V/A - Chillogram

psychedelic_mustache · December 28, 2005

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Artists: V/A

Title: Chillogram

Label: peak Records

Catalog: PR006

Released: 2005

Tracklist:

1.Tripswitch feat. Tanina & the P.G.C - Quanta

2.Atriohm - Sevdah

3.Kickbong - Welcome E.T

4.Flooting Grooves feat. Dymons - Desert Fractals

5.Palyrria - Nilos Dub (Desert Mix)

6.The Peaking Godess Collective - Purple

7.Hol Baumann - Ocean Kingdom

8.Kali-Frogz - 8/6 Tumor Park

9.Dymons - The Emerald Tablets

10.Lucid Picnic - Forest Picnic

11.Master Margherita - Rainbow Ship

12.Sync24 - Hibernation

13.Master Margherita - Weightless

Peak records is one of those labels who've really managed to stand out from the crowd over the last coupple of years. Both their chilled outputs and trancereleases have maintained high quality and originality. They've managed to create this mystic aura around their work, and my feeling towards their releases can often be compared to the one I so often had in the early days of labels such as Tip(before the "world" - era) and Twisted. Albums and compilations are anticipated for months and you just need to get your hands on them. This is a huge compliment ofcourse, but there's also some dangers connected to such an achievement. A bad compilation here wouldn't just be a bad compilation, it would be a miserable failure and a huge letdown! Needless to say my expectations before popping this in to the stereo were massive.

Let's take a look at the tracks and see if they've managed to do it again...

01: Tripswitch feat. Tanina & the P.G.C - QuantaTripswith needs no introduction, and here he opens the compilation together with Tania, peak records resident poet. There's a new-age feeling to this thing with tanias poetry chanted over the floating soundscapes. When the poetry ends we're introduced to a tribal beat, and the overall mysticism of the track is preserved. It's a short track, perhaps a little too short, but it's a beautiful way to spark off this compilation.

02: Atriohm - Sevdah

Atriohm is a name I only know from Hokus Peakus, and this seems to be the macedonians first chill-track. It begins very atmospheric, with the ringing of bells and the chanting of some choir. The mood is pretty dark, and the mystical, ethnic and somewhat tribal vibes are present here as well. Midway through the track it also turns pretty melodic, with haunting, yet laidback basslines moving around in the spacey jungle. Any trancehead getting into chill-out music should check this out, and for the allready convinced chillers this is a winner. very nice!

03: Kickbong - Welcome E.T

E.T is welcomed by Kickbong, in what is actually a pretty alien-sounding piece of music. Moving in the realms of pretty twisted dub, this moves along with all kinds of weird squeaks, tweaks, blips and blops. The beat it self is ultra-groovy, the bass is heavy, and the melodies are very nice. There's also alot of variation in the track, not a dull second here.... If you enjoy your chillout weird, dubby and at the same time harmonic you'd better not leave this piece of music alone. Excellent!

04: Flooting Grooves feat. Dymons - Desert Fractals

Flooting Grooves is a newcommer from South Africa. What does he do you ask? Well - He plays the flute. The comparison to Raja Ram is destined to surface, so I might as well do it right now. This actually isn't far away form alot of his early tip-era work. The track is a very soft, soothing tribal journey with the flute at the core as it's central element. The flute moves around flawlessly in the mystical surroundings of some very liquid and mystical electronics. Add to this a dash of tribalism and some groovy rythms and you have an idea what youre in for. Again a very nice track!

05: Palyrria - Nilos Dub (Desert Mix)

Palyyria is apparently a greek collective, fusing ethnic vibes and analouge instruments with elctronics. This is my first encounter with them, and I'm happy to report it's a plesant one. This is a breakbeatoriented track, with the main elements being the dubby beats and a stringinstrument of some sort creating a rather excotic and eastern vibe. I rather enjoy my chillout etho-inspired, and this touches me in all the right places. Goodie!

