FRAGILE STATE - REMIXES/CLASSICS

"REMIXES/CLASSICS is a masterwork in downtempo jazz; a chilled out work of wonderment that marks Fragile State out as a masters of subdued majesty "

review by Mike Bond
reviews
iLABEL
TRACKLISTING
REMIXES Undercurrent (Alucidnation Uptempo Remix) The Barney Fade (Future Loop Foundation Remix) Undercurrent (Alucidnation Downtempo Remix) Song Of Departure (Digitonal Cloudless Remix) Stolen Generation (Full Length Mix-Previously Unreleased) T-Kolai: Congo (Fragile State Remix) Seraya (Fragile State Remix) Cat Basket (Previously Unreleased) The Facts And Dreams (Fragile State Breezeblock Mix) T-Kolai: Exodus (Fragile State Remix) Hoop Dreams (Ralph Myerz 5th Floor Magic Retake) Panacea (Jimpster Remix) Every Day A Story (4Hero Remix)
THE FACTS AND THE DREAMS Song Of Departure The Barney Fade Hoop Dreams The Facts And The Dreams Suck It And See Panacea Every Day A Story Barney Reprise Seraya Undercurrent
VOICES FROM THE DUSTBALL Four-Four-Four King For A Day New Bassa Cleo 600 Bliss Stolen Generation At Last Paper Smile Overcurrent Train Time Paper Tiger

A seriously cool sounding record, one that fits perfectly between the breezy chill out of Chris Coco and the like and the occasionally coffee table smugness of Zero 7 or Morcheeba; REMIXES/CLASSICS is a three CD collection of luxurious and silky smooth listening. Coming from former Zero 7 keyboardist Neil Cowley's Fragile State outfit, the thirty five tracks here will more than fulfil all of your laid back, chill out needs for quite some time; subdued, downbeat, occasionally beautiful, always hypnotic.
Like most records in the downtempo chill out genre, this is a collection that isn't going to grab you by the throat and demand your undivided attention from the get go; you're more likely to be slowly seduced here, gently caressed by the smooth keyboard tones and gradual beats, this is real late night/early morning listening, the perfect accompaniment to those hazy late night hours.
The first CD collects together a slew of remixes, the likes of 4Hero, Future Loop Foundation, Ralph Myerz and Alucidnation working their magic on proceedings, the music is, if anything given an even more relaxed and lucid spin, an impossibly gorgeous sounding experience. CD2 is subtitled THE FACTS AND THE DREAMS and with tracks like SONG OF DEPARTURE, HOOP DREAMS and SUCK IT AND SEE, Fragile State make further inroads to chill out bliss, the perfect middle ground between the more leftfield work of Boards Of Canada and the coffee table jazz of Zero 7.
Rounding things up, CD3 is called VOICES FROM THE DUSTBOWL and Fragile State keep things relaxed and breezy, slyly beautiful organ melodies skipping away with graceful ease. FOUR-FOUR-FOUR is like a much more laid back version of The Chemical Brothers or Orbital, a subdued take on techno, surreal vocal samples and synth stabs creeping into the mix. KING FOR A DAY drifts back into gentle ambience, though with more than a trace of mod cool or hammond-esque funk.
One of those records you'll feel just that little bit cooler for listening to, REMIXES/CLASSICS is a masterwork in downtempo jazz; a chilled out work of wonderment that marks Fragile State out as a masters of subdued majesty. Let this waft over you and life is guaranteed to look just that little bit better.

BIOGRAPHY
"The Facts And The Dreams" is an inspired fusion of downtempo grooves, sweeping orchestral bliss, deep soul and jazz from Fragile State, aka Neil Cowley and Ben Mynott.
Fragile State was born out of a long friendship after the two met through a mutual friend several years ago. They have already been described by MUZIK as "another British act causing big moves on our more discerning dancefloors" following their debut release, "Nocturnal Beats", last year.
Such was the positive feedback from the "Nocturnal Beats" single; Neil and Ben decided to shy away from making just another house album and concentrate on making "The Facts And The Dreams", an album that explored their shared interests in soul and jazz.
The result is a totally unique sounding album that will appeal to everyone. Modern day John Barry with subtle touches of soul and jazz best describes the Fragile State listening experience one that is already causing major stirs in the industry.
Neil Cowley is an experienced musician whose keyboard skills has seen him tour extensively with Zero 7 amongst others. His production credits include East West Connection and Freil who recently had a single out on San Franciscos globally acclaimed Naked Music Recordings.
Ben Mynott is a highly respected music journalist and has a monthly jazz/house column in B&S magazine. Ben has compiled two albums for Jazz Fm (Spirit Of The Street Pts 1 & 2), the nu*phusion album on Quiet Riot, and has a new series of soulful & sexy house compilations called Nu De Lune for Bar De Lune.
"The Facts And The Dreams" was conceived after Neil unearthed a rare 1920s German architecture book in a charity shop. It was the title of a chapter that, like "the foundations and the consequences", suggested a new idea about living space and architecture. It followed up with an explanation of the dream of social utopia which would resulta much needed development for any fragile state! The skeletal beauty and fragile utopian vision of these early dreams sit parallel with the sentiment behind the music.

LINKS

Review date: December 2007