Since setting up the Chillout Scene MySpace account a while ago, we have received many friend requests. One of the multitude of great artists that stood out was The 5th Galaxy Orchestra, from Athens, Greece.
Rockin Chair (and the ElectricLounge mix version) is a perfect chillout track. Great ambient synth keys followed with a medium tempo beat with the vocals of 1940's blues jazz artist Mildred Bailey providing the soul for this excellent mix.
A Russian Spy in Shanghai is a creatively done track that sounds like a mashup of late 60's bossa nova and a Bond film soundtrack guitar melody added in for the right flavor. Reminded me a bit of a David Holmes track, which is a very good thing as I love his sound!
Sea Shell is another great chillout track. The synth keys create the feeling of being underwater and a warm drum track placed over it with some strings added in make it a smooth, flowing number. Definitely should be on any playlist for chillin'.
Those are just a few of the highlights. Their most recent album, "Music through the years" is available on iTunes. Check them out and keep chillin'!
Check out our new recommendations via the Amazon widget on the left side of the page. Those are our favorite albums and we will update them periodically.
This _literally_ chill bar in Dubai, UAE and is/was the first ice bar in the Middle East upon opening in August of 2007. They keep the temperature at a frigid -6 degrees Celsius (approx 21 degrees Fahrenheit). Upon entering the club, guests are given designer parkas, shoes, and gloves to handle the elements. Drinks (only non-alcoholic, apparently) are served in ice glasses as well.
Seems sort of gimmicky or contrived, but a "cool" place nonetheless.
Reno Pijselman : Composer, Piano, Fender Rhodes, Guitars & Programs Benoît Laur : Drum & Mix Julien Coulon : Bass & Electric Bass Manu Le Houezec : Saxophone, Flute Aymeric Avice : Trompet Philippe Cailleaux : Studio Recording
My favorite tracks were "Down," a funky track with some great offbeat snare drum work and winding synth melody to go along with a killer muted trumpet solo and "Night Spot" which really reminded me of Jamiroquai with it's uptempo funky bass and guitar with some great keyboard work. The wind instruments are all nicely done but the sax playing really stood out to me, especially on "Night Spot" and the groovy "Loft Side."
This album is great for chillin' out...so check it out and keep chillin'!
A band called Psyrok from Wellington, New Zealand sent us a friend request on Myspace and I finally had some time to check out their stuff tonight. VERY chill! Love the first two songs on their Myspace page- "The Difference Between Silence and Lies" and "Believe." "Difference between..." is a nice low key track with subtle drums and almost whispering vocals. There is some ghost-like singing during the chorus as well. The video has images of atomic missiles taking off and exploding interlaced with scenes of a venus fly trap eating an insect.
Here's the video:
"Believe" has some great operatic vocals on the chorus and Lil Sister Jen provides warm vocals on top of those. Great track!
Check out the rest on their myspace page and keep chillin'!
Just checked out part of the new Röyksopp album "Junior" out today on their website. Love the first track I heard called "Royksopp Forever." Fitting, since I think I'll be a fan of them forever!
This compilation was very hit and miss.As I mentioned on Twitter to @Brett Borders it sounds like whoever put this compilation together recently fell in love with 80’s synth pop.A lot of the songs fit that mold but there is a section on the second disc that really hits the mark.Perhaps the presence of MGMT’s “Electric Feel” was the reason they went for the 80’s synth pop sound, but doing so turned it into a dance album rather than a chillout album. The aforementioned middle section and end of the album really saved it from being a total loss. I still recommend picking this one up as it does have some very good tracks.
Here are the highlights-
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi from Radiohead’s most recent release appears on this compilation but it seems out of place on a chillout compilation.It’s great to have Radiohead on a chillout compilation, but I would have went with All I Need, Nude, or House of Cards from that album, which are definitely more chill than this track.Since this one wasn’t really a downtempo album, I can see why they decided to include it.I was hoping for at least a remix of this track from In Rainbows, but it is just the album version. There’s an urgency in this track in the pace of music as well as the lyrics.He talks about escaping to follow a loved one.I’d say that’s quite an urgent matter and would be a very good reason NOT to chill.House of Cards has the perfect downtempo beat and light guitar which make it a much better fit here.But I digress...
After the Radiohead track, a cover of Teardrop (one of my favorites from Massive Attack) is done very nicely with acoustic guitar by Jose Gonzalez.
So Sorry follows up Teardrop as another acoustic number and Leslie Feist puts on a great vocal performance, which makes it simply a great chillout song.“Les” is more in this case (so sorry, bad pun!)
Made in the Dark- Hot Chip
Sounds like something you’d hear in a dark, smoky hotel bar with a guy on piano. Very nice vocals with bluesy background guitar make it a winner.
Ghosts (Modwheel Mood Remix)- Ladytron
(this one is from my notes during my listening session)
FINALLY! A true downtempo mix after a ton of 80’s synth pop tracks.Nice slow beat, trippy female vocals with ghost-like/haunting effect- very fitting to title of the track.
Great guitar on the bridge and towards the end…end sort of sounds like Joy Division.
I’m not sure if I really like this song or I’m just happy there’s finally a true chillout song on this album.
With You Forever- PNAU
This decent track closes out the first disc.Has a light beat with some airy vocals and leads us out of the disaster that is the first disc on a higher note.
Above the Clouds- Aeroplane
This was a great chillout track that built nicely with a cool synth melody to go along with a catchy guitar rhythm in the background.
Here Today- Al Usher
A great driving bass line and synth percussion melody with some airy effects in the middle makes this my favorite on the compilation.
Love Love Love- Low Motion Disco
Sexy track that continues the great beat from Here Today…great transition from the previous track.Great vocals that echo the Beatles in saying “All we need is love”
Great piano accompaniment helps makes this a favorite as well.
Folk I Farta- DiskJokke
Huh?This one also has some interesting piano work at the beginning that leads into a great bass line and a funky synth melody.Very cool synth whistling, then it all comes together 3 minutes in.For such a weird title it’s definitely worth the listen!
Tiergarten (Supermayer Remix)- Rufus Wainwright
The closing track has a nice churning beat.Some very cool operatic chanting leads into the verses.Some creepy bells and the sound of rain lead us out of the compilation.Definitely another great late night listening track.
One of the main reasons I got so heavily into chillout music was the fact that I could listen to it for hours at work and it seemed to pass the time.
What got you into chillout? What are some of your favorite compilations? I want to hear from you!
I think my favorite (at least my "go to") compilation is Ultra Chilled 01 which I reviewed previously here on ChilloutScene.com. Anything by Zero 7 or St Germain is usually going to suck me in.
It's more of a trance/club mix than a chillout mix, per se, but it is a nice light mix with a great dance beat. He brings in some horns throughout the mix as well. James Talk appeared at the London club this past Saturday (28 Feb). If anyone has been there before or can provide a review from last night, email me at chilloutscene@gmail.com and I will post your review to the blog.
On a side note, I am going to start a forum to discuss the Chillout scene. Anything goes. The music including artists and albums, chillout clubs and bars, etc.
New MySpace Friend!
