First and foremost I’d like to say a big thank you to all the artists, DJs and musicians who provide us folk on planet earth with some beauty and aural pleasure and a little bit of the divine in a fallen world!

Music is the food of love and can inspire and bring healing from the time of King David’s Harp to the bliss of modern balearica I find such pleasure in hearing simple music.

I came through the usual teen years of tribes and boundary markers with the Mod scene Tamla motown, stax , ska and blue beat but it wasn’t till 1988 that a whole new world of cosmic music was opened to me in the early Acid house scene in Middlesbrough at places like Havana and blaizes and with a few trips across the Pennines to Blackburn and some of the warehouse parties via a mad convoy.

The early scene was very eclectic and I guess Balearic although I had no idea what was happening in Ibiza then. However strange tunes were played and much slower ones like Carly Simons “Why” a floor filler, “Kariya let me love you for the night”

My heritage from Mod days was satisfied with Booker T Green Onions and The prince Madness played in between all this wonderful new music. I don’t know whether it was the northern weather or our genetic descendency from the Vikings but beats became more important than melody and atmosphere in my humble opinion and Techno soon invaded the clubbing space and the open mindedness seemed to wane and dance music was split into lots of sub genres which demanded there own night.

Now I like a little of everything but like a master chef can throw in the mix varied ingredients I had been treated to some open minded DJs who could go from the “beloveds sun rising”, through “808 state” and wind a night down with “David Bowies Major Tom” and “art of noise ” mixed in. I began to find my musical heaven in the more leftfield Ambient house, The Orb, KLF and some strange and wonderful tapes from a place called Café del Mar by Jose Padilla. I then discovered the likes of Mixmaster Morris, Phil Mison who were playing some lovely leftfield vibes, which I loved and still do!

I started reading Phil Mison and Chris Cocos music tips in the old Muzik mag and pathaans tips in DJ mag and getting into Pete Gooding’s mambo comps, Claude challe and Ravins Buddha Bar comps along with Stephanes Hotel Costes Comps and then the legendary Jon Sa Trinxas compilations were just heartfelt for me.

Afterlife were and still remain another big inspiration along with Radio ones Blue room with Chris Coco and Rob da Bank. Big Chill compilations and festival visits and Meeting my heroes “A man Called Adam!” I began making a little Christmas mix cd of the cream of the crop from each year. I’m sure some people used them as coasters but so many people seemed to love the Balearic vibe and a good friend and mentor suggested we put on a night on a Sunday in Tall trees Hotel in Yarm which was well received and we hosted Phil Mison, Chris Coco and Craig Winch for Three nights called Balearica Eclectica in 2006.

I have been Djing at various places but enjoyed a time as resident at The Waiting Room award winning restaurant in Eaglescliffe and also enjoyed times at Saltburns Vista Mar and Sundaze at the Keys in Yarm. The Christmas mixes keep coming and the new media explosion has allowed me to meet many of my musical heroes in cyberspace and reality. We had a blast this year hosting Phil Mison up here enjoying a Jose Padilla set at Mambo and I was so privileged to play at Sa Trinxa and enjoyed some wonderful times with Jonathan in his magical hut at Salinas who plays the most wonderful music in my opinion.

Now I am enjoying a regular slot at The Dog and Gun in Potto North Yorkshire a wonderful place for fine food and music right under the foot of The Cleveland Hills and the music I shamelessly steal from my inspirations and mentors is very much loved and talked about by partygoers and guests of all ages and backgrounds. Bit like those early halcyon days!

It’s been a pleasure hooking up with someone very special this year at The Havana Reunion Appo. He is the guy who used to play those twisting and turning sets in 88 and 89 and did the Bowie art of noise remix I so enjoyed before walking out into the cold Middlesbrough streets with my t-shirt jeans and wallabies soaking in sweat and a stone lighter from all the dancing. He has very kindly done this sight to share the vibe, a superstar thank you.

Now here’s to happy listening and many more years of Bella Musica from you lot and the new breed. Thank God for music! Love and Peace

Will Taylor