Do you have to live on Ibiza to be able to reconstruct the Balearic sound convincingly? With his label International Feel, English producer Mark Barrott, who until recently was based in Uruguay, has clearly demonstrated the very opposite. At some point, however, the local origins of this music appear to have captivated him, because Mark Barrott has been living on the island for two years now. The consequences are documented on his album »Sketches From an Island«, released under his given name, parts of which were previously released on two EPs. The relaxing effect of the surroundings may or may not have had an influence on the result, either way it is a great celebration of the laid-back groove in many forms; sometimes enhanced with jazz guitar, sometimes flanked by delicately babbling arpeggios, sometimes discreetly Caribbean-inspired, sometimes heavily cosmic – and entirely without a beat – imitating the slow expansion of outer space. Side two of the album can be a bit too much of an esoteric ambient hammock ride with flute whispering and piano keys, but for the most part Barrott’s formula works. Somehow it makes you feel quite reconciled with the rest of the world.
In Lists
Derya Yıldırım picks 10 records that have shaped, improved and formed her
List
David Pajo picks 10 records that have formed, improved and shaped him
List
Kurious picks 10 records that have shaped, improved and formed him
List, Portrait
King Buzzo picks 10 records that shaped, improved and formed him
List, Portrait
