Monegros

Monegros Desert, Spain | July 20-21st

With a sublime setting and gritty cutting edge music to boot, Monegros has developed a serious impact and name for itself within its 19 year career. This year the festival alternated their techno roots with deeper styles from the likes of Marcel Dettman and Joris Voorn, and married them with heavy hitting legends like Underworld, Richie Hawtin and Len Faki. Not to mention stalwart players from the house scene such as Loco Dice, Luciano and Marco Carola plus a subsidy of classic hip-hop in the form of the ever uncompromising Public Enemy.

As we arrived around 9pm, we narrowly avoided the gruelling heat as the sun was just dropping down over the horizon of the desert. Unfortunately we were met by a lightning shower which, although pleasing on the eye, had us drenched from the outset. Moving swiftly over to El Row arena, we dry up in a setting characterised by large burlesque stilt walkers, abstract art and moving dinosaur skeletons. It’s at this stage where we absorb a deep blend of techno from German hitter Marcel Dettmann, whose slower bpm set included some nice drops and naughty basslines that allowed Joris Voorn to up the ante with a more driving set to follow.

Then it was time to check out headliners Underworld, who drew in the largest crowd of the evening/morning with Born Slippy. Shortly after, we switched to check out Public Enemy who sent their audience into a frenzy with bangers like Bring The Noise, Don’t Believe The Hype and recent chart topper Harder Than You Think.

Just after Underworld came Minus frontman Richie Hawtin, who portrayed a mix of tech-house and techno to a sustained mass audience. Probably the perfect candidate to take over from the Scottish duo after an amazing performance. Keeping with that tech house theme, we hit up El Row once again for a triple headed attack. First Loco Dice chugged out some stomping basslines with serious use of the effects unit, Carola followed him with some energetic and deeper cuts and by 4am Luciano brought the early rising sun up with Cadenza style loops and drops of his own.

Drawing our festival to a close was Len Faki back at the main stage. Faki wouldn’t normally be the first pick for a sunrise set with his harder style, but in fairness it drew one of the biggest crowds of the morning. Monegros is not for the faint hearted and if you want an early finish, then you’re pretty much stuck. You’re in the middle of nowhere which kind of adds to the madness and fun. An option worth considering if you’re looking for unique, surreal party experience in 2014.

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Words: Rob Chadwick