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Music

Calypso-Disco, Sunburnt House and Righteous Reggae Abound on Balearic Icon Phil Mison's Next Level Guest Mix

The former Cafe Del Mar resident's served up the perfect accompaniment to a day on the beach.

It isn't every day that a goliath pings over a mix for us at THUMP HQ, so the morning we rubbed the sleep from our eyes and noticed that Balearic icon Phil Mision—AKA Cantoma—had slid into our inbox we were the happiest we've been since we realised that Shipyard IPA was available as part of the beer and burger deal of a popular chain pub. Seriously, we were THAT happy.

This year's seen Mison drop another classic Cantoma album—the ludicrously gorgeous Just Landing—as well as Volume 1, a Music for Dreams released collaboration with Danish musician and engineer Volmer, under the name Ambala, which is currently making the Balearic boys out there very, very happy indeed.

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As you'd expect from a former Cafe Del Mar resident, the mix sees Mision in typically eclectic form, and we're 100% certain that you'll be coming back to this one time and time again. This one's best served chilled with the sea lapping at your toes and the hot Mediterranean sun beating down on your neck. Failing that, it'll still sound wicked on an overly-busy bus on the way home from work.

We suggest slipping on a pair of slides and some swimming trunks, and pouring yourself a nice crisp, cold beer and settling into a genuinely blissful hour of calypso-disco, forgotten AM gems, sunburnt house, righteous reggae, horn-drenched funk, and the kind of dusky delights you only ever hear in the car on holiday. The mix and a quick interview with Mison are below.

THUMP: Phil, you've had a long and storied career. What was it that made you want to pursue music as a full-time gig for life? Was there anyone you looked up to especially as a younger man?
Phil Mison: I don't think I had any specific ideas to make DJing a career. I'd been really into music ever since I could remember and I just kind of fell into it. I can't remember anyone in particular but the whole London nightclub/records/clothes thing that I became aware of in '87 I found pretty fascinating.

Is a life spent playing and making music one well spent?
Well it's not on a par with being an open heart surgeon or anything. But if you make music people like and it helps them in some way then yes.

The new album with Volmer's absolutely fantastic….where do YOU think it ranks amongst your many releases?
It was great going to Copenhagen to record it, and spending time hanging out there . It's good to make something more uptempo. It came together fairly quickly, so I'm really happy with it.

After all these years, have you tired of Ibizan sunsets?
I've never talked about them in any great depth really. They're still pretty special to do when the chance arises though.

What's the emotion you most strongly associate with the act of DJing?
When it's good, just an enjoyment of the pleasure of playing music you like.

Volume 1 by Ambala is out now on Music for Dreams.