06:The Peaking Godess Collective - Purple

The Peaking Godess collection seems to be something like the peak records inhouse and resident orchestra, having already released tracks on several of the peak compilations. Here they treat us to an amazing track. What's most impressive is that this is really a band, in the true meaning of the word. "Eh...Band?" you ask? Yes, you know - gutiar, a bassplayer, a flute etc... You know - real instruments, played together. Add to this a wonderfully crafted ambient electronic atmosphere and some marvelous knob-tweaking and you know that you're in for something special... It's like the Ozric Tentacles teamed up with early Shpongle(...or something). Theese guys have a debut album scheduled for next year, so keep an eye open. Very impressive stuff!

07: Hol Baumann - Ocean Kingdom

"Ocean Kingdom" has definently been named correctly, you actually feel suberged while listening to this. The track is driven by some pretty original breakbeats. There's lots of weird noises moving to and through, and it all manages to keep interesting from start to finish. I sense a strong idm-influence here, which is only positive.

08: Kali-Frogz - 8/6 Tumor Park

The french duo Kali-Frogz delivers the compilations 8th installment with the rather weird title "8/6 Tumor Park". The track moves along in a spacey, laidback mood. Lots of heavy and healing bass, tribal beats and eerie atmospheric sweeps makes this a freefloater of dimentions. It's hypnotizing, and comforting, yet somewhat disturbing, and I like it, I like it alot!

09: Dymons - The Emerald Tablets

As I write theese words my appartment is engulfed in the freezing Norwegian winter. This is the kind of track that makes me miss the summer really bad. It's a dubby piece, moving along in a slow, but steady pace. The presence of an acoustic guitar and the all the nice nature-samples just makes me wish I could head out to the beach or some park and have an outdoor j**nt. No such luck, but with music such as this the winter doesn't feel as cold as it is. The melodies are somewhat trancey and there's also a pinch of psychedelia added in the mix here. Another solid track!

10: Lucid Picnic - Forest Picnic

This is another track that uses alot of nature-samples. Waves breaking, birds singing and all that... It's a pretty ambient piece of music, and it's collage of sounds seems more stripped down and somewhat minimal compared to what is the case is in alot of the other tracks on the compilation. Mid-way throug a 4/4 beat kicks in, and it sort of makes you want to start dancing in slow-motion. The melodies are nice and gentle, and this is actually a decent piece of music. The problem is that it's placed in such a great album, and it really doesn't stand out in any particular way in this context. Not among my favourites here, but an ok track annyways

11: Master Margherita - Rainbow Ship

Master Marherita is the man respinsible for compiling the tracks on this album. On this piece of music he also proves that he knows how to make dreamy ambient. The track floats around with layers of sound put together in an atmospheric blend. It's very melodic at times, and the hypnotizing mysticism of this stuff is lovely. There are some some vocals present here, but no words are uttered. It functions purely as an instruments and works great together with the electronics. Very nice track!

12: Sync24 - Hibernation

Hibernation is a state of regulated hypothermia, lasting several days or weeks, that allows animals to conserve energy during the winter. The tracks title is fitting, as we now move in to the realms of completely beatless ambient. This is pretty clean and polished stuff, and it might sound a tad monotonus at times, but hey - hibernation is probably a pretty monotonus experience... The soundscapes are warm and comforting, just what you need while you wait out the winter. If you're into ambient of the beatless kind: dig in!

13: Master Margherita - Weightless

Master Margherita makes it his own task to finish our journey, and he does so in style. The circle has come to an end as he brings bits and pieces of Tanias poetry from the tripswitch track into his ambient soundscape. A short, ambient piece of music that sums it all up nicely...

Final remarks:

Aaaah...It seems santaclause came from switzerland this year, and he's delivered a package that will last well in to the new year. This is beyond doubt one of the best compilations of 2005. Peak confirms their position as 100% "trustable", and raises the bar and expectations even further for their comming releases. This is a package filled with quality, mood and mysticism - everything the dedicated chiller can ask for. The trackselection is about as good as it gets, and it's hard to point at weak points here. Highly recomended!!

