Om Chilled V.2Om Records
The biggest surprise of OM: Chilled V.2 is its title:
They’re only on Volume 2?!
Om has become a ubiquitous presence in the contemporary House scene - and has been such an extraordinary influence in the development of downtempo, soulful grooves – that it’s almost shocking this series hasn’t entered the double digits. That it hasn’t is actually a tribute to the label’s high standards: in an industry where anything lacking the grotesquely caffeinated “thump-thump-thump” of a Cascada production is invariably considered “chill,” it’s nice to see that Om can differentiate the sound even within its stable of already blissed-out artists.
That said, Chilled V.2 isn’t an entirely remarkable collection, especially coming from such a pivotal label in its soundscape. Techno Squirrels “Love Comes First” is a strong kick-off to the disc, and Bluemind “Really?” sets an increasingly mellow mood with its spare, gasping production. In fact, the entire first half is a serious accomplishment: challenging, atmospheric, dark.
But as happens too often with the occasional Om release, the second half ups the tempo and lets down the high expectations. The salsa swing of “El Cortez” (Home and Garden) has no place on the disc, and the album closer by King Kooba “Big Ole” borders on Cheeseville, USA. It evokes images of silk robes and shagadelic babes, and not in the Cool Brittania, ironic sense; but in the “gross, I just found my gramps’ old porn stash” sense.
Other tracks in the latter half, like Gil Tamazyan “Lini’s Revenge,” further the misbegotten cause of injecting latin rhythms. But spice is best when seasoned throughout, and the disc falters by pulling the chilly rug out from under us just as we’re beginning to resent the thaw.