Groovecatcher - Intoxicated

Groovecatcher is a musical project (currently less active, even their website is down) by Simon Cooper and Phil Webb featuring Manuela Van Geenhoven on vocals. You might know the boys from their other alias, GXR, under which they did (in 2007) a highly appreciated remix of "Billie Holiday-Long Gone Blues". They also recorded an album as GXR, as they did under the Groovecatcher guise. Entitled "After The Rain", it was released in 2006 on the respected Elektrolux label.
My favorite track from the album is undoubtedly "Intoxicated". The "climax" at ~1:20 is just wonderful, lots of layered harmonies happening in a dreamy tune with even dreamier and airier vocals. Just perfect!

It's interesting to know that they do their own videos and graphics (Phil Webb is responsible for the visual side of this project), so that adds up to their already huge pile of talent.

Leama & Moor-Everything Matters / Coming Of Age

I'll start by saying that these tracks would make my all-time downtempo top 50 any given day. Produced by a legendary progressive trance duo, they take the best of the electronic feel of trance and layered melodic nature of progressive and transforms them into this. Flawless.
About Leama & Moor there is a lot to say, but I'll keep it short. Composed of Marty Smith (Leama) and Andy Moor, the duo are best known for the remixes they did during mid-2000s for artists like Avril Lavigne, Orbital, Paul Oakenfold, Brian Eno, Starkid, Above & Beyond and for many others. They also released their own album, "Common Ground" in 2006, featuring only original compositions. I strongly recommend you checking it out, as I do with anything these guys ever produced or remixed. Class act!

Buy the album from Beatport: LINK

Chicane-Hiding All The Stars

I won't even bother introducing Chicane or Gary Numan (whose song "Cars" is covered by Chicane). I feel like I'm back in time listening to this track. 1999 to be precise, when I discovered Chicane.
I'm sure there are many 12 or 13-year-olds who will cite this as their introduction to electronic dance music in 10 years' time. Nuff said. Enjoy!

Kylie Auldist-Community Service Announcement

Although she has been on the scene for around 10 years now, I only heard of Kylie Auldist last year, when she released her first solo album, "Just Say", a nice combination of soul and funk.
Often a vocalist for The Bamboos, you can check more about her on the web if you're interested, as I have to excuse myself this time for not knowing to provide you with any relevant info on her.

But I can provide you with one of my favorite tunes from her, "Community Service Announcement", a really funky piece of music that I enjoyed from the very first listen.

Dario G feat. Vanessa Quinones - Voices

Everyone has a favorite time of their lives, right? It just happens that mine was around 10 years ago, exactly when Dario G had airtime on every single music channel on radio and TV. Those were the times. Now, Dario G doesn't exist anymore (rumors of a comeback circulate lately, but until it happens, they're just rumors), but their music does. In the form of the 2 albums they released: "Sunmachine" in 1998 and "In Full Colour" in 2001.
By far the best one is the first. I have listened to it for countless times and it just doesn't get old. For me, "Sunmachine" is the ultimate testament of how lighthearted and joyful the late 90s were. Somehow life was harder for everyone back then, but in such a way that it was harder without people worrying as much about it as they do today.
From the soundtrack to "The Beach" (2000), here is the quintessential late 90s mainstream chilled track "Voices". Probably everyone knows it, but it doesn't hurt remembering it for 5 more minutes today.
And here's to hoping Dario G will once again make music like this.

Heather Nova - Aquamarine (Chris Coco's Balearica Mix)

Heather Nova is a well-known singer/songwriter who has been in the music scene for more than 15 years. She's famous for her vocal ballads and that's exactly what the next track is. But with a twist: lounge hero Chris Coco transforms it into electronic bliss. One of the best summer "dreamaway" songs you'll probably ever hear. I know that I'm going to listen to it every single summer of my life.

Weekend Players - Into The Sun

A few days ago we had Caia, today we have Weekend Players, another side-project by Groove Armada's Andy Cato, only this time not solo, but with female vocalist Rachel Foster, whom you might also know from a few tracks she did with Bent, notably from their 2004 album, "Ariels".
Weekend Players, just like Caia, only released one album, entitled "Pursuit Of Happiness", back in 2002. Then, absolute silence.
Some of their tracks have been remixed by other EDM artists, most famously by progressive trance duo Gabriel & Dresden and trance act Riva, who remixed "I'll Be There" and "Into The Sun" respectively, both regarded as early 2000s progressive trance classics.

I have only found "Into The Sun" uploaded on YouTube, but I STRONGLY encourage you to get the entire album asap! You won't know what you're missing if you don't. ;)

Flipside - Unwind

Flipside are a Danish downtempo act that most people know by their track "Relief", featured on countless chillout compilations, including "Cafe del Mar".
They have released 3 albums so far and I can tell you that each one is worth listening to. They are actually half electronic and half acoustic, as you will hear many traditional instruments in their tracks (even though digitally post-processed most of the time).
Today I have for you such a hybrid track from their 2003 album "Inside". It's called "Unwind" and it has exactly the effect the title suggests, so press "play" and relax for 5 minutes.

Orion - Eternity (Acoustic Mix)

"Eternity" is one of the tracks that introduced me to the world of chilled electronica many moons ago. Released in 2000 (part of a 12" single containing several mixes), this track gained over the years a solid reputation within the trance community (partly due to the fact that Orion is an alias of none other than Darren Tate).
OK, enough talk, turn up the music!

