bomble

I certainly wasn't saying this was bad ... if it had been an entirely new artist debut I would have been more positive - it's just that I had really high expectations and they weren't quite met. This is good, but 2001 has brought a lot of better chillout releases.... bomble

The show gets archived as a realplayer file - I think you have to look under saturday 4pm (the scheduling is wrong) in the schedule page of the cur.co.uk website. Then click the speaker icon to download my show. bomble

I got 13 skull in this morning, so I didn't have time to listen to it yet ... maybe next term ... I did play star shpongled banner in a previous show and it went down a treat ...

That was Dreadzone 'a canterbury tale'

Listen live to my chillout show until 5pm GMT : http://www.cur.co.uk/index.php then click listen live

Listen live to my chillout show until 5pm GMT : http://www.cur.co.uk/index.php then click listen live

Semsis - Letting Go .... scary stuff !! bomble

I have vol.2 - and lovely it is too... get in touch for an exchange... bomble ( I am planning to review this for the site very soon)

Very skilled chillout with a North African twist - this should be in the chillout section

I realise that Matt had done lots of tv stuff before, as well as being guitarist for Gabrielle ... but still - I have to see a funny side about this particular theme music ... I guess you had to hear it ! bomble

I know that he's got a very musically diverse past, but I was amused to see that an ex-GreenNun should be doing the music for an ITV (UK television channel) programme calles 'A Farmer Wants a Wife'. It's about a lonely-hearts scheme for farmers, and the music is totally appropriate ... i.e as far from psychedelic as you could imagine ! Nice one Matt ... I suppose you sent ITV rock bitch mafia, and they said 'ooh we must have him on our countryside broadcast' bomble

Digital Mystery Tour - Digital Mystery Tour Artist: Digital Mystery Tour Title: Digital Mystery Tour Label: Twisted Date: 2001 Track listing: 01. 07'21" 010 Seti 101 02. 11'03" Chilam Balam 03. 06'51" Smokemon (Chiluemon Mix) 04. 06'58" The Blooming (Change Mix) 05. 07'46" Nadeshiko's Dream 06. 07'26" Run Time 07. 05'53" Mass 08. 05'32" Saute Mouton Syndrome Review: I would have to say that I am slightly disappointed by this release. That is not to say that it is bad or unenjoyable - it's just that I expected more from a veteran such as Stephane Holweck (one half of Total Eclipse) who is behind this album, and with the help of members of Toires, it could have been a masterpiece. In fact, it is a beautifully produced, tight and relaxing hour of chillout ... but, in the main, it lacks the vibrancy or passion that was synonymous with the Total Eclipse sound. I would have to say that I am enjoying this more with each listen, so I am still prepared to recommend this to people who already have a good stock of chillout - it represents a new angle - but I would also say that if you don't collect many chillout albums then there are others out there that would be a better choice (e.g. Mana Medicine, Nada Masala 2, Floatation...) Several of the tunes were created by web collaboration - I think that the artists (Stephane + guest) sent eachother successive refinements. This does make for a unique sound, but perhaps lacks the spontaneity this album needed to make it really great. In my opinion, a melody never hurts in a chillout track- and there aren't many memorable ones here. So to the tunes ... 010 Seti 101 is one of the web tunes collaborating with Michio Baba - an electronic music teacher from Japan - and it's a quiet and slow start to the album. Chilam Balam is the second web tune with Michio, and to me much more interesting than the first - again slow beginnings, but this track gradually evolves to become funky with a sharp bassline and almost a melody. Smokemon is warmer and richer than the tunes before - a melancholy string line and slow tribal beats with swirling synths. Florien Seriot adds the Toires sound Pretty nice actually, though it does sound a little like a new-age tune with tweakings. The Blooming is a bit more 'classic' in the sense that it follows a tried and tested chillout formula - actually it's not one of my favourites. Nadeshiko's dream has Loic Vanpoucke on board, so it's really Total Eclipse minus Serge Souque. It does sound the most 'eclipsey' of the pack - anyone who knows the chillout disc of violent relaxation will know the format. There's a sweet little melody that tries to push its way in at the end. Runtime has a heavy bassline but doesn't really do very much. Mass is my current favourite tune of this release - a loose melody leads into a slightly breaking bassline and some subtle psychedelic noising, building in intensity throughout. The melody persists, and I find this track very playable. The album closes with 'Saute Mouton' Syndrome - a very delicate tune - almost beatless and intricately noised - perhaps good to fall asleep to ! So - essentially a background music album which won't jump into your consciousness too often, but is still intricate enough to listen to carefully. 6/10

Heard the Kicking up the dust single & agree that it's some of the best from SpaceTribe - looking forward to getting this album ...

