Store

Reviews

If you ever find yourself wondering whether Platipus only do trance (and let's face it, they do a fine job) then think again because with their second offering in the 'Art of Chill' series they well and truly cement their sofa to the ceiling of the chill out room. Jon Hopkins is undoubtedly one of the hottest names in the ambient scene at the moment and his CV must be looking rather tasty having released two of his own critically acclaimed albums, remixed for several major artists and co-written with Brian Eno and the Cranberries' Noel Hogan. Over the two CD's (compiled by Platipus Record's Simon Berry) Hopkins spoils us to a seamlessly smooth mix of classy, inspirational melodies including contributions from the likes of Chris Coco, Bliss, Union Jack, Aphex Twin, Ulrich Schnauss and Brian Eno to mention a few, and also includes two of his own tracks for good measure, 'Cold Out There' and 'Second Sense'. Take my word for it, if you are searching for the chill out album that really hits the spot, then look no further, this is outstanding.

'THE ART OF CHILLING is an easy art to master...you basically sit around doing freak all. "The Art Of Chill" however, is a totally different game altogether. Just ask Jon Hopkins, the musical genius who's written tracks for millions of adverts and programmes like Sex & The City. He's been busy toiling over two sublime melodic chill out CDs for Platipus: they're brilliant & they'll hit the street on Nov 28.'

Modern-day ambient Guru Jon Hopkins has mixed this second instalment of The Art Of Chill series ? following on from the first edition earlier this year. Platipus Records are right on the money requesting Hopkins put together this second, almost faultless, collection of tracks. Too often we see generic compilations that are wide of the mark, either badly mixed, ill-advised on content - or both ? but that cannot be said of The Art Of Chill 2. This is true chillout, split over two thoroughly enjoyable discs.

Not only are the right names on these discs, but also the right songs. The first disc opens with the ethereal smoke of Cinematic Orchestra feat. Roots Manuva on the slow groove of All Things To All Men, which walks straight into the trippy smoke of the Bent track Smoulder. Hopkins seamlessly mixes the tracks together, as Hubtone and Chris Coco make way for the modern-day king of chillout, Ulrich Schnauss on Wherever You Are. Surprisingly, we also find trance act Delerium on view, with the staccato electronic pulses of Sensorium, which blends in perfectly to the Aphex Twin track Tha ? plucked from his 1993 ambient masterpiece Selected Ambient Works Vol.1.

Hopkins wastes little time wedging one of his own tracks into the mix, Cold Out There is a well crafted ambient track ? worthy of the genre?s past masters, followed by tracks from Union Jack and the delightfully string-laden calm of Biosphere?s Kobresia. Curiously enough, the only Brian Eno track on view is And Then So Clear, from his most recent album Another Day On Earth ? it would have no-doubt been tempting for Hopkins to pick a more familiar Eno track ? and whilst this is still decent, I personally find it too predictably structured. Disc one closes with tracks by Bliss, and Reporter ? on the break-beat driven Khanada.

Disco two, meanwhile, proves that Hopkins has his finger on the contemporary pulse ? choosing the vocoded vocal track Hide And Seek by female British starlet Imogen Heap. I didn?t like this track much at first, but the more you play it the more you appreciate it. Ulrich Schnauss crops up again with the brilliant Monday ? Paracetemol. Can a chill out album ever afford to skip a Schnauss track again? Probably not. The bustling, jazz-tinged Aim track Cold Water Music is followed by two more efforts by Bliss and Reporter ? although I found these two acts delivered the weakest tracks on the collection.

The Art Of Chill 2 picks up again swiftly on the excellent Jakatta track The Other World ? beautifully produced. Honeyroot then hold the consistency on Losing My Mind before another upturn on the Justin Robertson pres. Revtone track Love Moment (lovingly remixed by, again, Ulrich Schnauss). Jon Hopkins reproduces on Second Sense, followed by tracks from A Reminiscent Drive, FC Kahuna (Hayling ? no chillout album seems able to live without it), NuNRG on the uplifting ? almost classically inspired - Eclisse, and finally, the melancholy guitar curls and ambient synths of Chris Coco on Heavy Mellow (Mixed by Jon Hopkins).

The Art Of Chill 2 is one of the best chillout albums I?ve had the good fortune to possess; you simply can?t go far wrong with this one.

8.7/10 excellent