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Hi-Fi Companions "Swingers In Paradise"
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Top level
Music reviews
Chill out/ambient reviews
Review by PKS
Backroom Beat Recordings is out with a new chilled project by Merv Pepler (Eat Static) and Steve Joliffe (Tangerine Dream)...
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Backroom Beat Recordings is the chilled side label of Twisted Records. With this label, they are focusing on a great variation of styles within a chilled tempo. We have already got great variation of chill on the Backroom Beats compilations, jazzy chill on the Electroslide album and Arabic chill on the Toires album. Now they are out with a new album by a duo called Hi-Fi Companions, which is Merv Pepler, known as Eat Static, and Steve Joliffe, known as Tangerine Dream. Steve is a very experienced musician who has made music since the 70’s, and has now surprisingly made an album with Merv who is more into the modern sound of electronic music.
Hi-Fi Companions "Swingers In Paradise" Backroom Beat 2004 (BBEAT005CD)
1. I Croon On Ermine
2. Strange Rampage
3. Skyclad
4. Thrill Seeker
5. A Night In Timisoara
6. Orgazmonaut
7. Swingers In Paradise
8. Dr. Phibes
9. Bin Liner
10. Amoria
11. The Livin’ End
This album is very inspired by the 50’s and 60’s Swing music, mixed with modern lounge and chill out style. The first track is very jazzy, with several voice samples and various instruments. Especially saxophone is used a lot in many of these tracks. Relaxing, happy lounge music. Track 2 has a bit more playful rhythms and some beautiful floating vibes. Electronic sounds and melodies mixed with flute etc. Track 3 goes a bit more weird. I’m sure Steve has had a lot to do with this one. Very chilled, with some sort of dramatic vibe. Several of these tracks reminds me of other artists that has made electronic music influenced by the 50’s and 60’s, like the Norwegian group Ralph Myerz and The Jack Herren Band... Track 6 has more of the jazzy lounge vibes. Very pleasant for home listening, with a lot of variation and surprising twists. Track 5 has a nice housey down tempo rhythm, a female vocal, some pan flute, acoustic guitar, a beautiful synth melody and much more. Definitely one of my favourite tracks on this album.
Track 6 goes back to total slow, floating vibes again. Beautiful sounds and melodies. These tracks are not of the psychedelic kind, but very organic and instrumental. Track 7 starts slow and mystic. This has the album title, and is also the best track on this album in my opinion. This is just so relaxing! A chilled down tempo rhythm, some piano, saxophone and some vocals, all floating perfect together in a jazzy lounge vibe. This one was also released on the Another Life compilation on BNE in 2002. Track 8 goes over to a more dubby vibe, with heavier dub rhythms. The sound picture we get here is pretty weird and mystic. They have also mixed in some eastern vibes. Track 9 has a lot of playful rhythms again. You almost get some kind of samba feeling with this track. There are also some mystic sounds and melodies in there that goes over to a weird and happy sound picture. Track 10 is a pure housey longe track. Groovy rhythms, laid back melodies and a few vocals. The last track we get here is a pure jazzy track, but with a lot of variation and influences from various music styles. This one was also released on the Earth Octave Lounge compilation on Interchill Records in 2002.
This album is very varied, perfect for your chill out at home or elsewhere. Not of the psychedelic kind, but very organic and experimental. Lounge music can often sound a bit simple and boring, but these guys manages to make it sound much more interesting.
PK (shivapks@hotmail.com)
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Comment List
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Darc Angelo
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01.06.2004 20:42
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first of all let me add a little correction to PKS' review "Steve Joliffe, known as Tangerine Dream" that's not exactly true... he was only part of TD for one year (1978) and participated in the making of the album "Cyclone" that's all... The "master mind" behind TD is Edgar Froese...
Now on to the album itself... this sounds like elevator music... OK it is more complex than your usual elevator music... but does anyone really care??? Who can listen to elevator music for more than 5 minutes anyway??? So this is baaad... I don't even understand why they put the term "swingers" in the album title cause if this stuff would actually be played in swingers' clubs they'd probably be empty in 15 mintues tops and the place would have to shut down... Just one positive note, but i guess you won't care about this if you're not Romanian: "A Night in Timisoara"... they named a track after a Romanian town!! How many artists ever did that? None as far as I know... however this doesn't mean that the track itself is good... and the singing ISN'T Romainan, it's arabic!! Some tracks actually start in an interesting manner (Dr Phibes, The Livin End...) but they're totally ruined by the absolutley cheezy saxlines and melodies... 2/10 (but 10/10 if you're into elevator music :)
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