| "Offshore" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byChicane | ||||
| from the albumFar from the Maddening Crowds | ||||
| B-side | "Disco Citizens Remix" | |||
| Released | 9 December 1996 (1996-12-09)[1] | |||
| Studio | Modena One (United Kingdom) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 6:58 (original)
| |||
| Label | Xtravaganza | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Chicane singles chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 2012 re-release cover | ||||
"Offshore" is a song by Englishelectronic music producerChicane, released on 9 December 1996 by Xtravaganza as the lead single from his debut album,Far from the Maddening Crowds (1997). The song reached number five in the United States onBillboard'sDance Club Play chart, number 12 in Ireland and number 14 in the United Kingdom. A bootleg by Australian DJAnthony Pappa 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, earlyTrance track, the original of which features sweeping synth chords and a reflectivebalearic theme, elements of which are reminiscent of theTangerine Dream track, "Love on a Real Train". The main synth-hook which gives "Offshore" its uplifting breakdown however is based onDon Henley's 1985 hit, "The Boys of Summer".[2]
A reviewer fromMusic Week described 'Offshore' as "Dreamhouse with real excitement."[3] Brad Beatnik from theRM Dance Update praised the track and rated it five out of five, writing, "A monstrously hugetranceyhouse tune, this one goes on for ever, coasting on waves of lush sounds. [...] The original is the sort of dreamy trackJose Padilla would kill to include on hisCafe Del Mar albums. An absolute stunner."[4] David Sinclair fromThe Times said, "Eerietechno track you can dance and chill to simultaneously."[5]
The accompanying music video for "Offshore" was directed by Julien Berton.[6]
In 2018,Mixmag ranked 'Offshore' among "The 15 Best Mid-90sTrance Tracks", noting that it was "providing some much needed respite from England's summer heartbreak at theEuropean Championships. The producer has proven to be a deft hand at crafting trance anthems and 'Offshore' is a prime example. The best bit occurs when the urgent 4x4 beat flows into soft breaks, a technique he also deploys in his 1999 corker 'Saltwater'."[7]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[20] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
| "Offshore '97" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byChicane with Power Circle | ||||
| from the albumFar from the Maddening Crowds | ||||
| B-side | "Red Skies" | |||
| Released | 1 September 1997 (1997-09-01) | |||
| Length | 3:52 | |||
| Label | Xtravaganza | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Chicane singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Offshore" was re-released on 1 September 1997 as "Offshore '97". Abootleg was created by Australian DJAnthony Pappa who made amashup of "Offshore (Disco Citizens Mix)" with the vocals from the Power Circle song "A Little Love, a Little Life". Originally a bootleg (mixed byDave Seaman onRenaissance: 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 theUK Singles Chart.
The vocalist was Louise Burton, wife ofDaniel Mays. "Offshore '97 (Anthony Pappa Bootleg Mix)" also appeared onFar from the Maddening Crowds.
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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In 2022, Armin van Buuren & AVIRA create the remake "Offshore" with Chicane in album compilation "A State Of Trance 2022".[25]
