Friday 24 July 2015

Daheen 'Purple Chillies' Review




Artist: Daheen




Title: Purple Chillies




Label: Regan Records




Released: 5th of July







I'd not come across Australian artist David Le Breton (Daheen) before he submitted this album for review but he's released a couple of albums since 1998 and upon listening I found it certainly fits the ethos of this blog. I can't tell too much about David other than he enjoys creating chill out and psy-trance and performing live with his lap-top, keyboard guitar in an array of theatrical masks and costumes. This album is a collection of his down-beat tracks amassed over several years and features the vocals of Karolina Kulczynaska-Le Breton and Dom Edwards on Digeridoo.

The aptly titled 'Rising Sun' is a lovely introduction to the album with gentle acoustics layered over mellow keys and a down-tempo didgeridoo creating an overall laid back and summery atmosphere. Next up is 'Vibratones' which maintains the acoustic elements and laid back attitude, additionally features ethereal feminine vocals and has a slightly Eastern feel to it. 'Anthropcene' on the other hand employs ecological scientific samples you would expect in a psy-dub track, however, this is a more gentle and acoustic affair more akin to 90's trip-hop and lounge.

The album changes direction with 'Tinkling' which as the title suggests begins with some classical piano but slowly evolves into a more twisted psychedelic dub, employing a number of clever tactics from dropping back to the piano adding acoustics and the ethereal vocals into the body and ambient breakdowns. Now the album gets dirtier, darker and dubbier with Australian newsreel samples on
A widely unpopular issue with 'Frackin' Hell which to me is very much in the vein of tracks such as Coldcut's 'Revolution'. Following on in a similar fashion with global issues that concern the planet reeled over a psy-dub with hard-hitting low frequency bass on 'Mass Extinction' shows the versatility of the album.

The next track 'Symphing' reverts back to the classical piano, this time accompanied by strings, brass and ethereal vocals before the dubby bass-line is featured. While 'Hope' is a psy-fused reggae dub containing vocal samples on 'Materialism' issues. The Purple Chillies mix of 'Hummingbird' begins with an African storyteller slowly introducing a gentle ambience before dropping a throbbing low frequency bass-line, hypnotic synths and acoustics. The album closes with 'Remembering' a gentle and atmospheric piece again featuring the ethereal vocals and sparse deep bass notes.

To summarise, I can't see this being the soundtrack to everyone's summer but then who wants to follow the crowd? Personally, I like this album for the elements it employs at times gentle and heavenly at others dark and dirty, at times retro sounding and others far more recent. Ultimately it serves the purpose he's set out to achieve.

Links


Thursday 16 July 2015

Various Artists 'The Underground Sound of Ibiza Vol 2' Review



Artist: 

Various


Title: 

The Underground 

Sound of Ibiza Vol 2


Label: 

Bedrock


Released: 

17th of July



Following on from the success of last years compilation this release compiled and mixed by progressive house pioneer John Digweed covers different points of the evening over 3 CD's. Here I'm going to focus on the 3rd CD '8 AM' which is aimed at post-club after party listening.


The journey unfolds with the deep and dreamy 'First Light' by Greek house DJ/producer Stelios Vassiloudis which leads into the reprise of 'Taking Over' by an another progressive house pioneer Quivver containing a stereotypical elongated lush progressive drop full to the brim with piano, chimes and vocals. While Mark Romboy takes it seriously deep and atmospheric with part 2 of his chunky new house release 'Counting Comets'.


The journey continues in a similar fashion with the beatless version of 'Sad Robot' by another veteran of the U.K. scene Nick Warren this time teaming up with Tel Aviv's Guy Mantzur. Which leads nicely into part 1 of 'Backslider' by C-Jay a slightly darker down-tempo atmospheric affair with lighter key sequences overlapping. Where as 'Wake Up Later' by Charlie May leans back to the past with Vangelis like elements evident in his piece.


The bass comes in slow and low not a million miles away from dub-step with the down-tempo version of 'Sizzles' by Brad Wilder balanced nicely with dubbed out mellow keys and spooky synths. Following on in a slightly similar fashion bass wise is 'Eagles and Butterflies' by Life in Reverse who also offer the occasional tribal drum roll, bubbling synth fx, indistinct vocal samples and distorted keys.


Then it's over to Omid 16B's underwater mix of 'Heart of Silence' with dark rumblings set amidst a lighter atmospheric backdrop. It may not be a classic like 'Escape (Driving To Heaven) but it certainly slot's into this compilation well with it's own qualities. Then the album comes to a close with 'Just Waiting' by Robert Babicz who provides a dreamy fusion with some wonderful laid-back jazzy piano keys.


To conclude as always fans of Bedrock know what to expect and this compilation won't disappoint and is available to pre-order now.


Review by Woodzee.


Links

www.bedrock.uk.net