Orchestras are the new speed garage, the original dope, according to Robbie Williams at least.
And chill out albums are the new pop.
So receiving a chill out album by someone calling themselves an orchestra was hardly front-page news.
But surprise is that the two guys responsible for EAO are south Londoners who provide soundscapes for Snatch, TV ads and The Herbaliser. Naturally, far from being an audience, they play most of the instruments themselves.
Loungecore can easily be dismissed as erotica porn cheese. This gentle, thoughtful long player is like the first date with the love of your life. We know it's a fantasy, but the rose-tints make it seem very real.
Rat pack wannabies, Ralph Lamb and Andy Ross slide over the dance floor with style. There's no irritating record scratching on the more traditional compositions, then it goes a bit Fingathing on the last track 'Swinging London', the one they'll presumably release as a cash-crop single.
It's easy to fall in love with.
