Four years after he last brought Ibiza Classics to Cardiff Castle Pete Tong, along with the Heritage Orchestra led by Jules Buckley, returned with another sunset set of club bangers. The DJ and producer, with more than a 40-year pedigree at the heart of the dance scene, revitalised the rave for the original generation by setting house and dance tracks like Insomnia by Faithless, Galvanise by Chemical Brothers, and Pjnoo by Eric Prydz against the backdrop of a live classical orchestra.
The live musicians and singers elevate pieces of music that have pulsed in the heart of house lovers for the past three decades. And as an indie, guitar-led band-lover by heart, but with a massive penchant for beat drop, it's brilliant to hear songs and see them performed live by talented artists. A live drum-beat and strings mixed together with Tong's electro-wizardry and the powerful vocals makes the show a complete package.
A stunning rendition of the collaboration between Tong and Tale of Us of Hans Zimmer's Time sounded beautiful as the sun dipped on the city but was somewhat lost on the nearby chattering crowds who took the chill-out tracks as a chance to be distracted. But there were plenty of slammers to keep the crowd dancing too with performances of Basement Jaxx's Red Alert, Killer by Adamski, and Seal and ATB's 9pm 'Til I Come plus many more.
And with a sign-off from the DJ and the orchestra of Out of Space by The Prodigy and a new Tiesto remix of You've Got the Love it was a classic end to an Ibiza Classics show.
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