Various Artists - Euphoria Chilled (28 tracks) +Album Reviews

If you haven't already, BUY THIS ALBUM

bordersj2 | Boston | 05/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Sit Back and Relax

coopertex | CA United States | 02/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Takes you on a trip to dreamland...

DJ Cruella | Tampa | 03/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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!"

Elevate your soul to a higher state of consciousness....

M. Faisal Ahmad | Yorktown, Virginia USA | 01/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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!"

A Classic Mixed by Red Jerry

bordersj2 | Boston | 03/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Search - Various Artists :: Euphoria: Chilled

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