The answer to that long and convoluted question is also "yes" - of the seven discs, I can play six of them without getting too bugged, especially if I am concentrating pretty hard on something else - like filing CDs, which I have been doing for hours a day over the last couple of weeks.
Each CD has its own title (I believe most or all have been released individually), and two of my favorites are from the "electro living" series from Surge Recordings: Electrochill and Electroburn, which are sold as lifestyle enhancers. Chill is described as "smooth, provocative, modern, sophisticated, lifestyle" - hey I'm down with all that, and the songs fit the bill, especially the elegant nylon guitar strumming and pronounced backbeat of Bent's "Cylons In Love," Sinead O'Connor's delicate, vulnerable vocals on Moby's "Harbour," Faithless' lush, effusive "Evergreen," "Air's loungy classic "Playground Love," Heather Nova's extravagantly languid "Gloomy Sunday," Jazzanova's slice of eccentric exotica "Bohemian Sunset," and Royksopp's attenuated trip-hop "Sparks" (the songs originate from 1998-2002, with the majority originally released in 2000, which applies to the rest of the box set as well).
Burn is described as "lush, lyrical, futuristic, atmospheric, intense, lifestyle" - yeah buddy! The even stronger lineup of tunes includes Moby's piquant "Flying Foxes," Air's Eno-esque "Sexy Boy," the insect kingdom anthem "Dirge" by Death In Vegas, Underworld's insistent, familiar, rubbery "Push Upstairs," Supreme Beings of Leisure's swooningly romantic jungle love song "Ain't Got Nothin'" - the hits just keep on coming.
The Later package, from Audio Boutique, contains two CDs, both of which are sublime. It describes itself as "the pure instensity of chilled grooves and seductive rhymes. Later is the perfect late night selection for you and a freind. Listen, Love, Later." I'm wiping the steam off my reading glasses. The seduction includes sinewy, sensual delights from Thievery Corporation, fat, fuzziest Underworld, smooth tintinnabulations from King of Woolworths, my beloved Saint Etienne, and a washed out, charmingly diffuse version of Peter Green's "Albatross" by Chris Coco.
Article comments
1 - Johno
Eric, considering the chaos that must reign in your home on a daily basis, I must urge you to-- if you haven't done so yet-- to get a copy of Bebel Gilberto's modern classic "Tanto Tiempo." Talk about chillout music, and groovy bossa nova too!
2 - Doug
I'm afraid that you have a little catching up to do. Try the following 4 CD's they will blow away any concepts you had that your chill music collection was doing the brain massaging that you require:
1) Radar:Nothing is Real
2) 1 Giant Leap
3) Zero 7 Simple Things
4) Later
Below is a partial list of my CD collection by genre.
http://66.93.82.161/OnlineMedia/cd.asp
Doug
3 - Eric Olsen
Doug, very interesting database. this is simply a review of a specific collection, however, no claim to be the most up to date or advanced or anything else.
4 - Jason
Riiiight. I can recommend a lot better CDs and collections than THIS collection. I was extremely dissapointed in both the collection and the fact that I blew $30 on it without listening to it first.
5 - Bob A. Booey
You're cooler than I thought, Olsen.
I don't particularly care for chill/downtempo dance music since I prefer my dance music somewhere above 130-135 BPM, but there are some good artists who make occasional chill records as well (Solar Stone being an example, or Roger Sanchez, Royskopp, or Faithless). I've really come to appreciate the greatness that was Underworld recently -- I'm sure even those of you who aren't hipsters remember their song "Born Slippy" from the airwaves or from Trainspotting.
$25 for 7 CDs is a great deal -- if there were something similar for trance or hard house, I'd be all over that.
That is all.
6 - Bob A. Booey
Check out the group Chicane -- you'd probably love their stuff. Not my taste in trance exactly, but they're probably the most famous chill-out artists, especially their song "Saltwater." Check out Solar Stone too -- they do a lot of chill-out remixes and productions.
It turns out there IS an Essential Trance Collection on Topaz Records -- I just got it used for $10. 7 CDs. Not bad.
That is all.
7 - Eric Olsen
thanks BAB, as far as range of musical interests, please recall my 20 years of live DJing, including dozens of clubs.
You can generally find a little bit older dance/electronic material packaged pretty cheaply, often on import - good used record stores usually have them or bargain places like Music For a Song (if it still exists) - a quick search shows that it does
8 - Amy
I know this post is super old! I actually stumbled across it while looking to RE buy the essential chill collection!! It is by far THE BEST collection i've ever purchased as far as overall good pricing and just ALOT of really great music!! Some of the songs here you would have to spend weeks searching for and downloading to even have a chance to find! Such as postal service, Pet shop boys etc... i mean the song selection!
Anyways so many years later my cd's have scattered from this collection and i find myself yearning for them!! Especially Electro chill and burn!! The best!!
I highly recommend this collection to anybody!! This time i'm putting it on my computer and uploading to my IPOD! :)
9 - Amy
In any case Mr. Eric Olsen i believe your review is right on the money and very accurate! The guy "Jason" that says he wasted his money on the collection probably didn't even really buy it! Because anyone who does and actually listens to it will fall in love!! In fact its great for romantic dreamy days... Or nice candlelit baths. Or just "chilling" out after a long day of work! I am not saying its the only good collection out there, but i am saying its top notch!!