As the name "Chillout Session" suggests, there's nothing unanticipated or original about this release. If your looking for bar music that lingers in the background, being inordinately non-obtrusive to the atmosphere than look no further.
Along with the rest of my globe trotting/bar dwelling generation I was listening to Thievery Corporation, Zero 7, and of course Nightmare on Wax's Smokers Delight when the chillout genre reached its apex at the beginning of the new millennia, but mixes such as this one show how far the genre has come, being not very. I know that chillout volumes are in nature impassive, but artists such as Bebel Gilberto and Cinematic Orchestra actually add some life and personality to their music and make you eager to hear it, as opposed to being happy for it to sit quietly in the background (please note: neither of the aforementioned are present on this release).
The album keeps to an almost solid rule of only morose harmonies, echoed female vocals, with the occasional up beat drum loop. Smokers Delight showed that chillout albums work best when you blend genres like reggae and trip-hop in with the typical sun drenched chillout tracks, because by themselves they lack vibe.
In actuality there's nothing really wrong with this, it's just that there's nothing new, original or inspiring about it. But I am biased as the chillout genre as a whole wrestles with my patience. It's ok for a bit in the right setting but soon just becomes excessively placid and characterless.
Review by Robin J
Tracks
1. Blackfish - Sonar
2. Attic Tree - Unstoppable
3. Coldplay - Square One
4. Junkie XL - Drift Away
5. Bitter: Sweet - Dirty Laundry
6. Machomovers - Temptations
7. Svoy - Make You Mine
8. J-punch - Theme V 3.0
9. Almadrava - If You Could See My Eyes
10. Dzihan & Kamian - Drophere
11. Telefon Tel Aviv - Fahrenheit far away
12. Telefon Tel Aviv - Bubble And Spike
13. Lamb - Heaven
14. John Mayer - I Dont Trust Myself (Wiht Loving You)
15. City Rain - Sunday Afternoon
16. Grandadbob - Hide Me
17. Caia - Remembrance
