La Torre Ibiza [Volumen Cinco]

Balearic compilations used to be an annual tradition, somewhere between precious remembrances of temps perdu at DJ Alfredo’s Amnesia or Jose Padilla’s Cafe del Mar and Ibiza Airport gift shop souvenir. Modern Balearic master Mark Barrott and Pete Gooding’s fifth entry in the Hostal Torre’s La Torre Ibiza series also celebrates a decade of their own modern spin on the form. Barrott himself delivers a piece that draws on the orchestral flourishes of his recent album, paired to some swinging jazz drums that evoke Axelrod. Astute selections abound, like recent ambience from µ-Ziq and a loose-limbed Auntie Flo afrobeat cut, but also a percolating Nina Simone deep cut from the late ‘60s. Brazilian orchestral pop and breezy NYC ‘90s house all hang together, while outright sentimental heartgrabs that should feel played-out (Mazzy Star, Boards of Canada) become revelatory against the backdrop of magic hour light.