Comments (1) ... The word chill has become a mainstay in the world of downbeat. It's ubiquitous as a descriptor of music and it is sometimes loses its luster becomes of its common use. Numerous compilations too bear the word in the title. It's so predictable that you can almost expect a couch to appear across the compilation cover. When a label is placed on a music style so often, I sometimes find myself a little skeptical.

1. Reflections
2. Memorabilia
3. Open Rene
4. Emotions
5. Mantra
6. Dragonfly
7. Missing Souls

For the artist Lemonchill, he has chosen to place a twist on the use of the word that gives a feeling to the music. It also brings to mind the undeniable flavor of a certain fruit. Maybe a love of food is just the right combination to spark your interest into giving the new release, Sentant, a listen.

The album begins with "Reflections." This track slowly starts with a pick across metal strings. As the layers build, an electronic beat lays down the mood. The repetition of elements begins and you know this stuff is the work of cool electronics. Lemonchill got his training in electronic music right at home in Israel. He gained his musical knowledge at the BPM College in Tel Aviv and immediately began producing tracks that have lead up to this full debut release. "Reflections" rolls along as layers are removed and dropped in selectively creating a unique soundscape, a definite similarity to the German act, Blackfish, in style and quality.

Again, on the next track "Memorabilia," Lemonchill starts with a guitar chorus. Ambient waves are slowly washing in across the background. This carries on for nearly a minute before we get a sense of what this track will deliver. Lemonchill introduces us to the land and music he is most familiar with. A Middle Eastern rhythm becomes apparent with a bouncing beat. His initial guitar gets reinserted and reworked throughout the track. It never truly develops into a bonafide melody. Instead, "Memorabilia" carries these ambient sounds meditatively against familiar elements throughout.

"Open Rene" sounds like an extension of "Memorabilia." There are more of the same experimental sounds and it rides a similar pace in the beat. In fact, you begin to sense the overwhelming influence in Lemonchill's sound with the later tracks, "Emotions" and "Mantra." The beat is familiar as before, only the ambient and noise work are exchanged. These tracks flow in and out of progression as layers are removed. Sometimes, Lemonchill drops down to a single element, bringing it the forefront causing you to focus. As the tracks build once again you begin to understand the overall musicality of Lemonchill's work on Sentant. "Dragonfly" brings variety to the mix with a danceable variation. More interesting beats and keyboards provide a catchy rhythm that is used to differentiate it from the rest of the pack.

As the French word implies, Sentant doesn't stray very far from its overwhelming feeling and dominant theme. But, it does stray far from the soft dreamy sounds of so many chillout compilations out there. It delivers a unique collection of music that's regional to the land where he lives in and at the same time, modern in its inception.

~ Chris Lindsey

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