13th Moon

Psyreviews has made reference to Interchill previously as not so much a label, more a ‘movement’ with the goal of chilling everybody out to the tune of at least 12%. Step forth the latest release (or ‘chillmissile’ if you will), and sit down rest of the world, laze back in your hammock and drift off. Packaged up as a soundtrack to a hypothetical party on 20th Dec 2012, there’s more substance here than with your average release. Through Kiwa’s unfurling Dawn, phase one of beautification is completed by Aba Structure’s timeless Rescue – real nice stuff, full of sixteenths to tickle that grey matter, skitty beats to make you grin, and melodies that more than hint at the existence of the other. De-Fex’s Another World moves things sideways into digidub territory, Human Blue’s Spinnin’ Spoon is morning downtempo at its best, and Sacred Tree from Taruna fuses breakbeaty house, dub and chill into a gnarled organic piece of wonder every bit as graceful as the title suggests. Mystical Sun’s 2012 (set your alarms now, by the way, there’s not long left) is sheer brilliance – smooth, opening, unfolding, it’s an instrumental I-Ching for the senses. Neon Tetra is up next, from Umberloid – otherwise known as Chris Barker plus loveable dub pervo-rogue Ott – and blimey, what a tune. This has been a staple of Ott’s live sets recently, so much so that when you hear it, you’re likely to start swaying uncontrollably and scream “oh! THAT one!!” – well psyreviews did anyway. You know what to expect – classy, imaginitive chillout that defies pigeonholing (“genres are for librarians”), a chorus to die for and more interweaving melodies than you can shake a glowstick at. Kaya Project’s Stone Turns Black follows perfectly, a sweet piece of jazz-tinged ethnic horizontal stompery, and with Bluetech’s Prayers For Rain closing things off in a heavy-eyelid, bass heavy dub style un’ fashun, this is a sweet, beautifully presented album.

4/5