Various Another Life BNE / YoYo (Israel)

Interesting stuff here on BNE. This is pure, liquid, glacial chill taking in downtempo grooves from a host of Israeli trance artists. The slant is just as different from the USA/Europe chill as is Israel’s take on trance, and the refreshing un-pretentiousness of it all is as much a delight as the tunes themselves. Astrix & Lior Miller lay down Rhythmos, an acoustic Spanish folk story with effortless beats; Yahel’s Feel The Breeze is dazzlingly intricate lounge-jazz, and Oforia’s Soil is a sublimely twisted bit of late-night funk. Psy Sex takes care  of the heavy dub, and Hadag Nahash feat. Mazi Cohen take care of skippy breakbeat braintickles. Psycraft pulls an absolute blinder with A Song For You, an epic guitar-led tune that holds its head high in the company of Pink Floyd and The Grateful Dead’s more sublime moments. It doesn’t always work though, with Violet Visions messy Gentle Anarchy and Infected Mushroom’s Elevation, a directionless rape of Vangelis, but on the whole Another Life is sound. Not only is it charming and surprising, it’s damn fine (and nicely produced) stuff. It may not be to everyone’s taste, but this summer’s open-minded chillaholic will be in heaven.