Thursday night saw the return of bonafide clubbing institution Cream at Amnesia. Cream’s name has been synonymous with clubbing culture for over two decades and quickly rose to become one of the most recognisable brands in dance music. Cream built its reputation on euphoric trance music that had become hugely popular in the late ‘90s, and big room music is still at the forefront of proceedings now.
The pulling power of Cream, coupled with certified huge names Paul Van Dyk and Calvin Harris, is hard to argue with and immediately evident when you walk through the entrance Amnesia. The sound was split across the two rooms – over in the main room Aly & Fila were warming up the crowd with an energetic set of hard and fast beats. That old match made in heaven – lasers and trance. The pace was rapid and the room was filled with the frantic sci-fi light show shooting to all corners of the room. When the lights and lasers are in full flow, the main room is something to behold, as if you’re transported to some sort of futuristic otherworld. Stripped back isn’t a phrase that is used at Cream – they deliver a feast for your eyes, that’s for sure.
Over in the Terrace it was less lasers and more of the brash and bold stop-start EDM fare served up by Burns. As it approached 3am, the Terrace was packed and still more people flooded in, desperate to see Calvin Harris. It’s strange to think of Amnesia as an intimate venue, but for a stadium DJ like Harris is concerned, the Terrace is about as intimate as it gets these days. His fans most probably saw it the same way as they clamoured for the best position to see the Scotsman. For Cream, the Terrace is turned around so the DJ is high up on stage at the opposite end to the usual DJ booth. It gives a more grand sense of occasion and adds that little bit extra to the spectacle, perfect for the kind of DJs performing at Cream.
With even Deadmau5 and Mike Pickering amongst the supporters backstage, high-fiving Calvin Harris as he readied himself for his set, the clamour for Harris had reached fever pitch. Once Burns had completed things, the Scot then jumped up onto the elevated stage and launched into his performance. CO2 cannons blasted vertically in front of the stage as Calvin Harris assumed the universal EDM DJ pose, arms aloft and outstretched, soaking up the youthfully vibrant atmosphere of the room. The talent of Calvin Harris to produce hit songs is undeniable – he knows exactly what these people want as they lap up every pop vocal, every melodic breakdown and every heavy drop. The success he has had over the past few years is also undeniable. It has been interesting watching him grow as an artist – who would have thought he would have got to where he is now after listening to ‘Acceptable in the 80s’ back in 2007?
The Cream Opening showed the immense power to draw in a crowd that Cream possesses and what makes the night the most popular on the island. Over 20 years down the line and Cream is showing no signs of slowing down.
Photos: Marc De Groot