Tomas(Psychedelic Mustache)

Get it here:

More fun: www.sonic-energy.net

DeathPosture · January 11, 2006

V/A - Chillogram

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Hi-res cover: front + back

Artist: Various

Title: Chillogram

Format: CD (jewel case)

Label: Peak Records (Switzerland)

Cat. #: PR006

Distribution: Arabesque

Date: December 2005

Track listing:

01. 03’10” Tripswitch feat. Tanina & The Peaking Goddess Collective - Quanta

02. 07’13” Atriohm - Sevdah

03. 05’13” Kick Bong – Welcome E.T.

04. 05’00” Flooting Grooves feat. Dymons – Desert Fractals

05. 08’02” Palyrria – Nilos Dub (Desert Mix)

06. 08’01” The Peaking Goddess Collective - Purple

07. 06’53” Hol Baumann – Ocean Kingdom

08. 06’10” Kali-Frogz – 8/6 Tumor Park

09. 06’11“ Dymons – The Emerald Tablets

10. 05’32“ Lucid Picnic – Forest Picnic

11. 06’00” Master Margherita – Rainbow Ship

12. 05’05” Sync24 – Hibernation

13. 02’34” Master Margherita - Weightless

.m3u-playlist: http://tinyurl.com/a6nok (all tracks!)

Review:

The chilled Peaks of Switzerland…

The Swiss label Peak Records, which is basically a collective of dedicated, music-loving, spiritual hippies, entered the chill-out market in March 2005 with their Chilling Goddess compilation. The musical diversity was vast on that compilation, and I enjoyed the majority of the tracks… In the mean time, Peak has released a couple more trance compilations – but now it’s time, once again, to lean our attention to chill-boss Master Margherita, and find out what he cooked up for us this time…

Let me take you thru the tracks…

#01: Tripswitch feat. Tanina & The Peaking Goddess Collective – Quanta

“Weightless I float into the infinite mystery of life. Beyond the void a universe expands in glorious sparks of awareness. A radiant sphere of forgiveness and love. I bear the lightness of a feather blowing in a star breeze. Gravity is a state of mind.” Englishman Nick Brennan of Liquid Sound Design fame made the arrangements on this opening track – which was spiced up by the voice of Tanina Munchkina – all cooked to perfection by the PGC… Yeah a brilliant, spacy downbeat track to open the journey… Great as always!

#02: Atriohm – Sevdah

L. Golcev & A. Golcev from Macedonia had a track on the party compilation Hocus Peakus… That was an eerie, atmospheric track – and so is this downbeat tune… Sleek, laidback dubby vibes – with a certain mysterious, haunting quality to it… Spooky chill! Halfway thru the track takes on a more standard, ethnic chill-coat – and that’s really the best part… A pretty good track – especially the last part of it…

#03: Kick Bong – Welcome E.T.

Though I wasn’t really impressed with Frenchman Frank Jousselin’s latest track on the Mountain High 2 compilation, I really love some of his older tracks… As the title suggests, this is extraterrestrial stuff… Deep, slow beats spiced with lots of static and seasoned with alien mutterings… Throw in a few synth twirls and the occasional surprising twist and you’ve got the general feel of this track… Very different from what we’re used to hearing from Kick Bong… Not bad, but not overly exciting either – and also a little too short I’m afraid…

#04: Flooting Grooves feat. Dymons – Desert Fractals

Swiss music makers and PGC members Pearce Van Der Merwe & Daniel Symons have teamed up on this tune… Between them they’ve made some excellent downbeat tracks, and this is pretty damn fine too… Old-school ambient sounds – very similar to the early TIP sound – complete with Raja flute, whiskers and windy, floating ambience… Add a subtle, tribal rhythm and you’ve got a winner! A lovely, melancholy track! Brilliant!

#05: Palyrria – Nilos Dub (Desert Mix)

I don’t have much info on Palyrria – besides from the fact that it’s a Greek outfit… And sure enough, as the title hints, this is an Ethno-tribal chill-out track – with a lot of dub in it! The main lead consists of Arabic string arrangements… You can almost feel the dust of the desert in your eyes when listening to this… It feels very ‘real’ and all together the atmosphere in here is overwhelming… Another nice track!

