CARL COX

Space
Tuesday night

Website: carlcox.com

Bless you Mr Cox, for giving us a free party, and at Space of all places!

Launching in 2002, with a series of 6 Thursday night parties, the first of which was to mark his birthday in August, Carl's promise after being one of the highest-paid but most in demand DJs across the White Isle, was to give something back to the clubbers. Thursday night clubbing was rarely an option for me - it's a La Troya thing - but when Carl relaunched the party on Tuesday nights in 2003, again still free, it seemed daft, if not rude, not to check it out for myself!

The first thing I found out on arrving at Space that night was that although it was advertised as being free entry between 8pm and 10pm, you were still required to buy a €10 drinks ticket. This was still very good value, for entry to the world's most popular nightvlub, especialy as you'd have to buy a drink anyway once you got in there. I also soon found out that you need to be there by 9pm to guarantee entry before 1opm, as the queues to get in snaked all the way from the entrance as far as the lurking Guardia Civil in the parking lot! Fortunately, entry between 10pm and midnight was only €15, which included a free drink! And with a flyer it was five euros less! You'd still, however, need to be there by 11pm to guarantee entry before midnight... At which point the free party would set you back €35, so you'd have to like Carl's music to go in at this price...

Luckily for me, I've been a huge fan of Carl since I first heard one of his legendary Space closing party closing sets in September 2001 (and every year since). Mixing dozens of records at the same time (well, three or four at least), and still able to shout out, "Anyone here from Loughborough" over the mike and make it sound really cool, Carl Cox can do no wrong. Not in the slightest.

The first time I heard Carl play I was swept up in his music, and found myself drawing on previously untapped reserves of energy to dance for hours beyond breaking point until he finished playing. His hardcore techno house is perfect for his natural home in the Discoteca of Space, but he proved himself equally at home on the Terrace of Space, slipping in unexpected tracks such as Personal Jesus, abd sending us all into a frenzy.

The 2003 parties were loosely billed as Carl Cox's World, with guest DJs each week that Carl has played with on his global tours. Amongst my favourites were Dutchman Michael de Hey, local fave Christian Varela (a.k.a Carlos Duran) and Portugal's own DJ Vibe.

Back for eight more parties from late-July in 2004, this was one of my favourite parties in 2003 and looks set to be the same this year.

Marti
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