- The word ‘Ibiza’ is never a good omen on a record cover, particularly in combination with definitive-sounding statements such as ‘This is…’ or ‘The Sound of…’ or ‘Clubber’s Guide to…’. Normally this is written in a glossy font slapped over a bikini-clad tart with a look on her face that would terrify her mother. But hold on. Before you think of lumping ‘Ibiza: The Sound of Renaissance Vol. 4’ in with the bargain bin contingent, note that there are a couple of factors here that offer a bit of hope. Firstly, it’s actually mixed by real human being DJs – in this case Pete Gooding and Marcus James from Renaissance – not some anonymous studio intern with a copy of ProTools and Top 20 checklist to run through (although you might never know this – you have to look hard to spot their names on the sleeve.) Secondly, there is a leopard on the cover as opposed to a tart (some may see this as a poor move).
Gooding's mix, titled ‘Beach’, begins on the high note of Trentemoller's stunning track ‘Miss You’. When you think of the sunny skies of Ibiza, you think summery melodies, and 'Miss You' is full of them. Unfortunately it is all downhill from here. There are some healthy productions here - the acid house-inspired 'Big Jock' by Stephen Lopkin is sufficiently beachworthy despite its acid riffs, while No Logo’s moody ‘Dark Star’ gives the mix a bit of an edge and flow - but just when you think it is all heading somewhere, it all comes crashing down with productions that are either out of place, or quite frankly, just not that good anyway. Right at the death, the ever-interesting Nathan Fake and Bjork help things along, but the damage has been done already. If you're after something soothing for your stint on the beach in Ibiza, look elsewhere.
In contrast, Marcus James' 'Club' mix is pretty damn decent. And I'm talking not just decent for an Ibiza compilation, but decent by any standard. Perhaps it lacks the creativity that a mix from a top drawer DJ could provide, but it's got its finger on the pulse of some of the finer tracks you'll hear this summer: ‘White Bug’ by Tiger Stripes has a killer earworm of a main riff; Carl Craig’s remix of 'Faze Action' is still a quality head-pounder, even if it comes in a touch early here; and ‘Low Enhance’ is classic four-in-the-morning-in-Ibiza stuff. Another highlight is Shlomi Aber's delightfully melodic 'Moods', which is quite similar to 'Sea of Sand', but a worthy track in its own right. As I said, this is a pretty damn decent. It also has a nice variety to it, running through straight up house music, electro house and even a bit of minimal.
Have Renaissance released a groundbreaking classic here? Certainly not. But that's not the point of a release like this. There is a lot of summery music to enjoy here, especially on the club disc, and sometimes that's enough. Job done then.
TracklistCD 1 mixed by Pete Gooding
1.Trentemøller - Miss You
2. Quark - Acoustiques Paralleles (Swayzak Mix)
3. Afterlife Feat. Angela Neve - Midnight
4. This City Never Sleeps - No Logo
5. Ashley Beedle Pres. The London Heavy Disco Revue - And Justice For All
6. Thievery Corporation - Satyam Shivam Sundaram
7. Blue Foundation - As I Moved On (Run Jeremy Band Remix)
8. Reverso 68 - Take Me Back (To Yours)
9. Stephen Lopkin - Big Jock (A Tribute To A Legend)
10. No Logo - Dark Star
11. Ben Westbeech - So Good Today
12. Alexkid With Liset Alea - Nightshade (Rodriguez Jnr Mix)
13. Mighty Math - Experimental Child (Swayzak-Not-Swayzak Mix)
14. Nathan Fake - Stops
15. Björk & David Arnold - Play Dead
CD 2 mixed by Marcus James
1. Partial Arts - Trauermusik (Original Mix)
2. Dennis Ferrer - Transitions
3. Markus Enochson Feat. Masaya - For You To See (Tiger Stripes Remix Dub)
4. Joey Negro Pres. Akabu - I¡¦m Not Afraid Of The Future (Jimpster Remix)
5. Is This 002 - Track E - Is This A Label
6. Tiger Stripes - White Bug
7. Solaris Heights - No Trace
8. Faze Action - In The Trees (Carl Craig C2 Mix)
9. Nic Fanciulli - Cat Out Of The Bag (Jim Rivers Cat Nip Mix)
10. Blue Foundation - Sweep (Jim Rivers Vox)
11. Solar - Low Enhance
12. Shlomi Aber - Moods Feat. Lemon
13. Pitch & Hold - Maillot Jaune