In 1988, there was the 'Balearic' business, an eclectic style of DJing which at the time encompassed dance mixes of pop artists like Mandy Smith and quasi-industrial music like Nitzer Ebb's 'Join In The Chant' Championed by Danny Rampling, Nicky Holloway, Paul Oakenfold and Johnny Walker who'd all been to Ibiza in the summer of 1987, Balearic was an integral part of the club scene at the time, but after the gushing media overkill it all became a little farcical as people attempted to make Balearic records. There was, of course no such thing.
1. Agua - Padilla, Jose 2. The Story of Light - Orbit, William 3. Smokebelch II [Beatless Mix] - Sabres Of Paradise 4. Music for a Found Harmonium - Penquin Cafe Orches 5. Sundance - Sun Electric 6. Fanfare of Life - Leftfield 7. The Hypnotist - Sisterlove 8. Second Hand - Underworld 9. Crazy Iven - Ver Vlads 10. Estelle - A Man Called Adam 11. On the Rocks - Obiman 12. Sunset at the Cafe del Mar - Rasa, Tabula
Once upon a time, Ibiza was a spiritual and magical place. Every sunset, people gathered at Jose Padilla's ornately-decorated little beach-side bar to be hypnotised by his unique sunset DJ mix, staring dreamily out to sea. The first Café Del Mar album encapsulates this mystical experience, beginning light and airy with Jose's own dolphin-esque "Agua", progressing to darker, bassier sounds like Underworld and Ver Vlads to represent the sun falling behind the horizon. Jose creates a spellbinding atmosphere by placing oddities such as Penguin Cafe Orchestra, alongside dance tracks that take inspiration from world music and New Age (ethereal female vocals; bongo-lead percussion; samples of self-hypnosis tapes, flutes; wave-sounds). Higlights include the resonant piano and strings of Sabres Of Paradise's "Smokebelch" beatless mix. The sky fades to black with the gentle ambience of "Sunset At The Café Del Mar". Café Del Mar was "compiled with love" and thus truly stands the test of time. A great beginning to a classic compilation series. --Sarah Champion