Reviews (3)

An excellent introduction to the sombre ambient
From the very outset, with the almost far-eastern sounding horn tones of Robert Rich's "The Simorgh Sleeps on Velvet Tongues", this opening volume in Asphodel Records' "Drones" trilogy proclaims itself as something out of the ordinary. Dedicated to the colder music of the chill-out rooms, this 1995 release presents a 74-minute wallow in the dark and haunting drones of the world of the ambient noir. While not really the most adventurous of the discs in this collection, "The Throne of Drones" presents a dozen tracks drawn from the nocturnal musical netherworld of the sombre ambient, the hinterland of the so-called sombient, where (to quote the sleevenotes) "classical electronic plunderphonics and the desolate, environmental tundras of isolationism" meet.

As you can probably imagine, there is not a great deal of variety on offer here, and you will either love or hate it all. The disc does progress nicely, though, with a subtle shift in character throughout its course. It has some noticeable highlights, too, such as the miniature but heavyweight sombience of "Smudgeon", from the Iso Ambient Orchestra; the ethereality of Steve Roach's "In the Catacombs (Again)"; the slowly unfolding tones of Vidna Obmana's "Equal Distance", and also the raw-edged but hypnotically potent "Sound Characters" by Maryanne Amacher. My personal favourite on this disc is probably Xopher Davidson's restless "pool of mercury", a slowly evaporating amalgam of shifting textures. David Darling's cello and synthesiser fantasia, "Etude for T.O.D." (so redolent of Tangerine Dream's early 70's masterpiece, "Zeit") is a little beauty, too.

The disc closes with a short (1 minute) additional track, "Le Segue", assembled by Naut Humon (the series' curator) as a taster for the subsequent 2-CD volume, "Swarm of Drones", which lovers of this disc will undoubtedly want, too. But that's getting rather ahead of things: this opening volume should provide lovers of the darker side of electronic music with much to immerse themselves in. Definitely recommended.

Excellent atmospheric compilation.
The Throne of Drones is a release on Sombient records, which is a division of Asphodel. Though the tracks are from artists on various other labels. Therefore you get an excellent mixture of artists which include some of the most talented and best known artists in the space/drone genre.

Included are better known artists like Steve Roach, Robert Rich, and Biosphere. There are other lesser-knowns like Ray Guillette and Rhythm and Noise. The quality on this release is top notch material, ranging from the spacious mysterious sounds of Steve Roach's "In the Catacombs" to the cello-only "Etude for T.O.D" by David Darling.

There's a couple of pure atmospheric tracks on The Throne of Drones, and there are quite a few shades of dark ambient on this CD. That's the beauty of this CD, the variety. It's an absolutely perfect starter for those interested in beatless, atmospheric, vast enviroments. Picking this up would be a great stepping stone to the artists' individual releases, and those already familiar with this field of music would certainly have this as a summary or invaluable expansion to their music collection.

Excellent, one of my favorite comps.
This disc works well as an introduction to all of the artists contained thereon, but it works even better as a cohesive listening experience in itself. This is more "sound architecture" than "music", the sounds are non-linear, three-dimensional, sometimes taking you on a journey to parts unknown, sometimes leaving you stationary but building a complete environment around you. Very highly recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the better compilation series in circulation, Elevations 3 and its offspring (particularly this third volume) are very appealing samplers targeted to listeners with an appetite for world/mystic/ambient/groove music. Showcasing 15 acts, Elevations 3 is a feast of largely stellar tracks from the seductive, slow-twitch zone of the electronica spectrum. Opening with the gorgeous 1997 New Age pop hit "Love Song," by Ronan Hardiman, the disc moves from one delicious track ("Rushing" from Moby) to another (the Delerium-like "Lost" by Balligomingo. While not flawless (we could have been spared the childlike chanting of Yasue on "Peaceful Village"), the album is loaded with gems, including the beguiling, jazz-tinged throb from Soma Sonic ("Blueskies"), the subsonic stealth funk of Faithless ("The Garden"), and the whispered-in-your-ear passion of "Soul of Desire" (by Phobos). As soon as you exit, on Alkaemy's ethereal "Enchantment," you yearn for the disc to begin anew. Anyone attracted to "moods"-related samplers should investigate this one. Splendid listening. --Terry Wood ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Third In A Five Star Series
The rushing, lush "Love Song" by Ronan Hardiman opens this set with gorgeous vocals and Celtic influences over pop beats. "Rushing" by Moby is a laid-back groove with simple piano melodies on top. A sensuous female vocal is the centerpiece of Balligomingo's "Lost", and the multi-layered instrumentation over a dance beat make this a prime cut off this CD. Thomas Newman's "Lunch With The King" is taken from the "American Beauty" soundtrack, and fits the scene it was taken from perfectly. It's a differently-themed piece. Pilgramage's "Through The Seas Of Life" has some beautiful religious-themed vocals running through this up-tempo groove. Electronically cut together vocals detract from the pure danceability of Govinda's "Aspetta", especially with a lively fiddle melody that weaves in and out. "The Garden" by Faithless is a musical soundscape that combines new age, electronica and pop to create a danceable groove yet retain the new age feel. The jazzy "Blue Skies" by Soma Sonic is very trip-hop like, and includes high ethereal female vocals occasionally layered on top. Ikarus' "Bassment" almost sounds like a Fatboy Slim record with male chanting on top. This track isn't one of the better ones. "Peaceful Village" brings Japanese influences to new-age pop by way of Yasue, and does it well. A deep groove with vocals that weave in and out in a jazzy way is the trademark of Phobos' "Soul Of Desire", a simply beautiful relaxing track. The Sprit Of Eden and Davy Spillane team up on "The Sun And The Moon And The Stars", another track with an electronic beat and heavy Celtic influences. Lovely to listen to on a windy day. Dagda is electronic trance music with Celtic melodies on top, and while similar things have been done before, they do it very well. Their track, "Shades of The Otherworld" stands out here and Dagda should be a group to watch. Clair Marlo's "Celtic Groove" is exactly what it says it is, and it is also done very well. Another artist to watch. Alkaemy's "Enchantment" ends this disc, and does so in a laid-back fashion. A very subdued beat with Celtic mystic influences make this a beautiful closer for the CD. Yet another winner for Elevation.

