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V/A - Natural Born Chillers (Aleph Zero 2004) CD
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scraper
IsraTrance Junior Member
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452
Posted : Dec 18, 2004 22:42
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Someone please confirm that Shulman is working on a new album..
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Quasga
Inactive User
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498
Posted : Dec 20, 2004 00:40
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Here is a brief review of each song after about 4-5 listens of the whole compilation.
1.Alaya - Ishq enters with warm beginnings of sprinkled sound. Soft tones gently ease you into the atmosphere of voices calling out in the distance. I feel as if I'm atop a mountain in the ancient east overlooking snowcaps peaking above the clouds. Shimmers of sound crystals sparkle about as the voices continue their distant call. A very peacful intro and gorgeous soundscape by Ishq. Lovely.
2. Shakti - This track opens with that feel of bluetech, not to compare, but if you're a fan of Evan's work, then you'll probably like this track. A mysterious PsyDM
feel directs the song, as moody melodic leads and processed sounds playfully delay and pan in a nicely calculated manner. Cool sounds amidst the darker chilled vibe. An interesting turn from the intro song. Interested in finding more tracks by this artist.
3. A New Philosophy - The dub vibe of this track is great, and I love how it slowly builds up to the bassline to really get you in that slow groovin skunk funk.
Nice sounds and vibe continue to ride into a ambient middle break where an apropriate sample is spoken. After that, the track changes up from the dub vibe into more synthwork, pushing you further into mental space. Great work by Wouter of Zen Mechanics. Want more.
4.Disconnect - Jirah has a great track on his hands here. It's easy to do as the title suggests, "Disconnect". Remniscient of Celtic Cross in ways due to the guitar work and bassline but more soft tech chill in a slight Gabriel Le Mar sort of way. This track has good beat structure, spacey gated synths and is overall quality as you can expect from Jirah.
5. Monochrome Rainbow Pixie - Ok, this is the Keltic Krishna style! Original flute playing by this artist is excellent. It's like pixies and leprechauns are taking turns hitting the earth bong and dancing in the sun. Great processing and sounds. Detuned solos add to the fun feel of this uplifting, happy vibe. An unexpected turn in the lineup which is refreshing.
6.Be Yourself - I like this song, the gandalf samples, great bass, sounds, etc... but the the vocal gets a little old, despite it's great positive message and vocal quality. Overused a little much in my honest opinion, but I can't let that get in the way of nice acoustic guitar work and an overall good tune.
7. Estha - I like the "India Pop" feel of this tune. I can hear it playing on the background of a volkswagon commercial now. ;P Lovely indian vocals, flute runs, and a nice light synth make for a great uplifting tune. Makes me smile.
8. On Air (MIDIval Punditz remix) - This tune enters with an ambient drone and sitar atmosphere that makes me feel as if I'm back atop a mountainside watching a sunset through the mist. I've not heard the original track so I don't know how much of the work is the Punditz, but I imagine the sitar work is definitely part of their personal touch to this track. A very flowing, mindfloat with a solid beat that isn't too overbearing or fast moving the track along.
9. Ya Bouy (Shulman remix) - WOW. This remix has some amazing phase tweaking going on. Was listening in my studio and the stereo field during the wicked drum solo breakdown was moving about like surround sound. Very nice stereo effects work going on, with that Shulman style that is so familiar. You can tell the bassline, the beats, the synths, were all concaucted by Yaniv. A very personal Shulman touch to this tune. Inspiring! Could easily fit within In Search of A Meaningful Moment as a bonus track. This track is exciting, uplifting, and a great peak on this compilation after so many great tunes building up to it.
10. Underwater (Part One) - Ah, now I drift downstream out into the ocean where I begin to sink. This track is a great cool down after the building emotion of the last track. Nice subtle beats, slow swirling synths phase you up and down as if riding a mild undertow in the big blue. Cool dubby production and effects tricks thicken up the mix as ocean life swims and sways about you until finally it lets me go with a phasing delay into the infinite.
Overall, this a great first comp
for the Aleph Zero Label. I appreciate the transistions from song to song, and the mastering sounds brilliant.
Thanks for your efforts, Aleph Zero crew! And giving me the opportunity to create the artwork for this release.
