A rush (so to speak) of "chill-out classics" always seems to herald the start of the summer season, ever since 1990 or so, when British youth began to depart en masse to the "island of dreams." The "clubbing holiday" is now almost a rite of passage. Though this compilation doesn't specifically mention Ibiza, it exudes that balaeric vibe, casting a wide net to catch all things chilling.
This is a bit of a "coffee table" collection, although a good one. All the big names are certainly here. There's a good selection of classic tracks, alongside some newer artists.
There's this summer's hotly-tipped French house track, Bel Amour's 'Bel Amour', Orbital's recent chart hit 'Funny Break', and Morcheeba's 'World Looking In'. It's wonderful to hear chill-out standards like Massive Attack's 'Protection', featuring the honeyed vocals of Tracey Thorn, and Goldie's 'Inner City Life'. Tracks like D*Note's 'Coming Up' will bring back blissed-out memories for many.
It's not all strictly dance music, either. Guitars make a welcome appearance in the form of Coldplay's aching, emotional ballad, 'Trouble', and Lemon Jelly strum in the sun with their jaunty 'The Staunton Lick'. 'Clubbed Out' also offers an alternative view of some big name artists in the form of sought-after remixes. Dave Clarke turns in a superb mix of Depeche Mode's 'Dream On'. Moby's rare downtempo mix of rave classic 'Go' sits well alongside mixes of tracks like Salt Tank's 'Sargasso Sea' and Future Sound of London's 'Papua New Guinea'.
For those into their downtempo beats, this collection is surely worth owning, if only for the great selection of classic track mixes. It's hugely enjoyable chilled listening for almost everyone, regardless of the degree of familiarity with the tracks. Every home should have one.
