Fierce Angel Rock Ibiza!
As the cycles of dance music turn once more to the sexy sounds of house and the saturated minimal market licks it's funk inflicted wounds, Fierce Angel brings a welcome breath of fresh air to Ibiza's predominantly tech styled landscape.
Words: Simon Kelly
Mark Doyle, the brains, and workhorse behind the infamous Hed Kandi brand prior to its absorption into the expansive Ministry of Sound empire, has spent the last few years developing a new concept based on has fundamental love of all things house.
Fierce Angel is a return to the roots of nineties Ibiza clubbing. A flashback to the days when Ibiza floors rocked to soaring vocals, jacking Chicago beats and enlivening sax solos. But this is much more than a nostalgia trip, or a classics night. Fierce Angel sits on the premise that clubbing should be fun, not take itself too seriously. We can go with that!
When DJmag rocks up to El Divino's portside location a snaking queue of dressed up girls and style conscious guys are chomping at the bit to get inside. El Divino, in association with Doyle and the other promoters has pulled out all the stops to help out cash-strapped clubbers. In addition to reasonably priced door tax, vouchers can be purchased on entry that reduce drinks to an inflation-busting five Euros. By the look of the crowds who have turned out tonight – it is doing the trick!
Once inside, we step into a glitter-soaked house music paradise. Beautiful dancers gyrate on the clubs elevated podiums and stunning décor adorns the entire place. Outside on the terrace a mixture of club kids, party girls and affluent Europeans bustle together shooting the breeze overlooking Ibiza's old town while inside a solid collection of early peakers are letting loose to the sounds of cool vocal laced funky house on the dancefloor.
By the time Doyle hits the decks the main room is packed to bursting and the atmosphere is euphoric. As he seamlessly delves through the spectrum of uplifting house accompanied by the beautiful Lady V on sax, the dancefloor ignites amidst a giant glitter bomb fired from the stage. The foot soldiers down below reach to the ceiling, grinning ear-to-ear as the golden chaff falls all around them.
It is testament to the skills and enthusiasm of Doyle and his team that they can pack out El Divino on a Friday night – pulling house lovers from San Antonio away from Pete Tong's Wonderland and Pure Pacha. "There is lots of competition on Fridays" agrees Doyle, "but we just try to add a little extra value for the people" Indeed, with live shows, top end production and free buses Fierce Angel have set out their stall as a value-heavy alternative to the mega-brands elsewhere on island.
An essential Ibiza night out and one to watch for next summer!