#06: The Peaking Goddess Collective – Purple

Another collective effort – with input by Moreno Antognini, Ajja S.F. Leu, Pearce van der Merwe & Daniel Symons… These guys have never let me down with their genuine, heartfelt chill creations…And I’m happy to say, that this is another sure-fit hit with me! This is what eclectic chill-out is all about – it’s so rich, so diverse, so versatile – so lovely! The ‘silence bit’ is as daring as it is stunning! A collective effort that really pays off – with soft electric guitars, subtle percussion, floating flute, etc… Nothing short of brilliant!

#07: Hol Baumann – Ocean Kingdom

This is the first track from Frenchman Oliver Orand outside the Ultimae label – and what a catch by Peak! I’m a big admirer of his majestic, orchestral downtempo works – and this is just that! It builds from a subtle, tight ambient core into a fully blossoming, mature piece of underwater sound bliss… Pretty simple, but oh so effective… Top drawer material!

#08: Kali-Frogz – 8/6 Tumor Park

I only know French producers Eric Brandy & Christophe Fabulet from their lovely track on the Chilling Goddess compilation… This track is like a hybrid between atmospheric, floating ambient – and more antagonistic, twirling downbeat… Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing aggressive about this, just a few excursions into experimental space chill… I guess it’s pretty good, but somehow I never really connected to it – and the vocals don’t fit in at all!

#09: Dymons – The Emerald Tablets

Daniel Symons makes a solo appearance here with a very organic, rich track… Acoustic guitars, singing birds, morphing sounds, trippy vocals – and lots of dub! It sounds so simple, and in a way it is… But it’s still so very effective… Hot digital grooves mates with the warmth of analogue sounds – which makes for one hell of a cocktail! Sweet!

#10: Lucid Picnic – Forest Picnic

Serhan Berberoglu was also on Goddess – with a distinct and very dark ambient track… And sure enough, this is somewhat dark too… And ambient to the core! Floating, mellow soundscapes – packed with nature samples and held-back percussion… A picnic in the forest for sure! One of the most chilled tracks here – and in that regard it’s great for hardcore chillage and sleeping… Sadly I find it a little too uninteresting…

#11: Master Margherita – Rainbow Ship

Master Margherita aka. Moreno Antognini is the Peak Records top chiller… He’s one of the driving forces in the PGC and also compiled this CD… As on Peaking Goddess, he returns with some eerie, hugely atmospheric and darkish ambient… Reminds me of a warped, undecipherable version of Current 93… Very unique and very good!

#12: Sync24 – Hibernation

Sync24 is Daniel Ringström of Carbon Based Lifeforms fame… And he’s aiming for hibernation on this track – and succeeds! This is virtually beatless ambient – icy cold, sterile and totally dreamy… So, if the previous track sent your closer to dreamland – this one will escort you all the way… Soothing, relaxing, floating – pure ambience! Nicey nice!

#13: Master Margherita – Weightless

Moreno returns for a final message – transmitted straight from the otherworld… The vocals from the intro are cut up and recycled here – creating a similar, yet totally different mood – and completing the infinite loop! Mysterious, but also comforting… A fine way to end the journey for sure!

Another fine, high quality Peak Records instalment comes to an end… The trip started where Chilling Goddess left off – and didn’t stop for a long time… Ever since I got this compilation I’ve been playing it again and again and again and again… It’s an infinite loop, continuously rewarding and ever satisfying… Just like Goddess was… This is not better – or worse! It’s just as good! Of course some tracks are better than others, but that’s really just stating the obvious…

The cover art is brilliant as usual, on this the ‘orange album’. And yeah – the whole quality package once again underlines the fact, that Peak Records is indeed a major player on both the dance and chill markets… A collective force to be reckoned with! Recommended to fans of eclectic chill-out music… Enjoy!

Favourites: 2, 4(!), 5, 6(!), 7(!), 9, 11, 12

DeathPosture

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