It's not so easy to fathom these days, but back in 1993 Energy 52's 'Café Del Mar' was a hugely influential track that came to serve as a template for an entire new sub-genre of club music. At the time of the track's release Trance barely existed as a musical style, and the sunny arpeggios conjured up by producers Cosmic Baby and Kid Paul were a breath of fresh air in a club scene dominated by dark and dystopian techno music.

Despite both producers hailing from Berlin, 'Café Del Mar' became closely associated with the club scenes of both Ibiza and Frankfurt, having been one of the first major hits on Sven Väth's fledgling Eye Q Records imprint. In 2011 things come full circle now with Frankfurt's prodigal son Ricardo Villlalobos taking on the track on 'Café Del Mar (The Ricardo Villalobos Remixes)'.



Otherwise this combination would not seem that obvious: Villalobos is famous for the avant-garde minimalism of his music, while 'Café Del Mar' is known for its melodic opulence. It is therefore quite interesting how Villalobos' interpretations are a remarkable exercise in restraint, toning down the original's famous hook-line so that it barely shimmers through his dryly clattering minimal techno beats.