island, with Sasha and Digweed playing alongside the likes of David Morales, Cassius and Erick Morillo. They’d play to the most cosmopolitan, open-minded dancefloor on the island, whereas most of the other parties catered to a mainly British crowd. It was the era of the open terrace, a time when tracks could still be dubbed terrace anthems.

I could probably write a whole chapter on those anthems but here's a short list of tracks that are synonymous with Space: Alan Braxe and Fred Falke’s ‘Running’. Silicone Soul’s ‘Right On’. Bob Sinclar’s ‘Gym Tonic’. Pete Heller’s ‘Big Love’. Into the early 2000s, classics like ‘Body Language’, ‘Mandarine Girl’ and ‘Man With Guitar’ would join the roll call. And with the inside of the venue offering a darker soundtrack, songs like 'Dark And Long' by Underworld slotted into place like hand and glove. I also remember hearing ‘King Of My Castle’ for the first time at Space. It sounded bonkers and the lyrics made no sense but the record was partially broken on the terrace and a few weeks later the track was a UK number one. Space strikes again.

Aside from Home, Manumission Carry-On was the best party at eight in the morning. Daft Punk actually played the terrace in '99, dropping Madonna's ‘Holiday’ to total elation. It was also elrow years before elrow, with parasols and fancy dress fairly de rigueur and with more fun per corner than anywhere else. And because Space at that point was open air, it was impossible to get bored of the sound of aeroplanes roaring overhead. It was actually an expected part of the Space experience.