V/A - Mana Medicine Artist: Various Title: Mana Medicine Label: Dragonfly Date: 2001 Track listing: 01. 09'05" Jairamji : Elephant Waltz 02. 06'21" Zen Lemonade : Ashanti 03. 05'19" Angel Tears : Ishka 04. 07'28" Ott : Escape From Tulse Hill 05. 07'09" Tripswitch : Shamanic Tea 06. 07'46" Grey : Beard Aushadhi 07. 05'59" Noodreem : Cosmic Jam 08. 08'01" Drift : Infusion 09. 10'09" Lisa Walker : Orcadrift (Turtle Dub Rmx) 10. 05'16" Angel Tears : D'Marot Malach Review: Every now and then someone makes an album out of a compilation. I'm sure you have all experienced what I mean - it's as if all the artists sat down around a campfire, looked up at the stars and went away to the studio with the same inspiration. I suspect what this actually boils down to is that the compiler had a very clear idea of what sort of sound to create. In any case, Mana Medicine is an example of a compilation held together by common threads. And what a beautiful tapestry it is too ! The theme throughout is sophisticated, gentle hooks placed carefully in a soundscape of natural rhythms and earthy ethnic sounds. This is neither the mindbending psychoactive style of say Shpongle, nor the deeply mystical style of the Yeti albums or Padmasana/Makyo but more in the freestyle spirit of Twisted's Backroom Beats. Very very compelling stuff. The Jairamji track opens with forest atmosphere and develops with a delicacy and warmth that anyone who heard them in their previous guise as Swivel Pigeon would recognise. The tune grows to a splendid culmination of guitars and breaks - yum! Zen Lemonade immediately take the rhythms deep and clear - the kind of tune you find yourself swaying to when you're sitting in the chillspace. Angel Tears (aka Seb Taylor aka Shakta/Digitalis/Somaton) opens with strings and a toe-thumping bassline leading to a sublime vocal line and loose Hispanic guitar. Is this man one of the most versatile producers in Britain today ? I'd say so ! Ott's tune is - if I have to choose one - a highlight. Dub filled, deep, intricate, tuneful and oh so cool! Plus plenty of psychedelic noising to fire up the cortex - this is really a joyful journey from start to end. Tripswitch take us into far off realms with a tribal bassline and a very catchy electronic melody spiced with Indian vocals. Greybeard (cowritten by the compiler, Humphrey, and Lawrence) pull out a gem of highly unusual sounds and rich samples carried on a spacey bass. The tune evolves in its own time and is nicely elevated by some really tasty guitar playing and, of course, our old friend Terence. Noodreem continue the organic tribal feel set down before them, and add a light-hearted and well placed electronic melody. Drift (aka Adham Shaikh from Ekko) delivers a typically laid-back blissful tune. It doesn't have quite the emotive power of his 'Arc en ciel', but it's still great to get more of his tunes out in the open. Lisa Walker's addition is also delivered in a totally laid back position - piano and other classical instruments sneak in wonderfully. Angel Tears finishes with another guitar jam and their quintessential floating vocals. Rich in emotion, skilled and just generally lovely - a perfect sensual ending. I know I've probably said far too much about this album already, and of course the best thing to do is to just buy the thing and find out for yourself, but Mana Medicine just goes on to confirm L.S.D's position as one of the leading downtempo labels. And showing that there are a lot of artists out there who know how to do this kind of thing when they are given an outlet. 8/10

I would agree that it's better than Backroom beats in so far as the tunes are more consistently good - I was more drawing comparison to the style chosen rather than to the absolute quality... sorry if I didn't make myself clear..

I haven't heard this comp yet ... but I find the above review a little strange....as I interpret, Sanpietro, you did not like track 2 and you describe track 4 as boring - yet you opened with the comment 'Everything is perfect for me here' and end with 'simply excellent'. I would love to hear this, as it has obviously scrambled your mind delightfully !!