Almost Elevated
This being my first of the Elevation series I found myself pleased by some but a little un-drawn from others. The charming, light spirited "Love Song" by Ronan Hardiman was a perfect way of starting off the compilation, giving the album a playful, warm-hearted spray of mysticism, as does the Japanese pop hit "Peaceful Village" by Yasue, while others leave their seductive mark with slow rhythmic electronic numbers such as the Delerium-like "Lost" by Balligomingo, the passionate ambient grooves of Phobos' "Soul Of Desire" and female choir singing with Pilgrimages' "Through The Seas Of Time." The eloquence of Moby's piano playing on "Rushing" and the ethereal feel on Alkaemy's "Enchanted" will do just that. On the down side, though, there are some bumps and turns on this digital soundscape of moods. The jazzy "Blueskies" from Soma Sonic is too predictable and boring while the unadorned callings on Ikarus' "Bassment" are like a bad replication of Govinda's Shane O' Madden and at times annoying. More on the positive side, though, the Celtic dance tune "Aspetta" by Govinda and "The Garden" by Faithless are just more additions to make this a truly enlightening experience. Elevation may not be as good as the "Moods" series but is nothing short of a spectacule.

Elevation, Vol I
I think they picked the worst of the various artists.

Third times a charm
I still remember how excited I was when I browsed Amazon.com and finding out that a third Elevation CD was coming out and it was worth the excitement. While this CD is my least favorite of the Elevation series it still is beyond five stars. Unlike the wintery Celtic sound of the first Elevation CD or the more world pop sound of the second Elevation CD this album has a more DJ with a brighter and more pop sound that some rave fans could enjoy.

Love Song by Ronan Hardiman is a beautiful new age pop hit that has a danceable drum loop, pianos, and voices that Enya fans could enjoy. Moby's Rushing is a jazzy haunting groove with a haunting chant with a sort of DJ oriented beat. Truly a marvelous song. Moby is very talented and I might get his Play CD in the near future. Lost by Balligomingo is spectacular. It's a very haunting song with enchanting echoing vocals, a slight Asian sound and a very rich mournful atmosphere. Lunch With The King by Thomas Newman is taken from the American Beauty soundtrack. It's a short but stunning instrumental with pianos and cool bass hooks. Throught The Seas Of Life by Pilgrimage is the winner on this CD. It's a jazzy ambient song with beautiful airy sounds and what I guess are female Gregorian Chants. This is what makes me love new age music. Aspetta by Govinda is a strongly Middle Eastern track with haunting chants and a danceable beat. The Garden by Faithless is a DJ oriented song with a rave beat and is like New Age and Rave music intertwining. A truly must hear. Blueskies by Soma Sonic is a jazzy song with a hip hop beat and it works. I love this song a lot. Bassment by Ikarus is a funky song with danceable and some chants. I must admit I first hated this song but now it's one of my favorites. Peaceful Village by Yasue is a cheerful song with Japanese chanting. I don't like the vocals very much and it kind of detracts from the song. Soul Of Desire is incredible. It starts off with haunting chants and chimes. Then at about a minute into the track the actual song begins and is a wonderful song with amazing chants, and sensual spoken words. This is one sexy track. A must hear. The Sun & The Moon & The Stars by Spirit Of Eden is a strongly Celtic groovy with a cool drum loop and some chants here and there. Shades Of The Otherworld by Dagda is a strongly Celtic song with a misty grey feel. Celtic Groove by Clair Marlo is a Celtic pop song with amazing vocals and enchanting harps. Enchantment by Alkaemy is what the title says. It's a very sad song with a jazzy laid back feel. A very sad but beautiful closer to this disc that will make you want to play this entire CD all over again.

As like the first two Elevation CDs this is a great New Age compilation.

This CD is very unique compared to most New Age compilation CDs because it has a more DJ oriented sound that maybe even people who don't like new age could enjoy. Some of the songs could,ve even made a dent on the pop charts. I strongly recommend this CD to all fans of music.

