Review by Psytones
From the deep forests and mountains of Norway, we are presented with a new quality compilation from a brand new Norwegian label, named “Chill Tribe Recordsâ€.
“Chill Tribe Records†is a label based in Oslo, Norway. It’s the proud creation of the known reviewer (
www.trance.net), music-collector and chill DJ, PKS (Per Kristian Slagsvold).
V/A – “Quality Relaxation†(Chill Tribe records) 2005 (CTRCD01)
01. (06’54) Entheogenic – Walk On Air
02. (07’38) Elysium - Fairytale
03. (07’02) Shulman – The Unexpected Visitor (CBL Carbonator Remix)
04. (09’56) ISHq – En Soph
05. (08’11) Jaïa - Missing
06. (09’15) Cell – Secret Wedding
07. (06’53) PhasePhour – Unpronounced Numbers
08. (09’30) Elysium vs. Space Cat – Dub Connection
09. (06’40) Altitudes – Altitude 1
10. (06’49) Blue Planet Corporation – Wild City
This virgin release of PKS, has since the track listing was announced been highly anticipated. And no wonder. PKS has really used all of his best connections to put up a very respected compilation filled with great names as Cell, Shulman, ISHq and Elysium. Let the relaxation begin…
1. As we find our self in peace, walking to a bright light of fresh air, we will hear whispers of secret angels. They know something that we don’t know, what do they know? Entheogenic introduces this chill album with his masterpiece of a fresh dub track. This is really a beautiful floating downbeat track with electronic dub influences. The track continues with soothing African voices and a knife sharp synth. Back to the whispers and we walk away, knowing something that we don’t know that we know. It’s from a different world.
Score: 8.6
2. In a fast mood change, we enter the new world of Elysium’s tribal vision. Hypnotizing drums lead us into the track while voices talk. Elysium is a living legend of our Goa scene, and it’s very interesting to see which musical turn mister Thinning is taking. I like his new chilled tribal style, it’s incredible soothing and peaceful. This is a track that hungers for good speakers with massive base, because the baseline fx’s are pretty nice and trippy. Oh, and this track has the sweetest synth I’ve heard in a long time. Brilliant track by Elysium! It’s almost as I can see Elysium’s soul throe this track. It seems like a very personal track. One of this albums finest releases. Looking forward for more quality releases from this person.
Score: 9.1
3. Shulman, one of our time best psychedelic chill-out producers, presents to us his track “The Unexpected Visitor†from the praised album “in Search Of A Meaningful Momentâ€. Combined with “Carbon Based Lifeforms†skills. This release should get people on their tip-toes. CBL is a small but huge star within the ambient scene. CBL gives us a very floating ambient mix with a nice beat and base line. Kind of dub influenced, but not completely. … *Putting on the original Shulman track* … I personally like the original track better, but of course, both tracks are beautiful psychedelic masterpieces. Great track!
Score: 8.8
4. ISHq. One can not help but to feel deep respect for this legendary psy-ambient producer. ISHq produces some of the best modern ambient tunes, and this track is no exception! This time PKS serves us a brilliant and innocent track by ISHq. It’s magical and pure as a new born child. Brilliant! ISHq is planning to release around 12 albums. If this is true or not, I don’t know, but people cant wait to get a hold of them. I can understand why. Great dreamy beat less ambient track indeed.
Score: 8.8
5. Next we have a track from Jaïa, Jaïa starts off this track with ambient floating feelings until it turns over to a more progressive downbeat ambient track with some beats here and there. It’s a space ambient track until the trance strings kick in. Deep baselines makes the room pulsate while colours change. Angels hymns a protective tune. A track full of wisdom and motherly vibes. One can also feel sadness of missing someone special Who, what or where is up to the listener. Emotional track indeed. To be honest, this release sounds very much like a chill/ambient mix of a late 90th (Euro)-Trance track. Not a minus at all. Excellent emotional track!
Score: 9.1
6. Cell provides us with a wonderful uprising track. Cell is French, and Cell is one of the most respected spiritual chill producer.. In the beginning of 2005, cell released his spiritual album Phonic Peace. If you liked his album, your going to love this track. Pure bliss, and one can feel magic happening while listening to this track. No words, just listen!
