Don't refer me to Wikipedia because I already tried that and it didn't really help much.

Any definitive songs I need to hear?

I sort of get the feeling that despite the wonderfully exotic name, it's going to turn out to be nothing but really uninspiring and predictable dance music.

It's mostly complete crap. It's generic European house music. Mainly mind-numbingly repeative beats and looped vocal samples.

Didn't I-C post some ridiculous genre guide once? Like a lot of names in this field, I think it overlaps with other labels. I've generally heard this phrase used to describe the crisp, bouncey stuff you'd hear at Ibiza or an island vacation spot. I think it's linked to location as much as sound.

fixed

that Manhead - Doop (Reverso 68 Mix) is supposed to be 'balearic'

Ibiza house crap. Balearic refers to a group of Spanish-sovereignty islands including the Gimnesias (Malloca, Menorca and Cabrera) and the Pitiusas (Ibiza and Formentera).

bump

On the other hand "Billericay Dickie" is a nice little slice of faux British Music Hall bouce:

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a poster from ilm just re-upped this a few weeks ago. get it while you can.

top 25 balearic ecords
1 Tullio de Piscopo - Primavera (Stop Bajon) (Bagaria, 1984)
2 William Pitt - City Lights (Public Sound, 1986)
3 Elkin & Nelson - Jibaro (CBS, 1986)
4 Chris Rea - Josephine (Magnet, 1985)
5 Herb Alpert - Rotation (A&M, 1979)
6 Manuel Goettsching - E2-E4 (Inteam, 1984)
7 Mandy Smith - I Just Can't Wait (Cool & Breezy Jazz Mix) (PWL, 1987)
8 Dizzi Heights - Would I Find Love (Parlophone, 1986)
9 Art Of Noise - Moments In Love (Island, 1983)
10 It's Immaterial - Driving Away From Home (Virgin, 1986)
11 Carly Simon - Why (WEA, 1982)
12 Sebastien Tellier - La Ritournelle (Lucky Number, 2005)
13 Donna Summer - State of Independence (WEA, 1982)
14 Laid Back - Fly Away/Walking In The Sunshine (CBS, 1983)
15 Kate Bush - Running Up The Hill (EMI, 1985)
16 Cure - Lullaby (Fiction, 1989)
17 Linda Di Franco - TV Scene (WEA, 1985)
18 Flash & The Pan - Walking In The Rain (Epic, 1978)
19 Izit - Stories (ffrr, 1989)
20 Fleetwood Mac - Big Love (Arthur Baker Remix) (Warners, 1987)
21 Double – The Captain Of Her Heart (Polydor, 1985)
22 The Beloved - The Sun Rising (WEA, 1989)
23 Enzo Avitabile - Blackout (EMI, 1986)
24 Mike Francis - Features Of Love (Concorde, 1985)
25 Richie Havens - Going Back To My Roots (Elektra, 1980)

So this has nothing to do with Ravel's Bolero.