And although the next Elevation CD is quite different it has some of the DJ influence of this CD on it.

Go out and buy this CD as well as the other Elevation CDs.

I hope I didn't use too many words.

Tee!Hee!

The Elevation series is much better than any pure moods CD
I bought this CD after the dynamite Elevations 1 and 2 and I once again am impressed with the sheer quality of the music. This CD focuses on more DJish material. Examples are Mobys 'Rushing', the funk jazz vibe of Soma Sonics 'Blue Skies' and the pure jazz funk of Ikarus ' Bassment'. The real treat on here is Balligomingos 'Lost'. The chants are like echoes of your best dreams. Go and get this CD. You'll be amazed by this CD series. Get and get Elevation 4 too. It's even better. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

ambient groove--the best in the series
i own the whole series of "journey into ambient groove," and this is by far my favorite. in fact, this is one of my favorite discs of all time, from a collection of nearly 1,000 cd's. i love the genre, and the choice of cuts and artists is superb. excellent for people who feel overstimulated or live in a noisy place and want to calm themselves. has nice grooves & beats for those moments when strictly ambient is too mellow. excellent all the way around.

True ambient grooves as promised
For those quiet times when you want the world to just fade into the background but need the music to massage your battered psyche, look to this collection to fill that need. I found all tracks to be melodic and enjoyable and some downright hypnotizing. This is my first exposure to the series and I am anxious to explore other CDs in the collection.

The World Meets Ambient
With titles like "Viens Dormir Avec Moi" and "Violins - Sleepy Mix," you know what you're in for. Music from around the world blends with the ambient groove of the New York studio to produce a compilation of stunningly high quality. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great sampling of ambient tunes
Most of the works in this compilation are of a more leisurely, relaxing pace. Some ambient music is more appropriate for a chill out room at a club, but this seems better suited for relaxing at home with a few friends or alone. The majority of the songs are very soothing and melodic, gradually lulling you in a half-lidded, restful state. The music itself is fairly minimalist, opting for carefully chosen and assembled tones over a wall of noise. Sometimes it almost feels as though you are drifting through space. My favorite tracks are Omicron's Nightfall, Selway's Inside Wasting Time, Human Mesh Dance's Freefall, and Escape Tank's Room 9. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Winter Has Begun!
Folks, it's time to grab the thermals and dust off that space heater that's been hibernating in your basement all summer long. On Hed Kandi's debut Winter Chill compilation, we get over two dozen unmixed songs specifically chosen for the months of winter. I prefer Hed Kandi's collections because they don't copy other labels' formulas and include the same artists time after time. Unlike most downtempo collections I've heard, this one has a decidedly more soulful slant, as evidenced on Disc 2 with cuts like the respectable cover of "People Make the World Go Round" by Carl Craig, A Man Called Adam's groovilicious 8-minute excursion "Wouldn't She," and the jazzy "The Sensual Woman" by the Herbaliser. Disc 1 is a little less soulful but just as effective, featuring notables such as Aim's arctic "Cold Water Music," the funky "We Be the Crew" by Wiseguys, "Survival" by Nightmares on Wax, and the seductive "Moonbeat" by LTJ Experience. While I still think Volume 2 is the best of the Winter Chill series (so far), I dig this one enough for me to recommend.

You need to buy this CD!!! It is Excellent!!!
I picked this CD up when I was in Italy and haven't stop listening to it yet. The first CD is smooth Jazz with a very eccentric beat. The second CD is very laid back with lyric vocals and an eclectic mix of cool fun music. I would recommend this CD for parties or lounging with freinds. Everyone has been begging to borrow this CD for parties, but I just can't stop listening to it yet.

looking for peace of mind
Hi all, as you must guess the hunt for new sounds got me here, the name hedkandi a brit import, that got into my hands from a friend who cross the pound a few weeks ago. The veredict, well... I hate to be the one that tells things in this case, I love the first cd do not get me wrong, it is just too jazzy for me (listen to cd 2 to hear my point), my fav song has to be Santessa which really does the trick this time, I honestly would head first to the Real Ibiza, or the same Serve chilled by hedkandi first, that is assuming your concept of after night is kind of the one I have, the invest in this cd is well done but I still keep wandering for less jazzy noises and some nice house/d & b/ambient with smooth and intriguing voices strong vocals, not be missed the aim track and the herbaliser, happy trip.

