New Order - Regret (The Fire Island Mix) (London, 1993)

Dancefloor melancholy

Almost Deep House smooth, this Fire Island remix really suits the laid-back, slightly melancholy feel of 'Regret'. Junior Boys Own's mastery gives the track some space and more propulsive beat but leaves the song pretty much intact, save for extended the instrumental coda.

Funnily, this is a more 'Balearic' sound than that of famously Ibiza-influenced 'Technique'.

Download New Order 'Regret (The Fire Island Mix)' (Alternative, mp3) (Divshare)

One Dove - Breakdown (Cellophane Boat Mix) (Junior Boys Own, 1993)

A Dub House symphony. Epic. Beautiful.

'Morning Dove White' - also touched by the hand of Andrew Weatherall - is up there with 'Screamadelica' for me in distilling the emotions and dynamics of Dub and House into a sumptuous cocoon of sound. You could call it Post Club Soul. Maybe it doesn't need a label.

'Breakdown' is a teasing, irresistable web of shuffling beats, reverb-happy piano, meandering bass and dubbed-out effects, bouncing subtly around the soundfield. It settles into a laidback groove and Dot Allison unleashes an angelic soliloquy to lost love.

A perfect companion piece to the Dub Symphony version of 'Higher Than The Sun' and the Lemonentry Mix of Saint Etienne's 'Pale Movie'. A seriously under-rated album.

Download One Dove - Breakdown (Cellophane Boat Mix) (Junior Boys Own, One Dove mp3) (Box.net)

Cath Carroll - Moves Like You (Factory, 1991)

Sinuous, low-riding Ibiza-dappled groove.

A classic in the mould of One Dove's awesome 'Morning Dove White' album or the Saint Etienne of 'Kiss And Make Up'. Echoes in the sugary pop refractions of Korallreven.

Languid. Delicious.

Download Cath Carroll - Moves Like You (Factory mp3)

It's Immaterial - Driving Away From Home (Wicked Weather For Walking) (Siren, 1986)

Somehow a Balearic classic. Works in-car, rainy bedroom or sun-kissed beach bar apparently.

Having never been down the Cafe Del Mar on a Sunday evening (or any other day of the week for that matter) I can't vouch for the fact that this record works as a Balearic classic. However, its presence on any number of compilation attests to the fact. It must be the Flamenco-ish bit about half way through.

To me, it's the sound of rainy Saturday afternoons spent staring at rain through glass. We had to make our own entertainment back then, y'know.

Download It's Immaterial - Driving Away From Home (Wicked Weather For Walking) (Balearic mp3)