Quasga
www.androcell.com
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Quasga
Inactive User
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498
Posted : Dec 20, 2004 00:41
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Quote:
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On 2004-12-18 22:42, scraper wrote:
Someone please confirm that Shulman is working on a new album..
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As far as I know, he's NOT working on another album just yet. But taking a break from the project to focus on the Aleph Zero label and other side projects.
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woutski
Zen Mechanics
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5
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275
Posted : Dec 22, 2004 17:46
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Great review Quasga and good job on the graphics! Totally fits the music inside  |
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Sputer
IsraTrance Senior Member
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315
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2709
Posted : Jan 2, 2005 19:04
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02. 07’10” Anahata - Shakti
ohhhhhhh this one really beautifulllllll
who is it ? 
 ..."Be yourself, let your conscience guide you...
Follow your heart, not the people around you"... |
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Sputer
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
315
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2709
Posted : Jan 2, 2005 19:26
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06. 06’31” Cosmic Fools – Be Yourself
05. 09’10” Agalactia – Monochrome Rainbow Pixie
ohhh another bombers
this CD goes and being better & better
i love this music !!!
..."Be yourself, let your conscience guide you...
Follow your heart, not the people around you"... |
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Pavel
Moderator
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312
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Posted : Jan 27, 2005 12:41
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scobbah
Kiriyama
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35
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991
Posted : Jan 31, 2005 13:10
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Aleph Zero Records, the label from Israel who's run by Shahar Bar-Itzhak and Yaniv Shulman, is here with their third contribution to the world of chillout. The disc is served with a delicious first class cover, and the package as whole radiates signals of seriosity and consideration. With their two previous releases being successful, Shulman's second album and Bluetech's doubledisc, it's time for a compilation, a compilation who's looking very interesting and promising by looking on the paper, with a swedish representation among others in shape of Son Kite.
It's time to leave and experience, together with Aleph Zero, the enchanted world of chillout.
01 – Ishq - Alaya (11:13)
Natural Born Chillers opens the gates and welcomes the listener with an ambienttrack, charged with impressive atmospheres, beautiful chorus and the song of the birds. It introduces itself as something very mystical and spiritual, and it feels from time to time as I find oneself being in some tibetanian temple - all alone, guided by Ishq under a session of meditation. The track feels very happy, hopeful and it brings wordly elements to our attention. Elements who gives feelings of joy, gratefulness for all beautiful things around us whom we so often tend to forget in our stressed out everyday life, and there's an signifanct ingredience of natural hapiness here.
02 – Anahata - Shakti (07:10)
After a true dose of Aleph Zero-quality from the disc's previous track, it's time to move on to soundscapes who feels a bit melancholy. This makes my thoughts wander away to the music of Bluetech, as this is just as his music, very intelligent, detailed and very precise. Unfortunately, those melancholy soundscapes are experienced from time to time as a little bit difficult to digest; the intelligent wealth of details who's embedded in the track almost transforms into a serious punch in the tummy after the spiritual peace the previous track invited me for.
03 – Zen Mechanics – A New Philosophy (11:19)
The third track is delivered as if Aleph Zero would have heard my prayers, a melodical excursion to the beautiful land of the rhythms with a big dose of galactic joy and spiritual optimism. I just have to raise the volume here, because this track is truly something special. The atmospheres gives an incredible depth to the track, but it is those wicked beaituful melodies who's the real piece of yummy on this menu. Those eleven minutes goes by as if it would have gone an hour, but at the same time it feels like it just started and that's time for the next track - the idea of time is lost and Aleph Zero has already after three tracks passed succeeded in leading us away from the world of everyday stress, which I'm deeply grateful for.
04 – Jirah - Disconnect (08:28)
It's time for the disc's fourth track, and the cd takes new aim on new heights, who's leaning more on classic psychedelic chillout. The journey passes through revolutionized soundscapes, dancing on trippy melodies and all the time it points out a feeling of joy and hapiness. The thoughts disappears, away to festivalmemories, and for a moment I've completely forgotten that I'm sitting leaned back in my favourite chair - which is an indescribable feeling and yet another strong evidence on the music's magic power.