Ultimate Chillout CD
It is 5am, all is winding down or up depending on who you are with. Regardless of your late night/early morning activity of choice this CD sets the greatest chill out mood I have ever experienced. Super smooth big beats are intertwined over incredibly diverse rythmes. The vocals on all of these tracks are 100% smooth, from beatiful female icelandic melodies to eclectic trendy blues lyrics there are few tracks to be missed on either CD. To cook up the proper recipe I suggest the following; 1) a good bottle of wine, 2) a beatiful women (or what ever you prefer), 3) a soft couch, 4) no inhibitions.

very chilly
okay, i'm german so please excuse my language. but all i want to say is (and i do not need many words for this) that this cd is a must for every chillOut freak or fan or whatever. long, cold and dark winternights( does this word exist?) are forgotten by listening to this 2CD compilation....... so take your headphones and relax ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Best in series!
Well I will say ONE A.D. has the classic early nineties sound where TWO A.D. is simular. I recently purchased 4 A.D. 2 weeks before 3 A.D. and it was good but tended to be more along the Jamaican dub scene. Three A.D. on the other hand has a mystical property and the artwork on the case and the CD itself is absolutely stunning. "Another Fine day" took me on a magical journey through the clouds of Jupiter where i floated blissfully out of no consequence of gravity.

A "Relic" from it's era? Not to these ears!
The Waveform label has yet to release a weak album, and this is one of my top five faves from them. An "old" realse dating WAAAAAAY back to Clinton/Dole years, (amazing that's considered antiquated isn't it) I can't see how this kind of music can ever become dated. Each track selected works, not a weak one in the bunch, but some truly stand-out. "Shark Infested" from REAL LIFE kicks things off and it's a doozy. Somehow it manages to be forbodeing, energizeing and erotic. It's worth the CD purchase alone. "Drawn to the Woman" is from Sounds From the Grounds "Kin" album" and is easily one of the top two or three pieces from that album. "Oracle" from Space Time Continum is a real pleasure. There's a sense of "intellectual playfullness". Finally things get dreamy-etheral with the final track from The Starseeds "Regina From the Future".

Like a previous review said, this genre of music hit it's peak by the mid-ninties and somewhat piddled away, at least in "popularity", and that's a shame. This stuff is timeless.

Mostly excellent ambient techno
Previously, I had purchased and enjoyed two other Waveform releases, "Zero One" and "Kin," so I went ahead and purchased this compilation disc. "Three A.D." has all of the advantages (and disadvantages) of a "sampler" type collection. Most of the tracks are to my liking (I won't use terms like "good" or "bad" here, as all of the tracks seem well-produced; it's mainly a matter of personal preferences). The works by Real Life, Higher Intelligence Agency, A Positive Life, and Another Fine Day all share in common an ethereal feel: rhythmic yet not driving, musical and yet not "melodic" in the sense that top forty music is melodic. The music is relaxing, yet lively enough not to put one to sleep.

The two tracks I found wanting were the ones by Coldcut and The Starseeds. Coldcut, known for its breakbeat rhythms, has produced other tracks that I have found more interesting than "Sign." The Starseeds track is simply too "spacey" for my tastes.

Overall, this is a fine sampler of the ambient electronic music for which the Waveform Label has become known. What's interesting (and also puzzling) is that this style of music seems to have reached its zenith of popularity during the mid-nineties, and is no longer being produced much. To some extent, it has been supplanted by "trip-hop," which has a similarly relaxed, chillout feel, but which to my mind, relies wayyyy too much on a formulaic hip-hop-type beat and bassline. I'd love to find some RECENT compilations that exhibit the style of music presented in "Three A.D."

Waveform does it again in the "Ambient Dub" department!
Three A.D. seems to have a more psychidelic feel to it than it's preceeder Two A.D. and is a bit less "etherial" sounding with more condenced atmospheres. Nevertheless, it is still exceptionally good and one the best of compilations in this genre of music. If you like this album and/or this sort of music I especially urge you to check out the following Waveform Records releases:

One A.D. (volume one Ambient Dub), Two A.D. (volume two Ambient Dub), Ancient Alien (various artists), Slumberland (various artists), Earthjuice (various artists - more reggae style dub), Sounds from the Ground "Kin", Loop Guru "Duniya", Higher Intelligence Agency "Colourform" & "Freefloater", A Positive Life "Synaesthetic", Open Canvas "Nomadic Impressions", Zero One "Zero One", Liquid Zen "Liqued Zen"

Other compilations cds not on Waveform you might like are:

all three "Barramundi" samplers, the "Logic Trance" series (more dance/trance beats), and the "Feed your head" series ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Absolute, best compilation I've ever heard
This is, as noted above, the best compilation I have ever heard - of any style of music. I haven't heard the album in probably three years, but the trax are so darn haunting - I still have the loops running through my head when I think of this album. This was my first exposure to trance/ambient, and I have been dissapointed with every trance album I've purchased since, because I have still not found its equal in fluiduty, addiction, or in being solid through the entire journey. ... Read more

