A Man Called Adam 'Punta Del Este Sunset'
March 25th, 2002 by freddie96
PUNTA DEL ESTE SUNSET
Mixed by A Man Called Adam
(Pagan)
In January 2001, A Man Called Adam were lured out to Punta Del Este, South America’s very own summer clubbing destination, to play a number of sundown sets – and record this compilation in the process. Clearly the combination of Uruguayan sun, remote beaches and free alcohol proved to be an inspiring one, because Sally Rodgers and Steve Jones have turned in an extremely diverse and pleasurable set that is brings a welcome taste of summer to these rainy shores.
Certainly ‘Punta Del Este Sunset’ demonstrates how vibrant and inclusive chill out culture currently is. Indie, electro, world beat and summer pop all rub shoulders here. You could almost say there is something for everyone – except that would be to denigrate the pleasure to be had in the journey this mix takes you on, weaving between genres in such a way as to demonstrate how irrelevant they ultimately are.
It starts very strongly and continues that way. Rachel’s ethereal ‘Artemesia’ gives way to the melodic menace of Zero 7’s remix of Radiohead’s ‘Climbing Up The Walls’ – a good enough reason in itself to get this compilation. After that, the mood swiftly climbs upwards with two stunning world tracks, Issa Bagayogo’s ‘Sya’, a funky slice of South African electronica, and ‘Vuli n’ Delia’ from Brenda Fassie. If you don’t find yourself dancing round the room to the latter, you need help. The combination of her powerful vocals and the swinging backbeat is utterly winning.
If you’re ready to sit back after such exuberance, you’ll need to think again, because the Beta Band’s thrumming ‘Inner Meet Me’ is swiftly followed by ‘Worksong’ from Tosca, a wonderfully spare but rhythmic piece of mellow electronica. Only then does this mix begin its downward descent towards the horizontal, with a sequence of tracks by John Beltran, Suntwins (a version of ‘The Big Dream’ which appeared on the Big Chill’s ‘Enchanted 02’), Neon Heights (a real find) and Maurice Fulton. Then there is what we’ve all been waiting for some time now – a full-fledged new vocal track by A Man Called Adam themselves, called ‘Steady’. Fans will be pleased to know that it doesn’t disappoint. It’s classic, melancholy stuff that packs all the emotional punch of AMCA’s best work.
After that, the mix winds down further with a quirky, jazzy track from Tal, an almost ambient piece from Presence… and the Pixies’ ‘Monkey Gone To Heaven’. Not everyone is going to enjoy that last one but respect to A Man Called Adam for fully indulging their personal taste. So although this is packaged like a commercial Ibizan chill-out mix, it is much more interesting than that – it’s a compilation with bags of spirit and character. Odds on it will stand the test of time. FB
