As is his way, Roger Shah’s again pursued a one-hundred-percent exclusive material mandate for his latest ‘M.I.’ excursion. To that end, he’s reunited his singing, songwriting and composing family of ‘Balearic People’ for lucky no.13. Those returning from the last edition alone include Pierre Pienaar, Rafael Osmo, Yelow, Ditoma, Clarks, Aytaro, Spy and, naturally enough, Roger’s Sunlounger alias - all contributing to its compound hybrid makeup.
Adding to that family are actual blood-tied Shahs. Three years further on, Roger’s son Noah Shah has taken on an expanded role in this generational affair, contributing not only a clutch of his own tracks, but also stepping into a curatorial A and R role.
Roger goes on to explain. “While I was spending a lot of time working on the uplifting trance material for mix 2, Noah did a fantastic job on the A and R side, uncovering some amazing tracks and exciting new talent for the opening half. The mix also shines a spotlight on many releases from our Magic Island Deep label, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to bring all these elements together and craft another summer-inspired compilation.”
‘13’ opens in ‘Magic Island’s time-honoured daybreak light—fresh and expansive and melodic, though thoroughly unhurried in its telling. Early cuts such as 'Vanuatu' from Dutch producer Clarks, Rafael Osmo’s spellbinding 'Over Time You Have Become', and 'Your Heart Knows' from Amir Telem establish a heat-hazed outline to its lower-tempo progressivism. That vibe of earlier-morning introspection is further shaped by SidekoDJ’s 'I'm Lost in Love' and 'Lose Your Mind' from Ben Beckman. Those in turn open the door for Noah’s more pronounced stance on 'Your Call' and 'Feel Alright' (alongside NØSH), both of which transmit a clearer, clubbier, more front-footed direction for the mix.
Led by a quad threat of Sunlounger, MOKX, SaedYm and 88Birds, with 'Less Hate More Love', the compilation enters more heart-on-sleeve territory, before progressing further into the shadowlands of Ditoma’s 'Darkest Desires' and 'Destino' from Icotenai Project. As its journey develops, it opens up to later-stage highlights such as Katoff’s 'Burning Shadows', 'Beyond Your Smile' from Andy Woldman, Roger-M’s emphatic 'Meant To Be', and TRIP RGAZZI’s 'Leave It All Behind'.
If its first half charts dawn-through-daytime, Disc 2 burns with the full blaze of a Magic Island night. Higher in intensity, broader in stylistic scope, and with its gaze firmly locked on the heavens, it opens with Roger Shah, Kristina Sky and Evan Henzi’s 'Memories Of Space'. That immediately brings a commanding vocal presence to the mix, which is added to by the crystalline drive of Spy’s 'Eikon'. The pulse climbs further through Ambedoverse’s 'Chasing Grays' (in Roger Shah Uplifting Mix form), while Roger duels (and duals!) with Edwin ‘Yelow’ Tsui on the back-to-back 'A Better Place' and 'Serendipity'.
At Mix 2’s midpoint, Roger broadens the palette further with selections including Yodis’s 'Le Vanda' and Eric de la Vega and Alaera’s 'Cuando El Amor Acaba'. Together they provide the perfect launch point for 'Enchanted Dreams', which sees Roger joining forces with FSOE luminaries Omar Sherif and Philippe El Sisi. Mix 2 closes in the same formation as it began, as 'Hear Me Calling' sees Roger reunite with Kristina Sky and Evan Henzi for the album’s event-horizon finale.
"Summer ain’t been quite the same without a trip to the ‘Magic Island’! Boarding recommences NOW’.
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Electronic Music Culture Magazine