Amazon.com

From the first heavily produced notes of "Fault Lines" from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's collaboration with Michael Brook, Bliss dances lightly into a relaxing exercise in musical solitude. Several interesting and notable artists are included in this quilt of choice songs plucked from already-released albums. Among the more interesting of the synthed tunes are Sarmila Roy's "Svetasvatara Upanisad," emitting an eerie, lovely color rooted in Indian classical music; the nocturnal and darkly soothing "Mekong" from Jam Nation; and Sheila Chandra's "Excerpt from ABoneCroneDrone," featuring long, thick synth under her delicate, exotic voice. Holding up the slightly livelier tone of the album's second half is Afro Celt Sound System's "Inion," a melancholy yet punchy little number. With music from Southeast Asia, the Far East, Africa, and Europe, Bliss handsomely meshes the spiritual beyond with the here and now. --Karen Karleski ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Stunning
There are some pieces of music that seem to transcend being itself. One such piece is "Svetasvatara Upanishad" by Sarmila Roy. One of the best pieces of music I have ever heard, maybe even the best. The word "Bliss" does not even begin to describe it. After listening to this piece I hardly feel like living any more, so tempting it is to just forget everything and let go.
A piece like this alone justifies the whole album. But there are two more excellent pieces here: "Orovela" by The Tsinandali Choir and "Abha" by Iarla O Lionaird. Ayub Ogada and U Srinivads& Michael Brook are also very nice. The rest is the usual uneven "World Music" mishmash.
Buying it just for the "Svetasvatara Upanishad" is worth it.

A solid compilation...
"Bliss" is an appropriate introduction into the world music category. For the novice fan of world (such as myself), it serves as a sampler platter of some of the best that is available in this genre. For the seasoned listener, it is a collection of the best musicians in world music. This album is solid. Then again, do you ever expect any less from Peter Gabriel? "Bliss" is a mix of world music that works together to form a euphonious sound experience, despite its' eclectic constitution.

I made the mistake of listening to it in its entirety in the middle of the day as I was finishing up some work and ended up falling asleep before I finished what needed finishing. Unless you are one of those people who solely listen to tribal "sounds of the rainforest"... this c.d. has a sedating effect. However, with the right timing, "Bliss" proved to be an effective salve for the wounds inflicted by everyday life... (i can't believe I just wrote that). It's a great c.d. to wind down to. Because I am not fully acquainted with this genre of music, I cannot begin to describe in adequate terms how wonderful the music is. Just know that it is, indeed, wonderful. Chinese Canon is my personal favorite for its optimistic and almost vocal melody lines. That and it works well with the acoustics in my bathroom, soaring almost and making the 5x10 space seem cavernous.

The melodies transport you and you get a sense of both richly complex mystery and blinding realization. The compilation is an excellent one and thoroughly satisfying. "Bliss" boasts the innovative spirit of ambient and discards the cheesiness of "New Age," making for an excellent world album. If you're just getting into world music, this album is a great one to start off with. If you are, in fact, a longtime listener, "Bliss" may prove to be a bit too jumpy for your taste.

Melodic and Diverse Compilation of Soothing World Music
A budding international music fan, I picked up Bliss at a local used CD store. It has quickly become my favorite disc, and has also exposed me to several artists to whom I would have never listened otherwise--including Ayub Ogada and the Afro Celt Sound System.

Bliss is soothing, eclectic, and makes an excellent gift for anyone with diverse musical tastes. I recommend it, and the entire Real World series, to anyone looking to broaden their musical interests but reluctant to spend money on an international CD that may turn out to be "weird." Weird Bliss is not. Be forewarned: it's also a bit of an aphrodesiac.

dreamy
This is the best new age/space/world/ambient mix I have ever bought, even though you may as well hit stop after the first five tracks where it begins to goes down hill. I have never heard five songs blend so well together as the ones on this CD. The 3rd and 4th tracks rank as two of the best world music songs I have ever heard; they are simply stunning and made this one of my most cherished mix purchases.

Excellent But Not Quite Transcendent
We are the world, etc. Nothing new as far as that goes, of course, but it's great to see such fantastic artists as U Srinivas and Sheila Chandra pushed out a little farther into mainstream awareness. The album's mix is unparallelled and the track selection superb, but unfortunately the collection never rises above the sum of its parts.

It's certainly useful for relaxation and meditation, though I generally prefer the consistent tone provided by a single artist or group. It's also an outstanding introduction to the Real World label and the quiet side (don't say New Age, please) of world music in general. You can't go wrong with Bliss, but make sure to graduate to the full-length albums of the singers and players herein. ... Read more

Album Description

Free Activation Volume 2 is a creative collaboration between Seattle's Sweet Mother Recordings and Beams Records Japan. It is a mix CD compiled and mixed by Sweet Mother's very own DJ Nasir. The CD was mastered and mixed using 3 D B.A.S.E technology. The music on Free Activation volume 2 was hand selected to reflect the progressive and creative nature of the two companies. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Contains great tracks, but loses intensity near the end.
As a whole, some might consider the CD lacking, but tcertain tracks prevent this compilation from slipping below par. Young American Primitive stands out with a thought-provoking, body-provoking opening track that both challenges the mind but also excites the body. The deep bass tones that pervade the album are always used very well contextually and create an excellent addition to any Trance, Ambient, or DJ collection. The CD reverberates between intense tracks such as "Transmit Liberation", and more subtle tracks such as the silently screaming "Wet Moon Dance". All in all, the CD makes an excellent buy, although you'll find yourself only listening to a selection of the offered tracks.

