- Madrid may not be known as one of the essential stops on world clubber's itineraries, but Fabrik is nonetheless trying to change that. Home to one of the city's best sound systems and a haven for Madrid's young, stylish and electronic music-wise crowd, it's no surprise that Sven Väth and his infamous party, Cocoon, chose it to host their legendary fiesta.
While most Madrid nightclubs are located very centrally within the city, we can only imagine that due to its sheer size, Fabrik is pushed to the outer limits of the city, a healthy 21 kilometers from the city center to be exact. While the location demands the need for some transportation preparations, it also means that no mere tourist or casual night clubber is in attendance.
After making our way through the gauntlet of broken glass and litter that was supposed to be the car park, we quickly discovered a several hundred strong line. It was just coming to 2 AM, and everyone was eager to get in. Guestlist and general public lines were one, but fortunately we were dealing with seasoned professionals, so the ticket booth procedures and security were being perfectly executed. After only a relatively short wait, we were welcomed into the superclub by the thundering techno of Väth playing on the main stage.
We were surprised to hear him playing so early in the night: 2 AM by Spanish standards is just when the party is getting started. We circumnavigated through the crush of bodies to orientate ourselves within the main room among the 4000 plus in attendance. Väth was delivering a high energy techno set arguably laced with almost psy-trance influences, yet never going too deeply into the land of cheese. His fans were going crazy as every few minutes the heavens above seemed to open and hurricane-force cold air and mist devoured the partygoers below. The entire crowd was jumping, swaying, moshing, screaming, all seemingly unison. It was organized mayhem with a Mad Max feel to it.
Thinking that Väth would be playing for a few more hours, we decided to search out the other three rooms. Again navigating through the broken glass, plastic bottles, chewing gum and delightfully, happy and sweating bodies, we were finally found all three dance areas outside with one mysteriously placed down an obscure flight of stairs. We had heard a few whispers about Tobi Neumann during the day, so were happy to find him playing with Onur Özer under a medium-sized marquee styled tent. It took a few minutes to adjust from the intensity of Väth's set to their more minimal techno grooves, but we were soon in the flow and shaking it in front of the DJ booth. The hundred strong crowd were loving it, but it was an entirely different atmosphere. Less crowded, more intimate, more friendly, more chilled out.
The night disappeared on us quickly, but having rested all day, our energy levels were high and we headed back into the main area, wanting some more harder, darker, more sinister rhythms. This time in the main room, though, Steve Bug was playing some seriously slow minimal. Maybe we caught him as he was just warming up his set because he mined this vibe for long enough to encourage me to leave my friends to their own devices as I headed back to the top deck to meet some new friends. (My friends would have a different take, considering they remain devotedly positioned in front of the speakers for the entirety of his set.)
Soon enough, though, the clock struck 7, and the curtains slid shut on the main stage as the cries of more than 5,000 for an encore fell on deaf ears. Overall, the night was a huge success. The only thing I would have changed? The running order. Considering Steve Bug's low-key vibe, he would have made the ideal opener to Väth devastating, head-spinning, energetic set. That said, no matter who plays at the next Cocoon event at Fabrik, I will no doubt be there.