Island Vibrations is the long-playing result of the long-running on-going collaboration between veteran chill-out DJ, Chris Coco and Ibiza-based master percussionist, George Solar. The 8 tracks all ride George’s gently lapping tides, while the pair enlist a party of talented friends, from Buenos Aires to London, to add further musical colour to the rolling surf rhythms. Leo Silicon, for example, prettily picks a charango, a traditional Andean 10-string lute on several tracks. The instrument’s harp-like notes floating and fluttering on Guaguancoco and Na Baia. 

Antonio Blakstad’s keys, together with Samantha Whates’ ethereal sighs, create a twilight twinkling on Rumba Solar. Nick Cornu’s guitar blends with laidback broken beats on Algaroba, and, in concert with castanets, gives Como El Sol it’s Spanish leanings. Louis Vann Johnson sings, and chants, Holy Rising, a hymn to the Sun – the source of all warmth and life, accompanied by droning strings and a dawn cicada chorus, and backed by a Beniras beach drum circle Nyabinghi. 

The collection closes with a couple of sleepy sun-stroked skanks, the one drop, Hook & Line, and the shining Pink Sun. Arcs of Steve Hillage / Dave Gilmour-esque electric axe, a score for crazy diamonds, illuminate the latter. 

Chris Coco & George Solar’s Island Vibrations is out now on DSSPR.