Y.A.P. one of the premire artists on the sceen today!
ok here we are again talking about music. i will say for the electronic sceen young american primative is the biggest and best hope for perfection in music, it is a rare find to see such tallent and vission you dont see bands like skinny puppy and young american every day in that oh so cool club you go to. chanses are you never will. young american has been the top from his demo album until today and yes i actualy have his demo cd and it changed my world so here it is smapels rithems beats and voices combind to create a feast for the ears and imagination a true mind opening and altering experiance .get anything u can by this artist. i give this one milkdog's 5 severed puppy heads!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Just what the title says
My wife got me this for Christmas and it was my first ambient CD - and I have yet to find anything to match it. Excellent choice.

I'll take the whole series please
find these buy these play these

It's solid but not stellar
...I didn't expect much, until I actually saw the artists:Fila Brazilla, Kid Loco, Sofa Surfers, Neotropic and more. Hey, apossible surprise in order?

The album calls it a compilation of "downtempo grooves, electronic lullabies, and ambient soundscapes." You wouldn't guess it from "Dali," which sounds like dinner music for a blaxploiation film. Two tracks later, Fila Brazilla come through with the excellent "Simple Man," an example on how to add some kick with catchy kinda-breakbeats, samples, tempo variety, and knob twiddles. Innervisions and (especially) Kid Loco turn in sublime tunes, as well as the aforementioned Sofa Surfers (with the help of a Richard Dorfmeister mix). Special Project's "One More" tries to be too many things, and would work better on an instrumental hip hop album. Neotropic offers a brief tease and a nice, simple ambient piece on two tracks, and Basement Jaxx, pre-Remedy, offer up a bad synth and winds piece as the closer.

So this wasn't a revelation after all. Still, you get a stand-out track by Fila Brazilla and a respectable amount of tunes around it. This won't move mountains or put you in a state of aural bliss, but it's just good enough to recommend.

Fantastic ambient trip
Not much to say, just listen to it! It will take you in amazing dimensions.....Bought by chance, now a little jewel in my CD collection....

A transient, lucid journey.
I am not a huge fan of ambient, but this album, a chance purchase for me is a real delight. Soothing, enthralling, and enchanting...this is a great album for anyone who wants a good break into the world of ambient. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Moody
Definitely one of the darkest downtempo mixes I've ever heard, which is interesting in itself (you don't seem to hear people talk about mood of downtempo and leftfield mixes as much as they do for techno and trance mixes). A good choice if you want a little of everything in your collection. If you like this, checkout "Soundtracks for Movies That Don't Exist Yet". It's a little lighter in tone, and a little dubbier, but just as cinematic.

atmospheric and sinister - a soundtrack that will haunt you
this albumn is a well-chosen collection of instrumental trip-hop and mood-music that sounds like the soundtrack to an unwritten film-noir masterpiece. Compiled by the master of dark, jazzy beats music, Grantby, this albumn is well worth experiencing ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Now this is great Ambient!
I've owned this CD for over 2 years and in the time since then (it is now 01/2000) I've collected numerous other ambient CD's, this one stands out as one of my favorites if not my favorite. When it comes to just plain enjoying a Ambient CD for it's listening pleasure, I cant recommend a CD more highly. I can put this CD on and do some reading or studying, using it as background music and it fits perfectly. But it's also beautiful to listen to. It's not full blown Eno ambient which I respect but don't really enjoy. This CD has enough shifts and changes in it to make it interesting to listen to as well as enjoyable.

Quitessential ambience
Constantly on the lookout for good electronic music I happened to stumble upon this album. I was immediately entranced by the rolling textures of the sounds. The music tend to just wash over ones senses. The album starts out good and ends great. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

TERRIBLE
Please. Do not waste you money on this garbage. It is a collection of second hand tracks by absolute nobodys. I stupidly bought this a year ago on a whim. Old, stale beats and sounds. Very amaturish. It also sounds like some of the CD have the same artist recording under different name just to fill up space. I cannot stress how bad these CD are.

Sometimes bad.. sometimes outstanding!
This is a rather odd mix of tracks here. I was expecting a lot of cool trippy trance-ambience, which it does have a hell of a lot of. But some of it is just plan boring house music. Other tracks are purely trance/dance. And some (only 2 I think) are not very electronic at all but rather have heavy guitars and drums. They didn't fit with the rest at all.

Some of these tracks are the best trance-ambince I have heard in a long time. but I expected more, so many are full blown heavy 4/4 nightclub tracks. But even they are pretty good.

On the whole this is a very good but rather strange compilation... I think the first "Amberdelic Space" would have been better. The art on the cds is terrible as well... not that it matters.

Space without boredom!
This is an excellent set, a perfect selection of tracks that are not *too* ambient and not *too* trancy. Beats are mellow, but there is a beat! I just ordered the second volume on the strength of the first, as one indication of how good it is.

Second indication is this; I don't have my set! I have, in a misguided gesture of comradship, lent it to someone else, and now they won't give it back! "Its too good! I won't give it back until I get one myself". ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A fine album
For fans of the show, or of ambient and house ambient music, this CD is a great addition to the collection. One of the better HOS albums that I have heard to date. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A Decent Compilation
"Star Rise" is a decent compilation featuring the great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan remixed by several of the well known Asian Underground movement artists. It offers a good blend of classical Paskitani vocals fused with electronica. I don't think this is exactly dance music, but it serves as effective background music.

