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Sounds of the sea and gulls crying mixed with soft beats, laidback lyrics and tranquilizing tunes, Caf\u00e9 del Mar has become far more eclectic than how it originally began but it will always be remembered for evoking memories of timeless sunsets by the sea. The brand is emblematic of chill-out at its very best and 7 million volumes have been sold worldwide since the launch of the first edition in 1994.<\/p>\n
If you are a fan of chill-out music it’s highly likely that you own one of the 7 million volumes sold over the years. And there’s good news for you as 3 new volumes have just been released. Chill-out music (sometimes also written chillout or simply chill) is an umbrella term for several styles of electronic music characterized by its mellow style and mid-tempo beats \u2014 “chill” being derived from a slang injunction to “relax.”<\/p>\n
Chill-out music emerged in the early and mid-1990s in “chill rooms” at dance clubs, where relaxing music was played to allow dancers a chance to “chill out” from the more emphatic and fast-tempo music played on the main dance floor.<\/p>\n
Caf\u00e9 del Mar’s Volume 19 is a double-CD edition featuring the very popular Spanish band La Union who recorded their classics in a chill-out Caf\u00e9 del Mar style tone, such as Lobo Hombre in Paris or Sildavia (with arrangements and guitar from top flamenco chill artist Francisco Garcia aka Gitane). One of my favourites of the album is \u201cMissing Marbella\u201d a chill house number with touches of guitar from this Italian composer who has participated already in two of Caf\u00e9 del Mar albums. But if we have to pick one album winner it must be \u201cPicasso in Love\u201d from the Malage\u00f1an band The Leon Project. This song has caught the attention of some influential producers and a video is been prepared to be launched soon.<\/p>\n
The Leon Project also produced an exclusive Caf\u00e9 del Mar album entitled Canvas of Miracles. Leading the band are Jes\u00fas and Paco Leon, two brothers from M\u00e1laga and it also features the unique voices of La Negra Mayte or Lione Gilad Hotta in an unique creation of chill-out mixed with flamenco and other ethnic vibes.<\/p>\n
Jose Padilla is the most well known Caf\u00e9 del Mar DJ but the main person behind the creation of the music is Ram\u00f3n Guiral, who started this selection of grooves in Caf\u00e9 del Mar on San Antonios beach in Ibiza. He began selling tapes of the music he used to play during the sunset sessions, music from the New Age and Ambient styles from Jean Michell Jarre, Pink Floyd, John Anderson, Vangelis, until in 1994 he decided to release a collection of CDs with a proper label (first React, later Mercury and then its own label) with huge success over more than 20 years. The Caf\u00e9 del Mar albums are collectors items with very artistic design and quality digipacks and sound. If you have original copies it’s well worth keeping them.<\/p>\n
Last but not the least of the 3 new releases is Ritmos Latinos. Composed by Sergio Marte from Miami it is a sublime mixture of Latin chill-out rhythms. Ram\u00f3n Guiral has always sought to discover new musical talents and is already working on 3 new more albums to be released during the summer of 2015. If you are are talented musician or DJ with experience in mixing chill-out tunes that would complement the Caf\u00e9 del Mar style you can contact Active Sound Productions with information and we will send a copy of one of your sessions to Ramon Guiral who personally selects all the music for the record label Caf\u00e9 del Mar and Caf\u00e9 del Sol Music.<\/p>\n
The price of the CDs are 15\u20ac for single compilations such as Caf\u00e9 del Mar \u201cThe Leon Project \u2013 Canvas Of Miracles\u201d and Caf\u00e9 del Mar \u201cRitmos Latinos by S. Marte\u201d, and 20\u20ac for a the double CD such as Volume 19 (available for purchasing from Active Sound Productions).<\/p>\n