Search - Blank & Jones :: Relax Edition One

Excellent re-release!

Jitesh Patel | Pasadena, CA United States | 04/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've always dug the sounds of Relax by Blank & Jones since the first time I heard it on the DI.fm Chillout channel a few years back, but I never bought the original album since I could never afford to pay the imported price for it (and I'm sure I'm not alone on this). Fortunately, this domestic version came out very recently so I finally put in my order the very next day. The price was right for the quality and quantity of tracks. I have to say that Edition One does sound much better than Two and Three. That is, the work sounds more creative well put together. The latter two seem to lack just a little of same mellow mood found in this one. Just another example of the original being better than its' sequels.



CD1 (Sun): What can I say? Words can barely describe how great these original and timeless tracks are. The listener will just have to hear this set for themselves all the way through to appreciate them. After 5 years, they're STILL perfect to listen to on a warm, lazy day at the beach (or watching the grass grow in the backyard if the beach is too far away) for the Chillout fan that just feels the need to get away from it all. It's especially relaxing because it has more actual soothing music than vocals (which have the potential to get a little annoying in certain cases when added to Chillout tracks). B&J did a great job of adding their musical talent to some of these songs I've heard in the past. Loves Comes Quickly by Pet Shop Boys has always been a good song from back in the day, and B&J just made it better. I'm not really a fan of Sarah Mclachlan, but her classic "Angel" got an excellent rework. I never thought much of that song until B&J got into it and made her voice sound like a haunting of the soul. It almost brought a tear to my eye (almost). Very well done as usual...



CD2 (Moon): At the same time, these new upbeat remixes are worth checking out. Although it's not AS calming as the first set, this set has plenty of hoppin' euphoric House and Trance sounds for all the Ibiza clubheads out there. Also ideal to pop into the stereo while driving up the coast to help clear a stressed out mind. Relax (Vargo Vocal Mix) could've easily been chosen to be the original Relax, while the original could've been labeled as the instrumental version. Breezin' (Bruno From Ibiza Mix) reminds me alot of the mind-blowing tracks that come from Enigma, mixed with a very subtle tribal beat. Flaming June (Chicane Remix) is a great remix with sweeping synths and rolling bass (same goes for Unknown Treasure (Jean F. Cochis' Timewriter Remix)). Worth listening to for those fans of Nick Bracegirdle. Daydreamin' (Beach House Remix) does sound like track to play while hangin' out with friends at a beach house. The remix name fits the description well. Driftin' (Chill & Grill Mix) slows things down just a little with its seductive sound for those intimate moments with the significant other. Counting Clouds (Saints & Sinners Remix) is a total mind-trip. The ambient sound of rain drops does sound better than the showers in the original. Watching The Waves (Van Bellen Remix) is something I would definitely expect to hear at Club Privlege in Ibiza. The pulse-pounding 140 BPM beats mixed with the synths and vocals flying by the listener's ears and over their heads is definitely a danceable track. Secrets & Lies (Solid Sessions Remix) pumps up the emotion factor with a 303 beat that's commonly found in Progressive Trance tracks. Counting Clouds (Sunset Session Remix) slows it all down and sounds like it could've been another replacement for the original. Horizon doesn't seem to run well with this set at all. I have to say that I am a little disappointed that B&J didn't add this track to the first set. But still a great end to an uplifting set nonetheless..."