Various Artists

"Bedroom Communities 01. Pillow Talk" CD

Kriztal Entertainment

Genres: dance, electronica, chillout

Kriztal
15982 NW 48th Avenue
Miami FL 33014

Jan 26 - Feb 1 2004

Opinions differ widely on chillout music.  Though its potential is great, it's rarely tapped; there are just too many shoddy compilations being put out by one-off techno label subsidiaries and the like.  Kriztal Records, however, has been a consistent purveyor of high-quality "electro-lite" - so much so, in fact, that I hasten to call their music "electro-lite," as it's frequently quite juicy stuff.  It's definitely lounge music, except it's actually brimming in content.

Bedroom Communities 01. Pillow Talk is no exception.  In fact, it's one of the better compilations that Kriztal has put out.  Based around the theme of "between the sheets grooves," this disc collects fourteen tracks from fourteen different artists, all specializing in laidback, smooth rhythms and simple yet effective melodies.

Hardkandy's "Big Sand," which starts the album off, is one of its better tracks.  Straightforward chillout, with some pleasant female vocals (think DJ Rap's "Good To Be Alive"), is what you get, but the real treasure lies in the juicy guitar hooks that complement the piece's piano chords.  Smooth's "Walking on Space," meanwhile, has a definite Air vibe, and boasts a melody straight off of A Silver Mt. Zion's debut album, oddly enough.  It is nonetheless a very powerful, pretty piece, boasting a wonderfully lush feel.

There are, of course, other highlights on this disc.  Fort Knox Five's disco-tinged "Blowin' up the Spot," Mawglee's blissful "Nouby Rapture," and The Vogado Projects Vol 1 feat. Lucy Gale's joyful "Mas Fuerte Que El Sol" come to mind.  But, for the most part, Pillow Talk is a consistently solid compilation throughout.  For laidback, pretty electronic music, you can't go wrong here.

86%

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 14 tracks, distributed by Amazon, released 2003]