Talvin Singh lives up to my expectations, and the Asian Dub Foundation surprised me. Not surprisingly enough though. ADF, along with Cornershop, was one of the front-runners in the Asian Underground movement in England. Another noteworthy performer featured on this CD is Black Star Liner. Look for their new single "Superfly and Bindi."

Overall, this album has good quality performers who have made marks for themselves before this album even came out. I recommend this album to anyone who wants a sampling of some of the established Underground artists. Also, check out Talvin Singh's "Anokha" for another excellent compilation.

UK djs have made eerie century-old sounds accessible
The Khans have been singing traditional Q'awwali music for centuries but only now has the music of this century's most legendary Khan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, been made accessible to younger Western audiences.

Released on Peter Gabriel's Real World Records, this compilation includes mixes of Ali Khan's recordings that range from sublime to dizzy to mundane.

Some tracks, such as Talvin Singh's remix of My Heart, My Life, seem to draw from inspiration not unlike Ali Khan's, incorporating a vast radiation of Sufi soul with low-key beats.

This collection, on the whole, is better suited for background play than anything else. Its tone is fairly consistent, with the glaring and abject exception of Nitin Sawhney's Tracery Remix, whose narration is beyond sophomoric. Don't let that hinder you, however, from both enjoying what else this recording has to offer and becoming more familiar with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's other recordings on Real World Records. Khan himself toured with WOMAD for several years prior to his death in 1997 and was the foremost emmissary of Q'awwali music in the West. This last, and posthumous, contribution, compliments of some of the UK's biggest Asian dj's, is a sound that stands on its own as well as being a doorway into the Q'awwali tradition of devotional song and poetry. As for STAR RISE, consider it either an intro to Ali Khan for electronica heads or for Q'awwali fans, an intro to the major Asian-British djs. Either way, it works.

Sloppy
I'm not a purist who thinks Nusrat's traditional works should remain untouched, but these remixes are just plain bad. Not much effort went into them, and it seems like this CD was rushed out to tap into the Western hype surrounding Nusrat in the mid-90's.

Upbeat, transcendental energy
I must confess, this is probably my favorite music of NFAK. Obviously, I'm not a purist. I love NFAK; his voice lifts my spirits and makes me happy. I love electronic/techno music (especially asian). So this is the perfect wedding. I also enjoy his more traditional stuff, but I get tired of that particular instrument they play all the time that sounds like an accordian. I'm not too fond of accordian playing.

This is a great CD to put on and just groove to - in the car, at work, etc. It's all great but the Talvin Singh remix of "My Heart, My Life" is a highlight, and Asian Dub Foundation's "Taa Deem" can transport me to a state of exstacy.

As good as music can get.
First i would like to start by mentioning that everyone who thinks this is an insult to Nusrat could not be more wrong. Nusrat..just before he died had started to expand his wings and had started work with many wetern prodeucers( one of them being Michale Brook)...why?...because he was trying to gain wider acceptance and listners from around the world. He even let the likes of bally sagoo remix his stuff. After his untimely death( may God bless his soul) who better to carry on his legacy than the mucisians who actually have proudly accepted their ethnicity in a foreign land and are making excillent music that is carrying sounds form their countries to new levels of international appeal. If Nusrat were alive today he would have done the same thing. So this CD..according to me is no insult but quiet the contrary...a fantastic tribute to one of the greatest musicians of our generation. Now...back to the CD...its a fantastic CD!...every track is carefuly and masterfully mixed with excillent samples from the lagend himself and the result is pure sonic electronic majic. Hands down my favourit track on the cd is the track by Nitin Swhaney. That track has it all...Gazal, Nustar chanting haunting notes and an excillent bassline with great samples. The track by earthtibe is another track worthy of special mention. Its the only track that is more trip hop and less jungel/D&B. The track by black star liner has superb tabla samples and a funkey toe tapping beat. And ofcourse asian dub foundation has mixed a masterpiece. This track is also on their community music CD. This track bring strong guitar work and elements of punk ot the CD and of course Talvin Singh, State of Bengal, JOI and Aki Nawaz keep the standerds of the CD extreamly high. The only track i dont care for much on the CD is the very last one. Its a good concept but lacks good production and is seems kinda out of place. Bottom line....the is a fantastic cd no asian undergound collection is complete without it. I am infact thankful that there are so many young artists that actually respect Nusrat's work and are so openly willin to take his music into the future thereby by preventin it form dying out as the tastes of every generation differ grately from the previous one. Nusrat, we love you and miss you where ever you may be and your music and memories will always remain in our hearts for a long time to come. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

great comp
This album already sounds dated, but it's still a very good compilation of ambient electronic works. There's also quite a bit of variety, from the cod-Middle Eastern wailing of "Tarenah" to the straightforward "Solid Motion" (pretty chucklesome) and the past-oral beauty of "Past". I've had it since its first release, and still play it occasionally.