05 – Agalactia – Monochrome Rainbow Pixie (09:10)
We continue with a playful sense to a soundscape who inhabbits the mystical brightly-colours of world music. It swings deep, and the presence of instruments whom the ear is not used to hear all too often nowdays strengthens a smile in the soul. Does your heart beat at the same rate as playful chillmusic, who's brightly-coloured and almost teasing you with it's taunt because of how easy it can get your mind and thoughts in a complete other direction than you're used to have those - well then this is something for you. Shut your eyes and try to train your thoughts when this joy surrounds you.
06 – Cosmic Fools – Be Yourself (06:31)
Cosmic Fools are here trying to plant seeds with the message that you should be yourself, and let your conscience guide you. The track opens in beautiful spaced out environments, but does later develop into something that is a bit cheesy. With a beautiful song by Natalie Chalfon, the track is trying to win a place in the listener's heart, but since this element is repeated over and over again, it just gets tedious in the end. It does require more than a good message to etch into one's eardrum.
07 – J.Viewz - Estha (05:09)
J.Viewz, who's topical for the moment with a new release, is one of my favourites when it comes to chill at the moment, and Viewz can find himself happy to here face my expectations. J.Viewz has always had a very personal and storytelling sound and way of expressing it, and here's none left disapointed. Nice but most if it positive rhythms poses here on the image of sound, together with a spicy dose of atmosphere. It feels like a nice excursion on the disc, as this track feels and is experienced as something more acoustic.
08 – Son Kite – On Air (MIDIval PunditZ remix) (06:11)
Here's an remix offered by MIDIval PunditZ, on one of last year's well played ingrediences from swedish Son Kite. There's some elements left from the original, but MIDIval PunditZ has definitely dressed the track in a whole new shape and put the project's stamp on the package. I'm close to the thought of that I'd rather seen this track being more equiped with more elements from the original. But those elements that MIDIval PunditZ are adding are not that bad at all, but despite that I miss the original.
09 – Omar Faruk Tekbilek & Steve Shehan – Hey Bouy (Shulman remix) (07:00)
Shulman has been on a roll and remixed an arabic discogroove. Here's psychedelic excursions recovered on a high level, everything served on an arabic carpet, with it's root deep in the listener's inner soul. What amuses me most is how the track develops. There's everything here from more fast and almost aggressive trippy moments, to more relaxed sessions of laidback spice. There's some real superb melodies here who grabs on to me, and even if this does not belong to one of the better creations from the gally of Shulman, this is still very good. After all, he's lowest level of quality is always high. What he does might not always be the best, but it's definitely always good.
10 – Eastern Spirit – Under Water (part one) (06:29)
I'm afraid that the compilation is running towards it's ending, and the whole package is tied up together by Eastern Spirit, and it feels like the long journey is landing somewhere near the place where it took off from the beginning. Calm, dreamy atmospheres takes care of us, and it's not that optimistic and uplifting as we earlier have experienced on the compilation, but it's still not depressive or on the border of melancholy. We find ourself once again on a remote spot, where spirituality bubbles and the mystic is still left to be discovered.
Summary
The first thought that hits me after the speakers has silenced is that I feel completely surprised. In difficult times for music as those present, I had almost lost the hope of a CD where at least 90% of the tracks would get my sense to score backflips. With an exception of the sixth track, this compilation is one of the best warm friends a listener can have during a winter like this. Even if the curve of quality deliveries from Israel steady goes down, Aleph Zero shows that they're standing in the frontline of chilloutdeliveries, and they confirm that the hope is not completely lost.
This is definitely a disc that will follow me in my case, and I see upon Aleph Zero's future with a smile, with their past three heavy releases and Shulman's third album in the works.
This release should even get the most inveterated MP3-santas to wake up from their hibernation, and start buying their music. |
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Jespar
Started Topics :
5
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Posted : Feb 8, 2005 16:51
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scobbah:
Great review, I really enjoy your way of expressing yourself.
It seems like this release is going directly into my chill-collection within a couple of weeks. Can't wait till it gets back in stock. |
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sam i am
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
40
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Posted : Mar 6, 2005 05:20
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Well it's been reviewed plenty already, but thought I might add mine from OzTrance. The album's grown a bit on me since I wrote this.. particularly the Anahata track... I'd prob'ly bump my mark up to 8.5 / 10 now & add that this is prob'ly the best comp that's came out of the downbeat end of the psy-scene last year, but I'll leave my review intact as I wrote it >>>
V. A. - "Natural Born Chillers" [Aleph Zero]
1. Ishq - "Alaya"
Well this is a suitably chilled out intro to the compilation, focussing mainly on a woman's voice. Pretty nice & atmospheric. Generally a good way to get things underway.