Score: 9.2
7. Time to wake up a little bit more now. I’m listening to a Norwegian compilation, the Record Label is Norwegian, the compiler (PKS) him self is Norwegian and me, the reviewer is Norwegian. What’s missing? Yes, a Norwegian track. And what a track! PhasePhour gives us a nice synth play, sugar cute but firm and trippy melodies. This is to me a very similar track to their album “...Boiing & Zipp†which is worth a listen. Just in slow motion, and boy does it work! Amazing jazz drum ending to a magnificent downbeat track by PhasePhour.
PhasePhour’s music is best viewed in phase phour, just so you know, he he.
Score: 8.6
8. Yet another track by Elysium, but this time in a collaboration with Space Cat. The track “Dub Connection†is the brother of their release on the compilation “Life Is…â€, “Liquid Dub Connectionâ€. These two tracks are both beautifully made, but it’s not completely my cup of tea. I really do enjoy “Liquid dub Connectionâ€, but this release seems a tad boring in my ears. Nothing wrong with it, just doesn’t appeal that much to me. Elysium delivers us on this compilation a very strong track, maybe one of the best on this album. But in a collaboration with Space Cat, he delivers also one of the weakest releases. Not bad, but not excellent.
The track on “Life Is…†suits me better.
Score: 8.3
9. Wide, awake! … Each time I listen to this compilation, this track just wakes me up! If I’m in my bed at night, sleeping while listening to this compilation, this track. Yes, wakes me up! The first 5 times I heard this track, I got goose bumps of the intro voice, telling me to be wide awake. Altitudes, a co-operation between the legends Jaïa and Blue Planet Corporation (Impressive co-op btw.) gives us this compilations most trippy track. It blends in many elements from different genres. And it works out well! It’s playfully serious and psychedelic in the more playful trippy term. Beautiful track, impressive and magical. Best trippy track on this release!
Score: 9.7
10. Last but not least, we have “Blue Planet Corporation†and his track “Wild City†.
This track really impresses me in it’s professionalism, production and experimentalism. It’s more leftfieldish then the rest with great downbeat drums and mood. A bit café feelings, but that’s ok. Because this track is good, and it’s a nice way to Finish off a superb compilation.
Score: 9
I have had this release for one month before I wrote this review, just to be really sure about my feelings towards it. And I must say that it was a vice decision. At first listen I couldn’t really see anything special about this release except good line up and a lot of unreleased tracks. But after experiencing this album in multiple levels. I feel now that this is a release that I can give all of my recommendations on. All of the tracks are beautiful and relaxing, there is no bad tracks on it at all. One might feel that the order of the tracks are wrong, but once you listen to it well, and try to feel the emotion changes happening each time PKS takes a turn. It makes sense. I’m really glad it isn’t the “normal†start slow, finish strong sets. This is more of an adventure as it is quality relaxation. The compilation it self is also perfect for DJ’s and people who likes to have a album filled with remarkable chill tracks. I would like to check out one of PKS’s chill sets with mixing and such. Because I know his taste will and choices will secure me a pleasant trip. Also a very nice detail about this release is the booklet with a picture of a ice glacier. PKS has done the booklet in a very personal and nice way. Adding his own comments to each track, and the cover art is simple but beautiful, it reflex this release in a good way. This is not just a great compilation, it’s a quality compilation.
I’m not a nationalistic person, but right now, I’m very proud to be Norwegian!
Recommended!
Total Score: 8.92 / 10
Where to buy and other links:
Chill Tribe Records:
http://www.chilltriberecords.com
Psyshop:
http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/ctr/ctr1cd001.html
Saiko Sounds:
http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display_release.asp?id=4866
PsySale:
http://www.psysale.com
Chaos:
http://www.chaosunlimited.co.uk
Trance-Shop:
http://www.trance-shop.com/de/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4694
trance.net:
http://www.trance.net
- Psytones (psytones@gmail.com)
