Real Ibiza Volume 8

After a 8 year hiatus React is ever so pleased to be returning with Volume 8 of Real Ibiza. First launched in 2000 Real Ibiza was one of the first wave of Ibiza / Balearic inspired compilations. A cornerstone of the genre alongside the Café Del Mar series. Real Ibiza gets inside the Balearic bloodstream by mixing in downtempo sensibilities, mellow house, cool jazz and plentiful doses of evening sunwashed grooves. For episode 8 Bahamian DJ Loudery takes a trip to the white isle and samples its musical DNA.

Although the sounds on this compilation all may Balearic, the producers from behind them are truly a global bunch. Ibiza spreads a wide net. First up, Glasgow based Korvids drip into the soundscape with the sleazy, jazzy, sax driven opener “Ursula My Dear”. Next Dutch based Electronic Bodyguards take things on a vocal twist. More saxophones, on point electric guitar and a beach handclap beat.

Two regulars from the Real Ibiza series are English man Chris Coco and Scandinavian Lenny Ibizarre. Here they join forces for their reggae tinted take on the Peter Green / Fleetwood Mac classic “Albatross”. Staying Sweden side Polar Rundfunk team with Annemarie Zimakoff for beachside, moonwashed, forlorn love song in “Dreaming About You”. 1Blip2 are next with their percussive, quirky seaside groove. Things slow down for the ambient “Hollow Words” from Jamie Isaac before the summer time groove is back with “Plaids Aquatic” from UK based “The Village Elephant”.

We take a short Spanish themed detour, first with the glorious Spanish guitar from Dimitry Raschepkin and then some bossa nova beats from Argentinian Augustin Pereyra Lucena. No Balearic compilation would be complete without a visitation from Café Del Mar resident Jose Padilla. Here he contributes his muscular downtempo houser “Elixir”. Italian based American Tony Carascco (one half of Klein and MBO) shows his mellower side with the beautiful sax melody from “Primavera” from his Audio Affair project. “Lost Angel” follows, smooth sax and leftfield groove from the Russian pair Voronsov and Dorohov.

“Tangerine” from UK based Amane is next, some downtempo soundscape to set the tone for Amani (yup one letter difference) with the haunting “Shine On Me” Ilya Santana providing the sister island remix. A third producer-trip to Sweden for this compilation is next with Kenneth Bagers “Amazing”. Big grooves, big hooks and early heaving house groove to cherish. “My Boo (Don’t Forget)” is next from Dubai based Glass Coffee sounding adding in spooky samples overlaid into a hot evening mellow groove.

We round off the sound trip with a brand new track from San Francisco producer Sorcerer “Secret Agent”. This mans music just bleeds summer in its veins. Layers of tight Stratocaster and poolside groove. Things close up with another track from the Korvids, here they team up with Jose Padilla for his chilled out version of their Beach Coma epic.