Cinema, avant-garde music, reading, philosophy, science and arts are my life. I work from home, and ...
Cinema, avant-garde music, reading, philosophy, science and arts are my life. I work from home, and I enjoy life in general. I was educated in Southern France but then moved back to England. I'm 1/2 French 1/2 British. Check out my Ebay auctions.
Member since:10.08.2006
Reviews:54
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Most of the time, you will stumble upon "Chillout" music in refined boutiques, shopping malls, and even garden-centres. They are often supported by a flimsy platform, with bright yellows tags that read "the ultimate chillout" - "put your feet up"... well you know... that kind of high-market overdramatic snobbery.
What I am saying here is that the tag "chillout" music pretentiously implies it's core function, without consideration for the artists from whom the source material originated from.
"Tranquil Chillout", yet another ostentatious title, is a rare compilation by performers Oliver Gillespie, Paul Cheneour, John Hartley, George Raphael, Mike Vickerage, Oliver Chung, Geraint Hughes, Christian Lacroix and Chris Glassfield.
The whole oeuvre is divided into 3 CDs, each containing 5 tracks, totalling to a number of 15 tracks, and a full running time of 160 minutes approx. (2 hours and 40 minutes).
CD 1, Serenity (55 minutes approx).
Isian Dreams is a beautiful unravelling Nai-flute piece, conjuring a desert of erotic soundscapes, lost into deep meditation. An occidental feminine choir singing can be heard, afloat, through the vibrant fluted notes.
Serenity Within enters a resonant Chinese bell hallway, conjuring the mystique of burning incense sticks and golden tea pots overflowing with boiling water.
In the House of Angels gives you the impression that you are about to enter some willowy realm of clouds. It plays out with never-ending voices brushing a silken beam of astral sound. It sounds incredible.
Behind the Veil goes back to the Nai-flute and occidental folkloric chanting of the first track, Isian Dreams. Once again, it's magical.
Song From the Outside consists in long synthesized shades melting into darkness, a delicate harp backdrop, as well as small reels of piano ballad and a slightly jazz-toned Irish flute.
CD 2, Peace (50 minutes approx).
Oasis of Rest opens with lush flooding of synthesized beauty, and Chinese instrumentation that sounds like a zither or a Konghou-harp. Extremely peaceful.
Return to the Source starts off with a rolling wave (it could even be a strong gust of wind - hard to say); an electric piano spills in with a heavy reverberated effect, and all around (for people who have surround sound), drones tumble down like snowflakes.
At the Gates of Peace conjures an endless landscape, with singing birds and powerful string works, dusty gongs and more flute.
Jasmine features strong feminine voices drowning into ocean-deep soundscapes, with reverberated violin and colourful fluted pads playing in the background.
Soft Slumber introduces a hypnotic heartbeat and triangle-like jingles.
CD3, Harmony (55 minutes approx).
Ocean of Life floods in with seedy beats, very Buddha Bar-esque, supporting a great deal of instrumentation, synth. pads, ambient drones, as well as a soft Persian ney backdrop.
Touched by the Light goes back to the feather-light drones of In the House of Angels (CD1).
Violet sounds like a mix between Latino rhythm, simplified Milonga Flamenco, and ancient outlandish folklore. It is beyond description.
Overall Harmony kicks in with cheerful bells and plucked harp, and Chinese zither.
Indigo sounds very much like a classical guitar piece by L.A.G.Q (Los Angeles Guitar Quartet), with breezy flute queues to accompany it. Very nice.
All in all, Tranquil Chillout is a rather special compilation. I am not saying that it could be considered as developed as some forms of ambient music and folklore... but it seems out of place, as a simple "Chillout" release; it goes much further than the title would imply.
A very interesting 3-CD oeuvre.
*
(Written by myself - no violation, no lifting, no breach of copyright)
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