Future Astronauts - Vessels VII

Future Astronauts is a collective specialised in the making of astounding compilation of hand-picked chilly tracks, master-crafted mixes and podcasts. The 'Vessels' series of compilation serves a good cause (as does all music, is it not?) that of helping raise mental health and suicide prevention awareness and donating all profits to charity.

So here you go, you can do a good deed while listening to state of the art trip-hop, downtempo, UK garage, ambient... you name it!

I'll leave you to it then, see you later.

Blossom - Where Are You Hiding ?

Blossom is a Polish artist whose music I discovered via the 'Secret Garden' compilations from DLoaw & Co., a collective that still fails to disappoint me with the quality of the releases they produce. I'm also taking a moment here to strongly suggest you take a look at their catalog, you just might find the love of your life, or in any case, get your ears massaged.

'Where Are You Hiding ?' is a simple yet intricate album, dreamy yet well-constructed. Its atmosphere almost immediately made me think of my first discoveries in the field of Trip-Hop such as Blockhead for the nostalgic tone and Bonobo for the feel of open spaces. Soft melodies are laid carefully on rhythms varying between slow and not too fast but faster than slow, the whole takes place in an atmosphere of a child's dreams and a surnatural world coming to life.

If you love this music just as I do, you might consider give a little something to the artist, as a token of your appreciation, you know, every bit helps.

See you soon.

LDBK - All School Flavor Vol. 1

If you don't know about http://radiooooo.com/ yet, it's high time you did ! It's an internet radio that enables you to listen to music from all around the world, but also from different time periods. You can find out what people in Cuba were listening to in the 30's or what those in Kazakhstan are listening to right now.

I discovered the Laid Back netlabel through one of the tracks I heard on the aforementioned radio. Every time I hear something good, I try to find out if there is more and if it is free. There are always new surprises to discover and be baffled by.

So here's a compilation earning its name well, offering tracks from all schools, with a jazzy intro that will lead you to soul, hip-hop, dub, trip-hop, a little bit of everything, as long as it's chillin' grillin'.

Ok now, take a listen, see you soon !

Phonophanatic - Boxbeats Vol. 5

If you want to spend a good moment I suggest you take a listen to any of the albums you may find in Phonophanatic Collective's catalog. But for today, let's take a closer look at this one.

A long time has passed since I've discovered this label with Boxbeats Vol. 2. At the time I already sensed that those guys really understood how to make great chillin grillin music.

Based in Leiden, Netherlands, Phonophanatic offers a very large catalog of releases, all of which are free-priced and packed with groovy and chilly beats. All the artists present in this compilation have careers of their own, exclusive albums that you may find on their pages by looking around a bit.

I wish you well on your quest for the truth.

Kratos Himself - A Town Called Imaginarium

Here we are again in the vast land of dreams with another talented producer who draws inspiration from visions, waking nights and psychedelic experimentations.

While listening to this album, you really feel that you're entering a town called Imaginarium where everything isn't quite what it seems. Where everything is something more. You just have to lift the veil a little to see all things in a different way.

You can also do so by pressing play.

See you in another dimension.

Jenova 7 & Mr. Moods - Time Travellers II

Welcome to the month of june, that means the end of school, success, failure, change, revolving doors, sun and... well, music.

I suggest we begin this sunny month with an album that we'll listen best while this troublesome gigantic ball of fire sets and lets nocturnal beings get out of their lair to listen to subtle rhythms, groovy flying saxophone solos and samples out of nowhere, on a long chair or not, with or without a glass of wine or a white beer with lemon at hand's reach.

Jenova 7 and Mr. Moods are artists of exception, especially in the world of chill music. Always meaning quality, you can just listen to everything they do and never get bored nor disappointed. You can go with eyes closed, to be sure, it's even better !

See you then.