"Offshore" is the debut single by British

electronic music Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means ( electroac ...

artist

Chicane A chicane () is a serpentine curve in a road, added by design rather than dictated by geography. Chicanes add extra turns and are used both in motor racing and on roads and streets to slow traffic for safety. For example, one form of chicane is ...

, released on 9 December 1996 from his debut album, ''

Far from the Maddening Crowds ''Far from the Maddening Crowds'' is the debut studio album by British electronic music artist Chicane, released on 20 October 1997 through Xtravaganza Recordings. It is highly regarded as a seminal release in the trance music community, and was ...

'' (1997). The song reached number five in the United States on ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

''s

Hot Dance Club Songs Dance Club Songs is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It is a national look over of club disc jockeys to determine the most popular songs being played in nightclubs across the country. It was launched as t ...

chart, number 12 in Ireland and number 14 in the United Kingdom. A bootleg by Australian DJ

Anthony Pappa Anthony Pappa (born 15 November 1973) is an Australian DJ and electronic music producer from Melbourne. Early life Pappa was born in Italy but was raised in Melbourne, Australia where he attended Marcellin College. At the age of four he got his ...

was given an official release in 1997 titled "Offshore '97". This version peaked at number 17 in the UK. "Offshore" is a lush, multi-layered, early

Trance Trance is a state of semi-consciousness in which a person is not self-aware and is either altogether unresponsive to external stimuli (but nevertheless capable of pursuing and realizing an aim) or is selectively responsive in following the dir ...

track, the original of which features sweeping synth chords and a reflective balearic theme, elements of which are reminiscent of the

Tangerine Dream Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music band founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The group has seen many personnel changes over the years, with Froese having been the only constant member until his death in January 2015. The best-known lineup ...

track, "Love on a Real Train". The main synth-hook which gives "Offshore" its uplifting breakdown however is based on

Don Henley Donald Hugh Henley (born July 22, 1947) is an American musician and a founding member of the rock band Eagles. He is the drummer and one of the lead singers for the Eagles. Henley sang the lead vocals on Eagles hits such as "Witchy Woman", "Despe ...

's 1985 hit, " The Boys of Summer".

Critical reception

A reviewer from ''

Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as '' Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music W ...

'' described "Offshore" as " Dreamhouse with real excitement." Brad Beatnik from the '' RM'' Dance Update praised the track, rating it five out of five. He wrote, "A monstrously huge trancey

house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

tune, this one goes on for ever, coasting on waves of lush sounds. ..The original is the sort of dreamy track Jose Padilla would kill to include on his '

Cafe Del Mar A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment that primarily serves coffee of various types, notably espresso, latte, and cappuccino. Some coffeehouses may serve cold drinks, such as iced coffee and iced tea, as well as other non-ca ...

' albums. An absolute stunner." David Sinclair from ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...

'' said, "Eerie

techno Techno is a genre of electronic dance music (EDM) which is generally produced for use in a continuous DJ set, with tempo often varying between 120 and 150 beats per minute (bpm). The central rhythm is typically in common time (4/4) and often ch ...

track you can dance and chill to simultaneously."

Music video

The accompanying

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...

for "Offshore" was directed by Julien Berton.

Track listing

* European CD single # "Offshore" (Disco Citizens Edit) – 4:27 # "Offshore" (Original Version) – 6:58 # "Offshore" (Disco Citizens Remix) – 9:23 * German CD single # "Offshore" (Radio Edit) – 3:07 # "Offshore" (Original Version) – 6:58 # "Offshore" (Disco Citizens Remix) – 9:23 # "Offshore" (Disco Citizens Edit) – 4:27

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

"Offshore '97"

"Offshore" was re-released on 1 September 1997 as "Offshore '97". A

bootleg Bootleg or bootlegging most often refers to: * Bootleg recording, an audio or video recording released unofficially * Rum-running, the illegal business of transporting and trading in alcoholic beverages, hence: ** Moonshine, or illicitly made ...

was created by Australian DJ

who made a mashup of "Offshore (Disco Citizens Mix)" with the vocals from the Power Circle song "A Little Love, a Little Life". Originally a bootleg (mixed by

Dave Seaman Dave Seaman (born 29 April 1968) is a British DJ and record producer. He was formerly a member of the Disco Mix Club, DMC Publishing, and editor of music magazine ''Mixmag''. Biography He formed Brothers in Rhythm with Steve Anderson (music ...

on ''Renaissance: The Mix Collection Part 4'') it was turned into an official release, credited to "Chicane with Power Circle". The song peaked at number 17 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. The vocalist was Louise Burton, wife of

Daniel Mays Daniel Mays (born 31 March 1978) is an English actor. Early life Born in Epping, Essex, the third of four boys, Mays was brought up in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, by his electrician father and bank cashier mother. He attended the Italia Conti Acad ...

. "Offshore '97 (Anthony Pappa Bootleg Mix)" also appeared on ''Far from the Maddening Crowds''.

Track listings

* European CD single # Chicane with Power Circle – "Offshore '97" (

Bootleg Mix) (R&D Edit) – 3:52 # Chicane – "Red Skies" (Edit) – 7:36 # Chicane – "Offshore" (Disco Citizens Edit) – 4:27 # Chicane – "Offshore" (A Man Called Adam Remix) – 9:04 * UK 12-inch vinyl # Chicane – "Red Skies" (Original Mix) # Chicane With Power Circle – "Offshore '97" (

Salt Tank Salt Tank are two English record producers, David Gates and Malcolm Stanners, plus percussionist and vocalist Andy Rose, from Basingstoke. Their music ranges from laid-back trance, such as their hit single "Eugina" (some of its many versions inc ...

Pacific Storm Edit) # Chicane With Power Circle – "Offshore '97" (Anthony Pappa Bootleg Mix)

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

"Armin van Buuren & AVIRA vs. Chicane"

In 2022, Armin van Buuren & AVIRA create the remake "Offshore" with Chicane in album compilation "A State Of Trance 2022".

References

1996 songs 1996 debut singles 1997 singles Chicane (musician) songs Songs written by Chicane (musician) Trance songs {{1990s-single-stub