Excellent introduction to ambient
At the time this record was released, it was the first domestic release of an FSOL track. It was the second ambient CD I'd managed to find. (The first was Give Peace a Dance 2, an astounding compilation.) The opening Tranquility Bass track sets the tone: tranquil hypnotic beats, samples over analog synths, hints of ethnic instrument spice. Most of the big names of ambience are represented here. It's a good place to start if you want to know what the genre is all about. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Chill All the Way Through
Even though I agree that most of the songs on here are on other ambient compliations, I would have to say that this CD was well put together. I love the version of "Moments In Love" that was on here, as well as the Adagio song. There are dancey moments, but if you're looking for something to put on without having to flip through tracks, I would definitely recommend this release. It has the right combination of high and low tempo beats for those days when you just want to... chill, I guess.

It's GOOD! Definately An Album With Flavor!
I thought this album absolutely ROCKED! I was feeling every track except for maybe 2 or 3. Everything else was great! I like the diverse mixture of music. Every song had a different theme and left me with a positive feeling of some kind by the end of the song. The beats are all great and it's the perfect CD for like a nice casual gathering with friends who've all got different tastes. I wouldn't call it like a dance compilation, although there are a few bumpin beats to it. It's great music for relaxation with a loved one for sure. My boyfriend and I have listened to it together several times. It's definately one of our favorites. It definately is music for the mind, body and soul. I loved it. I'd love to see more just like it!

Nothing new to offer
It seems lately that with every chillout compilation there are the same ol' song, like with Moby's "Porcelain" and William Orbit's "Adagio For Strings". This album is no exception. I say I have like 80% of these songs on the original albums or on other chillout compilations. Compared to some of the chillout compilations I have bought in 2002, the material on "Chilled Spirit" is rather dated. The lack of any more diverse artists on this compilation is the biggest flaw I saw with this album. The lack of imagination is quite evident. All the songs that were selected for this album was overly predictable choices. The songs themselves weren't bad. I liked them, especially Moby's "Porcelain", Enigma's "Return to Innocence", and Robert Miles' "Children". Unfortunately those songs could easily be found on any other chillout/new age compilation and the lack of thought put into this album really insults my intelligence. Good material but too predictable and no new or different artists and songs that I haven't heard before. Thank heavens I got this album for cheap 'cuz it sure ain't worth full price.

un-chill
Im so glad I payed [so little] for this. Its not that its so bad. This compilation just doesn't know if it wants to be new age or electronica. Best tracks are from The Orb, Moby, and Everything but the girl. But then a few tracks are just bad, and the rest is filler. If you want new age stuff, get "Pure Moods". If your more into electronica, go for the "Urbal Beats" volume one compilation. This just tries too hard to be both.

Recycled and out-dated
If you can't get the first song right on a compilation CD then what does that tell you about the rest of it. Usually, I am left disappointed when compilation CD's are promoting songs that are over a year old. THIS CD has songs that are ancient - and it's not like they are "classics" to begin with. ... Read more

Album Description

2002 compilation featuring 36 tracks. Highlights include,DJ Tiesto feat. Kirsty Hawkshaw 'Battleship Grey' (MiroRemix), Kirsty Hawkshaw 'It's A Fine Day' (Frakka Mix),Spiller 'Cry Baby' (Royksopp's Malselves Memorabilia Mix),X-Press 2 feat. David Byrne 'Lazy' (Reprise), PaulOakenfold 'Southern Sun' (Solarstone After Hours Mix), Timo Maas 'Bad Days' & many more including exclusive remixes.Slipcase. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

So-so sorting of ambient trance
The problem with nearly every Cream release to date has been their desire to court two vastly different audiences; the youthful partygoer who wants the hits they heard in the club, and the obsessive anoraks who check album track listings for exclusive remixes and pre-release material. Serving both groups inevitably results in cramming forty tracks over two discs, choppy flow that barely sustains a groove - dropping the hook then cutting out for the next piece.

Same here, Future Chill offering up ambient mixes of trance and house hits, typically pairing luxuriant synth drones and spaced beats to the original melody, with lots of powderpuff vocals on top. For club kids, embarrassing claptrap from X-Press 2 in "Lazy" and Moby's "no one can stop us now, 'cause we are all made of stars" junk each disc front, while Moony's "Dove" must have been a furious ten minutes of cliché notation on a napkin. With Jask's "Beautiful" lyrics squeezed in the remaining space.

Yet elsewhere, notably on disc two, the strength of the original pieces overcomes the somewhat limited soundset these remixers have to work with, best served when there's a beautiful song already; Kartelle's positivity piece "Sisters of the Sun," and Oakenfold's angelic "Southern Sun," in probably it's best form. Or when the synths are dropped entirely, noting the beep line and light piano of Spooky's "Belong" or the surprising Timo Maas does Royksopp "Bad Days" discovery.

Ultimately, the result with nearly every Cream release to date, Future Chill sorta-serves as a good listening experience, but an actual DJ, less tracks, better mixing, and much better sequencing would do wonders from separating the cream from the cheese.

If you like this, try The Very Best Euphoric Chillout Mixes Vol.2 ... Read more