Ambala, Phil “Cantoma” Mison’s “other” musical outlet have finally released a second album, Volume 2, nearly 9 years after the first. We’ve been teased with its arrival since 2019. To begin with there was the magical Morning Lights. A terrific tribute to the European pop of the past, music by people such as William Pitt and Mike Francis, this appeared on vinyl, on a now coveted Record Store Day sampler. 

That same summer we were also treated to Sergio’s Theme, a Pat Metheny-esque tune dedicated to White Isle legend, Geoff Smith aka DJ Sergio. The track was one of the highlights on a double CD collection put together by Music For Dreams founder Kenneth Bager to celebrate the label’s collaboration with the ME Hotel – a boutique spot located in Santa Eularia, on the east coast of Ibiza.

Then COVID hit, and there was nothing more until 2023, when,  in July, they indulged us with Eko Mania. Totally tropical, and cut from the same sonic cloth as Jasper Van’t Hof’s Pili-Pili, vocals care of Afro-Cuban trio, Iyami Aje, lift the song way out of the ordinary. 

That November, the beautiful Quiet Yellow Purple was announced. A sunset serenade that combines orchestral cello, pizzicato patterns, sighing synths and haunting blues harp. Like a lost `80s art house movie score – this finds Ambala at their closest to the original Cafe del Mar sound. 

2024 saw both End Of The Day and Amor Bailar. The former is an oasis of calm accompanied by some cool, muted, Kind Of Blue trumpet. The latter, conversely, is an uplifting, breezy blast of Brazilian boogie, fuelled by funky Clavinet and mad fusion keys. 

The fresh offerings on the latest long-player range from Don’t Forget – a downtempo dubwise drop that affectionately echoes Overtime from Mison’s Cantoma debut – to Paradise Dance’s percussive house. Along the way there’s Slow River’s rolling piano and soft rock harmonies, and the harmonica-led Through The Gate, which features some fleet-fingered, African kora-like picking.

While Ambala began as a hook up between Mison and Thomas Schultz, over time the project has evolved. The 13 tracks on the new album were produced in the Music For Dreams studio, in Copenhagen, and represent a collection of collaborations with many of Mison’s label mates. Walther Bager, Troels Hammer, Jonas Krag (Santino Surfers), Oliver “Olio” Lindbald Orssten, Anders Ponsaing, The Swan And The Lake and “jazz nutcase” Kasper Tranberg all make major contributions. As such the results are a real MFD family affair, further strengthening / cementing the imprint’s trademark Balearic aesthetic. 

Ambala’s Volume 2 can be ordered directly from Music For Dreams.