Customer Reviews

Euphoria: Chilled

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love this series. The Euphoria chill-out series are sessions that usually takes popular trance/house tracks and gives them noticeable downtempo facelifts, turning them into almost ambient masterpieces. Red Jerry is the ace behind the first and second, titled "Deep & Chilled", and Solar Stone rounded up the final one (to date) called "Chilled Out".

I picked this one up a few years ago not really knowing what to expect - but it had the "Euphoria" title so I figured it had to be quality. And boy, was it ever. This cd - especially the first disc, took me back to some very good times when the tracks were much faster and pumping in the clubs. But something different about them that seems perfectly on time to me was the way that they were slowed down, making you remember the details of that time - for me at least - 1998-1999.

Red Jerry does a terrific job in this, blending and mixing the tracks into one another. One of my favorite sampes of this is the way he mixed the slow winding end of Cafe Del-Mar into the nostalgic, playful sound of Smokebelch iI and then right into the near non-vocal balearic version of Lustrals superhit "Everytime". From "Jillianity" to "Talking with Myself" and into another great mix of tracks that close out the CD - you're left thinking "Wow" thanks to the musical trip.

The Second CD isn't quite as strong a line-up IMO. SPecifically, some of the titles dabbled onto the "Pop" line of the cuts. But chacnes are if you had this in 2000 - end of 1999, the tracks weren't all over the place yet.

This delivers, I love it and definitely recommend it. It's not like the other chill-out compilations that feed you loads of commercialized fillers (see Ministry of Sound). This double disc set is a different facet to the tunes and many trance cuts - albeit for a pretty steep price! And if you do enjoy this, definitely pick up Deep & Chilled as well.

Red Jerry, mixed together some excellent track sets that just blend in so well, that they seem like they were created by the same musical artists. Starting with the rightly named "Drifting Away", you'll hear the sound of ocean surf in the intro accompanied with a beautiful female voice, then followed with a steady beat. Next is, "Touched By God", which has this beutiful shimmering a sound like magic. There is also a rare gem called,
Smokebelch II", don't let the name fool you because it's very soft and sounds like bell chimes in the wind. Followed by the beautiful, "Everytime", which has very soft sounds, echos, breathing and keyboard sounds flowing with a soft guitar. You just gotta hear it! Euphoria Chilled is soothing it's ambient music, without sounding weird or annoying. It comes with two cds in the set and they are both wonderful. Not many cd sets feature two great cd sets. You should own this cd set if you like excellent chill-out music with trance origins. Mr. Red Jerry, take a bow...this cd set is bliss.

As it's title suggests, this Euphoria collection is much more mellow. MUCH. Everything you know about the tracks on this compilation is wrong. These mixes are completely different than most of the ones you'd hear on more "mainstream" techno and trance mixes. If you buy this CD expecting the same pounding beats you'd hear on other CDs with the same titles, you'll be sadly disappointed.

This is NOT a bad thing! If you are expecting this when you buy it, you will find this is the most incredible chill-out mix you've ever heard. Take all the songs you think you know from the track list. Imagine them without the pounding thump-thump-thump techno beat you are so used to hearing. Then put in just enough ambience in the background to fill the void left by the lack of rhythm... and then you might almost grasp what this compilation is all about. Katcha's "Touched by God", and Moby's "Go" take on an incredibly new sound. Add in the already-mellow traks like "This Love" and Moby's "Why Does my Heart..." and you have one fantastic, relaxing mix.

It truly is chilled, great for relaxing after a long day (or night). If you have been disappointed in the past by other "Chill out" albums, then this will no doubt impress you.

This is quite simply the best (by far) of a dozen "chill out" cds I have. To start with, this is a true mix... no gaps between songs to spoil the mood. The songs blend flawlessly into each other, creating an hour-long vibe (per cd) that's perfect for any time of day. I've played this set for club-goers, non-club-goers, even my dad... EVERYONE loves it. It's SO smooth you can't help but appreciate the journey it takes you on.

There are so many songs on these cds that you think you may know, but think again. You've never heard them like this. (Who would've ever thought Moby's "Go" would be included on a "chill out" cd?) This is an all-star lineup that doesn't disappoint. The highlight for me is the finale of "This Love" by Craig Armstrong. Just when you think the cd can't get any better, Armstrong leaves you wanting more...

Everyone says "If you buy one chill out cd, buy THIS one!" Well, trust me... If you're looking for one single collection of TRUE "chill out" music that stands apart from the crowd, Chilled Euphoria is the one. You won't be disappointed.

If you're into chilling like I am, you'll dig this CD. I swear all you have to do is close your eyes, lay back, and let every note, every layer of the music just TRANSPORT you into a world you never knew existed. This music is just too beautiful and spacy to pass up. Put it on and set your boosters to high. Cuz you're goin' way up, baby. Up into a new world.

I give this CD 1000 CD's and its best when you're smokin' some ganja. Definately. The Best CD....that ever existed.

