ChillingMatenda Chillcode Records

A new ambient and downbeat label from Munich release Matenda's first album in this style. Hailing from the northern shores of Sweeden the scandanavian minimal style is in full effect. Think a perfectly curved crystal vase sitting on a white extruded surface lit from above by a single white bulb and you're starting to get the feel of this cd. "Noodle-y" to borrow the term - arpegiated riffs - float over serene atmospheres which ebb and flow like gentle tides. when it gets going the downbeat tunes are nice, almost progressive beaty tracks. The plunk of the kick is as irreverant as the piano parts which often plink around. The feel of the cd changes and dev elops as the cd progesses - sometimes more serious and insisting, and other times leaning back so much as to nearly fall over! (4)Ganga...is the most accomplished track - the atmoshere right from the start sets the tone which is an urban lanscape, in a field, at dawn (trust me). Also (9)Club Expander is worth a mention coz it's a very nice proggy/ambient number. Unfortunately by the end of the cd you're left crying out for new ideas as the recombination of the same elements begins to get a bit tiresome. Having said that there are tunes here which are quite good and so maybe worth it just for these?

TWO GLASSES OF SOYA MILK AND LITTLE BIT OF VEGAN FLAPJACK