Actually it is the SCSI version - and I have the drivers so that my Mac can identify the drive, but the version of toast I am using does not support this newer drive. Anyway, I'll mail you... bomble

Anyone got the Mac installer disks for the Yamaha CD-R/RW 8x8x24 ? I would be ever so happy to get my hands on one, as a PC version of the drive is selling cheap .... bomble

Thanks ! bomble

Thanks Underground Shaman... will check it out.... how about music stores ? bomble

Anyone know if anything psychedelic happens in Toulouse ? I am going to be there for a week starting the 29th Sept 2001 .... bomble@hotmail.com

Actually I think that this was where those two tracks were released first ! Certainly this came out before the Yakshini album with Tantrika on it, and also before the Fahrenheit comp with L'ivresse... though that isn't to say that these tunes weren't released elsewhere...

Oh yes - this is what I like to hear ! Full power fully psychedelic and plenty of originality..... excellent. 8.5/10

This album is amongst the best stuff Makyo has produced (though his Padmasana album still hold the trophy for me). I have only heard this on mp3 so far (very rare for me as I don't listen to mp3 much) but I shall be purchasing as soon as someone in England supplies it. Conno - you say you haven't heard of anything else by Makyo - but I have reviewed two albums on this site already ! (Vismaya and NadaMasala).... Dakini is a very special label and always worth checking out for chillout material. bomble

V/A - Fahrenheit Project 1 Artist: Various Title: Fahrenheit Project 1 Label: Ultimae Date: 2000 Track listing: 01. 01'25" Atoi : Mystery School - Devotion (Intro) 02. 06'27" Jaia : L'Ivresse Des Profondeurs 03. 07'39" Asura : Amber Rain 04. 07'31" Toires : Lâalam 05. 07'12" Asura : They Will Come 06. 05'11" Hol Baumann : Another 07. 06'42" Solar Fields : Outlined Surfaces 08. 05'34" Chi-ad : Slide (Limited Version) 09. 07'19" Disortion Orchestra : Fire Maiden 10. 06'01" Aes Dana : Skyclad (High Frequencies Version) 11. 03'58" Mystical Sun : In The Sky 12. 07'10" Craig Padilla : Beyond Beta (Original Mix) 13. 03'58" True Frequencies : New Indigenous Religion 14. 01'14" Atoi : Mystery School - Devotion (Extract) Review: This is the second album cd release from the French label Infinium - and I shall certainly be keeping an ear on them in future! This is what French chilled trance is all about from my perspective - lushous gentle midrange, slow but noticeable beats, catchy simple melodies in all the right places and basically a wonderful downtempo trip. This is not the most psychedelic of albums, but it is delicate and well thought out - the tunes drift into one another seemlessly and the gradual pace changes come all in the right places for an 80 minute session of smiles and daydreaming. The album intro is brief, leading into the marvelous Jaia 'l'ivresse..' tune that has appeared already on another of 2000's best chillout releases - Nada Masala vol.1. This is a real treat if you haven't heard it. Then comes the first of Asura/Asura-members's many contributions to the melting pot - slow and gradually taking your mind towards a well delivered melody. Toires ups the beat frequency a little while staying down deep and mysterious. The second Asura tune is a total delight - perhaps the best I've heard from them. Rich and beautifully detailed. One of this compilations many highlights. Hol Baumann turns up the grit a little with a growly guitar riff and deep beats, leading into Solar fields playful acid-funk number. This gives way to Chi-ads excellent dub-driven Slide and on to Distortion Orchestra with their spacey synths. Aes Dana is one part of Asura, and there's no surprise how this sounds. Bamboo flutes and deep, slow Transwave-styled beats all the way. The Mystical Sun is a short tribal excursion - but to me the sample sounds just slightly tinny and noisy - a short lapse in otherwise great production. Craig Padilla's tune is soft, synthy and beatless - a bit less interesting to me, but not dreadful. Then comes True Frequencies with their Leary samples and piano feast, ending with another ATOI extract. Clearly the intention was to really wind the pace down towards the end of the album, which works well, though I feel that the last tunes hold fewer treats than the first two thirds of the compilation. Otherwise superb. 8/10