From the hypnotic Katha's "Touched By God(Katcha's Quiet Storm Remix)", to ambient vibes of Matt Darey's "To Russia With Love(Alaska Remix)", the sounds will uplift your senses to another level, beyond reality to a state of eternal bliss and utmost tranquility....whatever your style or your spiritual quest might be whether , from yoga, qabaala, kundalini, transcendental meditation, reiki, feng shui,rumi..the sounds will "take you there"....Om!

Expertly blended by Red Jerry, this collection of ambient, beatless trance, and new age synth-driven tracks is guaranteed to relax the mind and spirit.

I personally use these CDs (the Euphoria "Deep & Chilled" - loosly known as volume 2, is another favorite and just as good) as a meditation aid as well as something soothing to fall asleep to. This is the type of music that doesn't demand your attention - but rather allows you to float along with the "stream of consciousness" that it provides.

Since purchasing both Euphoria Chilled sets, I've turned on my massage therapist to it, who has had many clients wanting to know what these tracks are and where to get this great CD!

Ever get home from the club with all the night's music banging in your head...but you want to relax? Pop in this cd...you'll hear mixes of at least one song you heard out that night, but with a 4am feel. Extremely nice for "company" ;)On the track selection....first song out of the gate...exquisite. cd1 provides superb ambience after the spy theme intro, but doesn't take you to dreamland unless you let it... excellent remixes of tilt and chicane later on the disccd2 is outstanding as well, love the dubs of underworld and salt tank....(salt tank singles are great too, btw) this disc is not quite as airy as disc 1, but still chilled and flawlessanother excellent edition in the euphoria series....and yes, even blokes in the midwest appreciate fine mix music :) keep on groovin.

This cd really surprised me. I have purchased many of the chill out trance albums that are going around, and this is the first one that i actually like. Yes it is slow, and no you won't hear the trademark pounding bass that you are used to from most euphoria cds, so if you are looking for a dance cd this is definately not for you. And yet, this cd is extraordinary. It works great for when you have just gotten back from the club and are trying to calm yourself enough to get some sleep. This cd will relax you to the point to where you don't want to do anything but listen to the lovely melodies it produces. i love the fact that it contains many songs that i have already heard before, but never like this. It can seem a little repetitive at times, but this just makes it all the more relaxing. You won't miss the bass backbeat either. The ambience produced in this cd is more than enough to make up for the lack of pounding beats. I guarantee that if you are looking for something to calm you down..., you will like this cd. i give cd 1 (A) and cd 2 (A+)

2000. What a year that was for music. Especially when it comes to chillout and trance. At that time, Euphoria was just one of several labels jockeying for a voice and place in the saturated trance and chillout markets. Ultra was coming into their own (or on the cusp of it), and Ministry was so busy flooding the market that they went so far as to make cannibalistic releases, while spreading internationally. But I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for the Euphoria series. They were always a cut above to me, and their chillout albums didn't follow the mold of the tried and tested. Artists like Nightmares on Wax or Portishead weren't on them, and that's no criticism to their great works. It's just that Euphoria's were something different. They were mixed differently and the songs were specific - they connected to the club culture of that time.

"Ephoria: Chilled" is the very first of the 3 staple Euphoria chillout releases. The Euphoria chillouts usually have some popular trance songs from that era (but aren't afraid to go back further in time) and slowed down. It could be via remix or whatever, but the mood and flow is almost always seamless. Starting out with a nice Faithless cut, disc one is easily my favorite in this double disc set. The album's mostly electronica and sampled throughout but it's not obnoxious. It's very smooth and, for lack of better words, ambient. One of my favorite moments on disc one was a string of songs from the end of the chilled version of "Cafe Del Mar" to The Sabres of Paradise with "Smokebelch II". A few beeps here and there, but it's got a very sweet sound and rhythm to it. Lustral's "Everytime" follows, and I absolutely love this version. An added effect were the waves as Smokebelch was being cross-faded into it, and the song sounds rather magical then. "Everytime" was so popular back in 2000-2001, and this version here was without the vocals until the end. The other highlights were "Talking With Myself", "Saltwater" and "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad". Man, Moby was on fire back then.

So to rate the disc, I'd say it's a good four and a half stars because while disc two was very nice, it wasn't nearly as strong as disc one was. Underworld and a few others had some nice tracks but it didn't hold up to disc one's consistency or mood, which is to say you can turn it on and close your eyes and be taken away. And maybe that's why I loved this album so much. 1999 and 2000 were good times for trance with some great tracks and music and the music world was full of promise of things to come, IMO.

So when I want to remember or think back, connect with some memories of whatever I was doing at that time, this is the perfect remedy. There were at least 2 more chillout Euphoria's that followed this one. "Deep & Chilled" and "Chilled Out", in blue and red cover, respectively. Then there were sort of hybrid releases like the two "Deeper Shades of Euphoria"'s that were out almost 5 years ago. The first two Euphoria chillout albums were mixed fantastically by Red Jerry, while the third and final one (that I'm aware of) was mixed by Solar Stone. "Deeper Shades" was mixed by Jay Burnett. Finally, there were at least 2 "Breakdown" Euphoria's, which were like cut/alternative versions of the originals. So if you like this and want more, that's how you get them. Although be forewarned that these are probably going to be incredibly pricey as time passes.