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It was with some excitement that I receive the package in the mail to review Global Chilling, the new 2008 release under the Pacha label. And with artists like *Radiohead, Jose Gonzalez * and Groove Armada, it was set to be a winner from the start.
So what exactly does ‘chilling’ mean, or more specifically, what is a ‘chill out’ or ‘chill’ CD? To me it stirs feelings of what I would put on after a big night out. Something easy on the ears, rich with beautiful and deeply textured sounds among crystal clear production. Maybe they’d play it at Revolver when I really should have gone home by then. Maybe even on the beach or the backyard with some friends on a lo-fi occasion. Apparently, according to this latest three-CD compilation, I’ve got my definition seriously wrong. Let me explain.
The first disc Café De Mana, which in English loosely translates to ‘Sports Girl or Myer Menswear play list’, is actually anything but chill out, relaxing or quality. Like everyone else I love Radiohead, but Weird Fishes rides an undercurrent of angst. Where I Belong by Honeyroot is pretty quick and Groovin on a Feeling is upbeat reggae. And Yours To Keep by Teddy Bear Sthlm sounds like a soundtrack to a panty shield advert. Maybe disc two would hold something a bit more in line with my definition of chill. Because after disc one, I had some ground to make up.
So in went disc two Bossa Lounge, which again in the Australian translationholds a meaning of ‘Disc of the terrible cover versions’. The DJ Disse version of The Door’s classic Break on Through is a slightly faster version of the original, which was a classic song and favourite before I heard the remixes. Jim Morrison would be well pissed. My Swing Es Tropical has some very nice sounds and a little bit more relaxed but is more ‘Nu Jazz’ than ‘Global Chill’. But possibly the biggest butchering across the CD compilation comes with Wanna be Starting Something. It’s been remixed to somewhat of a bossa nova jazz mix and leaves you with the impression that the lovely voice of Lulu Joppert can’t summon the modest vocal range of this Michael Jackson classic.
So really by now, the oinly hope left of finding anything exciting rests on disc three Noites Tropicias, which doesn’t have a translation apart from ‘we had 15 more songs to publish’, again continuing a theme of a strange collection of songs which to discerning music lover, really do anything but inspire chilling or relaxation.
It’s hard to know what to do when you come across a CD like this as it’s just so different from what’s expected and marketed. Sure there are a few global sounds, but it’s nothing like some of the amazing mixes from Café Del Mar, Ministry of Sound and the like. What’s even more amazing is that the Pacha label released such a collection of songs. This one is destined to be anything but a classic.
