(House / Dance) VA - Cafe Mambo Ibiza 08 Mixed by Andy Cato 2CD - EDF - 2008, MP3 (tracks+.cue), VBRkbps

Andy Cato, perhaps better known as one half of Groove Armada, couldnt be a better choice to take
charge of Cafe Mambo 2008, the first in the illustrious series that resident Pete Gooding hasnt
helmed.

Cafe Mambo 2008 is spread over two CDs: Dia (day) is geared towards sunset and Noche (night) on
Ibiza after dark. There arent many producers in the world today who have captured the very
essence of these themes in their music: Groove Armadas At The River is a spine-tingling downtempo
anthem (Cato plays that mesmerizing trombone), while Superstylin and Shake That Ass, are peaktime
dancefloor grenades. On top of that Catos long been based in Barcelona, the Catalan capital and
Mediterranean epicentre for dance music that shares a counter culture spirit with Eivissa.

In these terms Catos Dia is perfectly pitched: its widescreen with a gentle ambience, mirrors the
changing light by subtly evoking similar moods and emotions, and has plenty of room to pause for
breath, and reflection. Opening with the acoustic blues of John Cales Magnolia, Cato communicates
the brilliant white suns last hurrah with Morgan Kings dazzling Im Free. Coldcuts
classical-electronic symphony Autumn Leaves tracks the golden suns gradual transformation to
pinkish-red and Brian Jonestown Massacres psych-rock breaks the wistful melancholia, before
Kruder & Dorfmeister blissed-out drum and bass, and LCD Soundsystems 45.33s rippling pianos and
smooth synths, hint at the possibilities of the night ahead.

Noche is pregnant with the mischief, magic, and mystery that is nocturnal Ibiza. Steracs 1996
classic emotechno Secret Life Of Machines is the path between Dia and Noche, Tam Coopers tougher
Galactica gets hips and feet moving in tandem. Groove Armadas teasing Love Sweet Sound marries
Candi Statons soaring soul to sharp electro house, Shades Of Rhythms Everybody rolls back the
years to glorious piano house at its finest, and Sebastian Davidsons Great Taste, Zero Sugar is
new school, lithe fluttering electro. By the time Danny Clark and Jay Benham and Su Su Bobiens
Wondrous guttural vocal house, and Last Rhythms Last Rhythms deep house goodness rounds off
Noche, sunset is but a distant memory.