Energy 52 - Café Del Mar

Unfortunately this mix package does not include a fantastic mix, the Universal state of mind remix which uses a piano for the lead riff that provides a welcome change to the well known and much remixed tune. The Nalin & Kane remix from 1998 was far from a 'failure' and gave the tune a darker edge but was slow to build. But the Three n' One remix will always be the one. So many memories.

"Café Del Mar" is probably the most remixed tune in the history of Trance, which can be good or bad depending on the kind of Trance fan you are. I'm gonna be honest here. I don't find the original all that interesting and it just seems too repetitive for me. But the later remixes are some fine examples of Trance (and in the case of this CD, House too).

You've got the classic mixes on here from Three 'N One and the single is nicely finished with Michael Woods' beautiful remix of 10-minute ambience.

As for the 2006 mixes (yes 2006, the only thing that makes this 2007 is the release date), they all tend to stick to the Progressive House (and sometimes a hybrid of Prog Trance and House) formula. We've got the funky sounds of Raul Rincon's mix. Not his best, but worth a listen. The remixes from Whelan & Di Scala and Tall Paul seem somewhat similar with an emphasis on the Progressive sound but include some Trance influences here and there too. As for the K-Klass and Soul Seekerz remixes, they're more in line with Raul Rincon's, but I think they're slightly better. Certainly, the K-Klass remix is with it's lush housey strings that come into play in the middle of the song.

So there we have it. "Café Del Mar" remixed for the umpteenth time, but each mix on here has it's own charm and if you're a big fan of Progressive in either House or Trance forms, then maybe you'll praise this release's existence! Certainly worth checking out if you have a hard time tracking down the two classic remixes on here.

Interesting to find out the background to the tune.

This is probably the best and most enduring happy trance tune from this era. The break and subsequent return of the beat in the DJ Kid Paul mix is for me one of the most uplifting moments in the history of dance music. It's also worth checking the Port de Bagnolet mix on the remix EP which is pretty much as good as the original.

This box contains all remixes from the well known hit "Cafe Del Mar" by Energy 52. The anthem saw the light in 1991 but it didn't win a large success at this time. 5 years later Three'N'One decided to make a remix which will become later a true club killer and a reference. For the common run of people, this remix appears as "original mix" but this is a big mistake. In 1998, Nalin & Kane released their own remix too but this was a failure. In 2003, new talentfull artists like Marco V or J00F entered into the Cafe Del Mar battle and provided each one a new remix. Marco V did it harder while JOOF brought us some kind of crazy psy trance remix.
If you want to look further into the release, I also advise Oliver Lieb Remix which sounds completely different.
This box is a true collector to keep preciously on your collection.

Still one of the best Trance-Releases ever released. It's hard to find such atmospheric Ibiza-Vibes in just one Track, Energy 52 made it and Nalin & Kane remixed it to perfection. There will never ever be such an outstanding charism as in this track.

Great box on this CLASSIC, the most famous trance tune of the world I suspect. However the majority of the remixes are crap, probably you'll find yourself only playing 10% of what you have bought, but it's a nice item in your collection no doubt.

In my opinion, only the "DJ Kid Paul Mix", "Cosmic Baby's Impression", "Solar stone Remix" and "Oliver Lieb Extended 1 Remix" are worth it!

This is one of the most famous and well respected trance releases of all time.

Three'N One deliver a very different mix compared to the original 'Kid Paul Mix'. The bpm, pace, and indeed energy levels are lowered to fit a more balearic euro house vibe, making it more mix friendly to a wider range of DJs. The result never detracts from the original, and has a life of its own.

To the uninitiated (and indeed the vast majority of clubbers), the 'Three'N One Mix' remains the 'original' mix, but of course those who take their music seriously know better. The 'Kid Paul Mix' which made its debut over 4 years previously to this release, may as well be a different track, and is a sure fire dance floor destroyer of unforgiving proportions. It sets its stall out from the outset with deliriously twirly classical synths before the eventual emergence of the side-to-side euro trance groove. To say this track is quick would be an understatement. In terms of euro trance perfection, it's right up there with 'Love Stimulation' (Love Mix) by Humate, and 'Fragile' by L.S.G. It continues to sound more 'current' than the 'Three'N One Mix'. Absolutely every trance collection must feature this track, whether it is this release or the original Eye Q release.

There are more Cafe Del Mar 12"s out there than I or anyone could possibly keep track of (re-issues, re-re-issues..), and many remixes that are pretty good as well.
Quite rare, it seems, is the Michael Woods remix, an ambient masterpiece that lifts this classic far above any cliché that could so easily be achieved and sweeps you along for 10 minutes: airy, warm, no beat, and a really intense build-up. I doubt anyone could have done it better. A 100.
You thought you didn't want to her it again? Just hold your breath and drift away..

Harald Bluechel aka Cosmic Baby about Energy 52 and "Cafe del Mar"

Paul & me met the first time in 1989 at a club, where he did one his first DJ-sets. We became friends and started an intensive creative exchange, while working on a vision, we shared: Transforming our love & enthusiasm to the starting techno-house into truely independent, significant musical statements. Together and as solo-artists.
A great exchange of abilities began: I became his „musical teacher“, he showed me the structural elegance of aesthetical efficiency“ in futuristic dance track-arrangements.

In Summer 1990, we went to Ibiza. Our favourite place to be was the „Cafe del Mar“. There, we enjoyed the evening-hours in company with beautiful music and people, who where quite different from the mainstream-club-crowds.

In Autumn 1992, Paul returned from another Ibiza-vacation. He told me about a certain piece he listened at the „Cafe del Mar“, he was electrified by. We found out, that it had been music by Wim Mertens, a composer, I highly adore.. We decided, to take his „Struggle for pleasure“ as inspiration for a very special piece to create.

Between September and December we worked highly concentrated and acribicly on the composition. Our common goal: every entire detail of the piece supposed to become „excellent“ - no „that`s already o.k.“- compromises to be made!

Finally in January 1993, we produced the two original versions at the studio with the engineer Jens Woynar. Afterwards we were in serious negotiations with „Eye Q“-records. In the end, they oddly realeased „Cafe del Mar“ without having our permission: so, we went to cord, the record had to be withdrawn from the shops. A big dilemma for us: the piece became THE anthem right after beeing played by the DJs for the first time – the people couldn`t buy the record, though...

Since „Energy 52“ is Paul`s project, the piece „Cafe del mar“ however composed by the two of us, we decided, that Paul alone should be responsible for all following negotiations. Four years later (!) the Hamburg based label „Superstition“ made the first „official“ and authorized realease, followed by a bunch of further remix-releases, which all became highly successful. Unfortunately, the record company labeled the wrong credits in the beginning, which was corrected after some time.

The correct credits are:
-for the original versions (kid paul mix , cosmic baby`s impression): „composed & produced by Paul M. and Cosmic Baby“
-for the following releases: „composed by Paul M & Cosmic Baby“, produced by Paul M.“.

Energy 52 - Café Del Mar [Café Del Marco V Remix]
Dutch top tech trance DJ Marco V took the melody, underlined it with his techy basslines and effects. The breakdowns are still chill-out, but the track in general is more raw and agressive. This is a much tougher driving version than any previous version, and its only when then melody kicks in during the midtrack breakdown does it become obvious what this track is. Banging!

Energy 52 - Café Del Mar [Michael Woods Ambient Mix]
Michael Woods delivers a sublime, beatless and spacey ambient version, which is very similar in style to his remix of Art of Trance's "Madagascar". At last, a reason for re-releasing this track!