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Natural Born Chiller
Natural Born Chillers
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Author:
Death Posture
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Time:
16.12.2004 10:34
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Text:
Complete enjoyment for ears and mind�
Though this is only the third release by the Israeli chill label Aleph Zero, Yaniv Shulman & Shahar Bar-Itzhak have already gained massive respect and admiration throughout the world wide trance community for the two outstanding album releases by Shulman and Bluetech. I�m proud to own both, and I consider them highly valuable parts of my chill-out collection� With such a high quality level, my expectation for this, the first Aleph Zero compilation, were high� Let�s find out if they were met�
#01: Ishq � Alaya
Alright � prepare to chill out� And I mean reeeeeally chill out! Frozen really! Ishq is the ambient collective from Cornwall (U.K.) headed by Matt Hillier, and after the critically acclaimed and re-released album Orchid, here�s another quality tune� This is active meditation � virtually beatless, soothing ambient� The sound of the elements: Wind & water� Birds in the background� Subtle choir work� - All ingredients in a very nice, very mellow, breathtaking journey of a track�
#02: Anahata � Shakti
This compilation is a continuous mix, so we slip seamlessly into the next track by Anahata known from some of the old R.T.T.S. Ambient Meditation compilations� We dig a little deeper now, adding more percussion, electro bits and hints of dub� But definitely still downtempo� Check out the characteristic reverb effect used throughout the track� Nice little track!
#03: Zen Mechanics � A New Philosophy
�You start thinking as a new person, and a new philosophy grows inside. You don�t just watch the earth; you start thinking about its problems...� Next up is Zen Mechanics a.k.a. Wouter Thomassen delivering a lengthy track with long organic, floating pads & deep tribal/ritual influences� Subtle synths and dubby beats� I like how this track constantly evolves, yet it maintains its overall spacey feeling� Sweet!
#04: Jirah - Disconnect
Jirah released his melodic full-on debut album last year on USTA, but here we�re treated to a more mellow side of his production skills� Nice guitar-action, electro-dub, subtle percussion and distinct ethnic influences� This is high quality downtempo psy-electronica�
#05: Agalactia � Monochrome Rainbow Pixie
Remember the Agalactia track from the Psychedelic Sparks compilation that was conceived as a result of a track contest @ psynews.org a couple of years back? I haven�t heard anything from Philip Khripkov since then, but he sure hasn�t lost his touch� This track is a palette of dub, electro, chill, electronica, ethnic beats, etc� The pace has quickened and we�re exposed to loads of different genres here, though the focus is still on downtempo� That�s one hell of a flute� And those Irish influences towards the end are very uplifting � it has me smiling! ;o)
#06: Cosmic Fools � Be Yourself
�A wizard is never late. He arrives precisely when he means to.� AFAIK this is the debut for Cosmic Fools� I have no idea who�s behind that moniker, but what I do know is that is one hell of a debut� The first part of the track is something as rare as darkish, yet uplifting downtempo� I really like the soft, gentle melodies on top a very deep, groovy foundation� The female singing is also a nice touch � and even the LOTR samples are pretty cool. Nice track for sure � and remember to �be yourself, let your conscious lead you and follow your heart��
#07: J.Viewz � Estha
J.Viewz is the alter-ego of Jonathan Dagan from critically acclaimed Israeli downbeat sensation Violet Vision� Everything I�ve heard that he�s been involved in was great and so is this� More string-action here, flute, thick Eastern influences and female, ethnic vocals� Nice � though way too short!
#08: Son Kite � On Air (MIDIval PunditZ Remix)
Son Kite�s On Air is on of my fav�e progressive tunes from 2004 � and this mix by US breaks-n-ambient duo MIDIval PunditZ was included on the single released prior to the album� I immediately fell in love with the remix back then, and kudos to Aleph Zero for including it on this compilation� It fits perfectly! This is nice blend of all kinds of stuff� Dubby breaks, Oriental chanting, Raja flute, sitar, mellow tribal percussion� With the added-value nostalgic Son Kite groove intact! Very nice track!
#09: Omar Faruk Tekbilek & Steve Shehan � Ya Bouy (Shulman Remix)
To my knowledge Turkish ney master Mr. Tekbilek is pretty well-know in the Arab world-music scene and has had tracks featured on well-known ambient compilations like Buddha Bar and Back To Mine� And now, here�s a Shulman remix � and what a track! This is ambient world music with thick, thick Eastern influences and an overall phat ethnic groove� Reminds me of Asura or Kaya Project at times� Very good! According to Shulman, the instrument played here is some kind of Turkish wind instrument similar to the Indian shenhai� Amazing track!
#10: Eastern Spirit � Under Water (Part One)
Last up is Eastern Spirit which also is an up-and-coming act� We�re doing aquatic acrobatics here and the sound of the wet element is indeed present here� As the first track, this is soothing, relaxing, and beautiful ambient� The flute, the deep groove and the long floating pads create a very harmonic platform and underlines the closing statements of a dynamic, stunning journey�
Aleph Zero has done it again� Released the third consecutive masterpiece� That�s a pretty damn good statistic, and there is no doubt in my mind that this compilation will enjoy immediate success throughout the world wide chill-out community � it really deserves it! I will not hesitate to call this compilation essential for any fan of intelligent, soothing, downtempo journey-music and I�m thrilled to give this my highest recommendation� Go get it!
Favourites: 1, 3, 4, 5(!), 6, 8(!), 9(!), 10
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Death Posture
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16.12.2004 10:34
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New album 
Get your 