2. Anahata - "Shakti"
Wouldn't mind hearing the bottom end of this through a decent system. Nice melodies, but this track doesn't quite get there for me, it just gets a bit repetitive after a while, not quite enough evolution.
3. Zen Mechanics - "A New Philosophy"
Starts with some pretty light percussion & swirly bits, with some Middle-Eastern strings dosed on delay. A few minutes in things get very psy-dubby. Some big melodic breakdowns in here. Not really my thing.. a bit generic... but nice. Good samples.
4. Jirah - "Disconnect"
Bit of delayed acoustic guitar to start with. Some stuttered vocal effect & synth work while the drums build. Pretty slow to get anywhere. Some "Hicksville" style guitar work about halfway through. Sounds like psy-chill to me. Nice percussion though.
5. Agalactia - "Monochrome Rainbow Pixie"
I hope this is interesting, have heard some good stuff from these guys before. Nice epic intro with good samples, flute & abstract rhythmic build, slowly all coming together. Nice happy rhythms & swirling melodies. A sense of fun is here. I like it.
6. Cosmic Fools - "Be Yourself"
A sample courtesy of Gandalf gets things underway with guitar & piano aplenty. Quite a good track this one. Really relaxing feel to it. It seems to do a good job of making me want to swing also. Some funny, yet positively motivated, female vocals to boot.
7. J. Viewz - "Estha"
Nice guitars, groove & sitar. Occasional vocal samples. This track is slightly cheesey, but I kinda like it. It says, 'happy days are here.' Some nice flute work too. Nice one for cafes I suppose.
8. Son Kite - "On Air (Midival Punditz remix)"
Certainly can't complain about the production. Quite a nice track. Very epic. Nice Middle Eastern string work, flute, synths & builds.
9. Omar Faruk Tekbilek & Steve Shehan - "Ya Bouy (Shulman Remix)"
Great ethnic feel to this one. Rhythms are really nice. Excellent bassline & sound. This just gets better & better - some fantastic hand percussion in this!! A real story is being told here. Beautiful song, full respect to the artists involved.
10. Eastern Spirit - "Under Water (Part One)"
When it seems like this is the wind down at the end of the album, the bass kicks. Another nice track, but it's hard to follow on from that last one for me. Nice flutes & rhythms etc.
Nice comp. Bit more chilled than I was expecting considering the 2 artist albums out on this label, chilled meaning semi-ethnic, highly-instrumental, lie-down-and-listen-to-me music, which I s'pose could describe the artist albums too, but they weren't quite as ethnic. ANYWAY, I like it 8/10
new Hadal Drop album on the way
if you don't have the last one get in touch |
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Brutal Virus
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
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87
Posted : Mar 6, 2005 19:06
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i just got it now 
well all i have to say its:
 
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Nokturnal
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
20
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171
Posted : Mar 10, 2005 02:55
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Anahata - Shakti, what an incredible track.
The whole compilation is pretty high quality, I am glad I own it. =) |
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sam i am
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
40
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Posted : Mar 13, 2005 12:40
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OK, I will have to revise my review one last time after listening to this in the 'fight' headspace. 9/10. Perfect track arrangement. Most of the tracks I didn't dig on at first have totally grown on me. Some tracks I wasn't so positive about in that review, notably 3 & 7, are in fact, very fucking nice. Track 10's great also. I love this CD. Everyone should buy it.
new Hadal Drop album on the way
if you don't have the last one get in touch |
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shahar
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
155
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2035
Posted : Mar 16, 2005 10:31
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Hey Sam,
That was very nice to read
I do appreciate your musical taste and so I feel happy about this revision.
We did aim here at something that will sink slowly, grow on you and last long.
BTW, 'fight' headspace ???
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"Be the change you want to see in the world!"
M.K. Gandhi
"There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self."
Aldous Huxley
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sam i am
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
712
Posted : Mar 22, 2005 06:39
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oops... the RIGHT headspace!!! 
new Hadal Drop album on the way
if you don't have the last one get in touch |
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