Review: In 2003, amid a shifting landscape of closing record stores and evolving electronic music genres, Phonica Records emerged as a haven for dance and electronic music enthusiasts. Founded by Simon Rigg, Tom Relleen, and Heidi Van Den Amstel with backing from The Vinyl Factory - Phonica aimed to be a welcoming hub for all genres. Starting quietly, the shop gradually gained a strong reputation, fueled by the founders' ties to Koobla Records. Phonica thrived in its early years by championing emerging genres like electro house and minimal-micro house from labels like Kompakt and Perlon. In 2007, the Phonica record label was born, evolving into a platform for both staff and emerging talents, featuring early releases by now-established artists such as Peggy Gou and Four Tet. In 2023, celebrating its 20th anniversary, Phonica showcases its journey with 20 Years Of Phonica - a compilation boasting 18 exclusive tracks from established and rising artists across the label's diverse musical spectrum. Hot tips include tracks by Willow, Dorisburg, Ron Basejam, Roman Flugel and more!
Review: You can tell the age of a horse by counting its teeth, the age of a tree by counting its rings, and the age of a dance music reviewer by counting how many 'Cafe Del Mar' comps are stored away in his/her/their memory banks! That sadly makes this writer about 250 years old, but thankfully the series has recently hit a serious run of form and this latest volume is a delight from start to finish, kicking off as it does in dubwise territory before veering briefly into lo-fi hip-hop and then bringing the classic-style Balearic vibes. With detours into fluffy pop, pointless ambience or self-indulgent neo-classicism conspicuous by their absence, it's everything that's good about the Ibiza sundown experience distilled into two hours of chilled listening pleasure.
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