Various

𝘼 𝙬𝙞𝙙𝙚, 𝙨𝙪𝙣-𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩, *Under and Above the Clouds* captures an unlikely vein of Euro Yacht Rock, built on shimmering chords, soft-focus grooves and the quietly luxurious production touch associated with California’s golden era.

The set gathers rare German and Austrian recordings that channel West Coast elegance through local sensibilities: Reflection’s smooth blue-eyed soul warmth, Ara Pacis’ Steely Dan–inspired melodic sophistication, and Mainpoint’s jazz-funk uplift. Each piece carries that soft, coastal glow — but refracted through cooler skies and analogue European studios.

Other highlights include Nuages’ instrumental drift, all gentle jazz-funk restraint; Gavin James’ acoustic soft-rock introspection; and Top Spin’s playful funk-fusion bounce. More leftfield turns appear in Jan Pack Band’s breezy ’80s groove and Goldfinger’s relaxed, reggae-tinged reinterpretation of Walkin’ in the Sand. The compilation closes on Major Seven’s wistful Silverboat, a soft-rock ballad that glides between melancholy and Californian light.

Under and Above the Clouds distils the essence of Yacht Rock into unexpected shapes — smooth, melodic and quietly radiant, a West Coast dream seen from across the continent.