Various Artists - Beach Suite (Album)
Someone, somewhere, most likely in Queensland, has this double-CD compilation in their car stereo, pumping it loudly with the windows rolled down, letting the cool, salty air in while the wild yellow sun sets on another day. Their off to a beach party, because there’s no point trying to sleep on muggy nights like this, where the cold beer and hot, freshly tanned skin is all you can see on the thin, white sand.
Do you know how depressing it is to listen to this CD when you’ve just finished a long-arse shift at Kmart with no air conditioning? This double-album encompasses the best of a summer soundtrack, a mix that puts you right in the sun, surf and sweat of it all. Oh, how it makes me long for the beach.
This compilation began as a night at the famed Oyster Bar in North Fremantle. Like-minded DJ’s came from far and wide to groove all night and day right there on the beach. A traditional was thus instilled, and the breadth of genres and beats turned into a 31-track double CD from the gang at Suite Musique.
There are flavours from heaps of genres here- all the summer friendly ones- from electro, reggae (Peace and Love by Resin Dogs feat. Demolition Man), jazz (Jazz Me by Malou, Puget Sound by AIM), ambient and go-go funk (Sugar Coated by Parker feat. Sarah Scott, Can Ya Dig by Peter G).
There’s an other-worldliness I found quite enlightening about the music collected here; even listening to it in a chilly suburban room takes me far out into the ocean, or right up near the tide, on the hot sand. Standout tracks are Hold Me Closer by Julius Waters feat. Lucy Chapman and As We Travel by Team 9. Their weightlessness was electrifying, and chilling in the best possible way.
Follow Her by Camiel is very intriguing, I highly recommend giving it a listen; it’s a sort of summer film- noir track. Smoky and husky, it was a time warp back to 1943 (not that I’ve ever been there…but you know what I mean).
As much as this compilation isn’t exactly my tastes, I did quite enjoy it. So imagine how much your average sunbathing, convertible driving, bleach blonde nymphettes are gonna love it! It’ll definitely be the summer party mix-tape for ’07/’08, or if you don’t like it, it’ll be something thick to keep your icy cold Draught pint on.
