By Lisa Marks When Balearic purveyors of pleasure, Music for Dreams announced they were bringing a line up of island stalwarts to Las Dalias, one of the one of the island’s most beautiful and bohemian venues, it was always going to be special.
Add the sultry sound from the cool kids of the acid jazz scene, the Brand New Heavies, it made for a heady mix harking back to the times when fragile, mid-week after-party souls were soothed with their sultry sound.The result formed a love child of a night that nobody wanted to end. The line-up with Willie Graff from Pacha, DJ Pippi, Scott Gray from Melon Bomb, would have been enough, but adding the smooth voice and shine of lead vocalist N’Dea Davenport, turned the heat up a notch on a sultry night of musical bliss.
The heady sounds of Heavies’ favourites such as ‘Midnight at the Oasis’ and ‘Dream on Dreamer’ put the band firmly in the mainstream and the UK charts in 1994. They had the dance floor packed and up for it and singing along and dancing. The band rose from back-room London clubs to being signed, but lost none of their appeal as they hit the mainstream and still embody style, with Andrew Levy on bass proving they have lost none go their humour as the sultry vibe under the stars kicked up a notch when the dancers joined the band. Sadly like most moments of pleasure it was over too soon leaving a frustrated crowd literally begging for more.
Maybe the band really did go to Amnesia on the bus as they teased the crowd about, but after rising above and bringing it back from earlier sound problems maybe they deserved it. They left with the tantalising promise that they would be gifting us with new music. Thankfully Kenneth Bager from Music for Dreams promised a gutted crowd (because the band wouldn’t come back out), that we were going to party downstairs till 6am. In the words of the band ‘fantastico’. A hippy market and a performance space dating back to the 1960’s, this already perfect spot was festooned with the Music for Dreams visuals and the mood and the music got deeper and darker.
We were promised a party that harked back to the days when the crowd was up for it and present rather than standing like statues filming, and this night was that and more so is it any wonder no-one wanted it to end. As the party moved downstairs the music played on with a eager crowd. This night brought my faith back that nights of true bliss under the night skies still exist here and at 20 Euros the price puts this heaven in reach for those of us who don’t save up all year to party here. It’s the opposite in every way to the stereotypical big club experience and that is just a special thing.
Laid Back will be playing live at Music For Dreams at Las Dalias Thursday 4th August. DJ support from Kenneth Bager, DJ Pippi & Willie Graff. For information about Las Dalias this summer and the Music for Dreams party click here.