Caia - Le Telecabine / Heavy Weather / Remembrance

I don't even know where to start...The fact that I've chosen to feature 3 tracks today (won't happen too often, I can tell you that) must say something. And if not, here is me saying it: this is pure gold right here!
In the last 10 years I have only for 4 or 5 times listened to an album and liked absolutely every single thing about it. This is the case for this album: "The Magic Dragon" (you can download the album for only $9.99 here) by Caia. Caia is a solo project by Andy Cato, one half of house duo Groove Armada. "The Magic Dragon" is the only album Cato released under the Caia alias, back in 2003. It's an unique blend of deep house funkyness, trip-hop, caribbean-feel chillout and ethnic elements that works like magic, literally.
I think you got the picture: this album encapsulates the definition of "hidden all-time classic" and you simply HAVE to listen to it, there is no excuse for not indulging yourself the opportunity of doing so. 11/10

And these are the tracks: "Remembrance" (I think even my grandma would love it), "Le Telecabine" (my personal favourite) and "Heavy Weather".

Sub Sub - Past / Angel

Most people probably never heard of Sub Sub and I was part of most until a couple of years ago, when I heard "Past" on a random chillout compilation. And boy, did it grab my attention! For a couple of days I think I only played it on repeat. Naturally, I was desperate to find out more of Sub Sub and that lead me to their 1994 album "Full Fathom Five". I didn't enjoy the album as much as I had expected, but some tracks stood out, among them "Past" and "Angel".
I later found out "Past" was actually released back in 1992 on "Coast EP", which makes it even greater.
In the late 90s Sub Sub were about to release a new album when their studio burnt down and they lost all their work. After a short hiatus, the members reunited under the name "Doves" (sounds more familiar?), taking an entirely different musical direction, towards rock. their current website is www.doves.net.

All Saints-Pure Shores (2 Da Beach U don't Stop Remix)

Remember All Saints? They were really big back in the day when Leonardo DiCaprio was a teen idol. That's right, a looong time ago. Well, today we remember those times with what I consider to be All Saints' best song: "Pure Shores". I absolutely love the original (the entire soundtrack to "The Beach" is great), but this remix just adds that little extra dance factor to it.
So, without further ado, here's some summer:

The High Violets - Chinese Letter / Sun Baby

We leave electronica aside for today, as The High Violets enter the stage. Unsurprisingly, I didn't come across this dream pop band at random, but while searching for some remix work by Ulrich Schnauss. He did a remix of "Chinese Letter" and because I liked it, I became very curious about the original song and decided to get the entire album on which it was included: "To Where You Are" (2006). That album was my introduction to dream pop and I must say it was a pleasant one.

Here are 2 of my favorite tracks from the album:

Nacho Sotomayor - Last Summer / Too Far

A double feature again today: two tracks from no other than Nacho Sotomayor. Those familiar with the "Cafe del Mar" compilation series probably know him, he was featured on several volumes and even has a track entitled "Cafe del Mar" on the first volume.
Nacho is best known for his long-running series of artist albums entitled "La Roca", currently on the 7th volume, released 2009. Every album is an alluring fusion of downtempo, world music, trip hop beats, breaks and ambient music. Very strong unity in diversity indeed.

"Last Summer" comes off the first "La Roca" album, released in 1999. A simply excellent feel-good track that is sure to remind you why summer is so damn great!



"Too Far" is a track from "La Roca Vol. 4", released in 2002. It has also been included in the best-of album "La Roca 1999-2004". An acoustic guitar and effective vocals (chanting actually) make you feel like packing up and leaving for a sunny, careless vacation somewhere on the Mediterranean coast.



You can find Nacho Sotomayor albums availabe on Amazon.com or cduniverse.com, among other places. Just do a Google search.

Afterlife-Take Me Inside (Christophe Goze Mix)

Steve "Afterlife" Miller has been around for quite a while and his name has grown synonymous with "chillout" over the years. Albums like "Simplicity Two Thousand" (2000) and the absolute classic (and one of my all-time favorites) "Speck Of Gold" (2004) have built Steve a reputation hard to match. Afterlife's latest album, "Electrosensitive" was launched in July 2009.

On the remix job is no other than French guitarist and downtempo producer Christophe Goze. He is definitely one of my favorite producers in the downtempo scene and this remix is one of his best to date. Enjoy!

Cafe Americaine-L'amour

I must be honest, I don't know anything about who's behind Cafe Americaine. I searched the web and couldn't find anything relevant.
However, I just love their track "L'Amour". Heard it on "Dubai Chill Lounge Vol. 2" (follow the link to buy the track) a couple of years ago and it's one of only 2 tracks I know Cafe Americaine ever released. Too bad, since they're obviously good at it and should've produced more of this great stuff.

Note: the Loungematic remix is the same as the (apparent) original version of the track. "L'amour" appears on various compilations, sometimes with and sometimes without the "Loungematic Remix" tag, but it's the exact same song.

Claes Rosen-Glancing

A slice of very melodic deep house makes today's menu. Master chef is no other than Swedish super-talent Claes Rosen, a highly overlooked producer whose work over the past 2 years had a great influence over my taste in electronic music.
"Glancing" is a demonstration of what Claes is best at: funky grooves and catchy riffs. The perfect tune to start your day.

Buy this track here: Beatport.com