It’s only when you hear Joel Martin and Matt ‘Radio Slave’ Edwards’ debut album as Quiet Village that the truth dawns that unashamed mellow chillout albums cliched themselves into a corner and all but died out. But the recent Orb masterwork and now this show the genre returning with its controls set for the 21st century, basic principles intact but able to be realised on a wider level because of technology. Quiet Village sample and present a welter of musical styles from soundtracks through to early 90s ambient but do it with such depth, passion and dexterity that the results are often breathtaking. Perfect for late at night or horizontal soundtrack it’s an intriguing, intoxicating experience from the sweeping strings of the opening ‘Victoria’s Secret’ through ‘Circus Of Horror”s nightmare, flowing then through pastoral stretches riddled with all manner of sonic embroidery and ultra-lush instrumentation. But the first bacon sandwich-dropping moment [for me anyway] is the brilliant ‘Pacific Rhythm’, which captures the untouchable majesty and melody of an orchestral Chic ballad [which looms again when ‘Can’t Be Beat’ boosts the melody from ‘I Want Your Love’]. The perfection level goes up further with the blaxploitation movie love vamp of ‘Broken Promises’. So it goes on through smokey soul, dubbed-out vistas and all manner of deep, floatation magic. This will be a summer essential.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs
