Relax I

Sony Music is delighted to announce the release of ‘Keep Calm and Relax’, a soothing selection of modern classics,
The three- disc collection features a stunning array of chill out tracks from a varied line up of international chart-toppers and UK favourites, from Bruno Mars, Kelly Clarkson and Alicia Keys to Rumer, Plan B and Lily Allen.
With over 50 comforting tracks across the three discs, ‘Keep Calm and Relax’ encourages you to put your feet up and unwind from the daily grind. Some of the stellar songs include: Ellie Goulding ‘Your Song’, Damien Rice ‘Cannonball’, Sade ‘No Ordinary Love’, Leona Lewis ‘Bleeding Love’, James Morrison ‘You Give Me Something’, Duffy ‘Mercy’, Christina Aguilera ‘Beautiful’ and Justin Timberlake ‘Cry Me A River’.

Blank & Jones offer up a soothing collection of ambient Balearic tunes and low-tempo chillout tracks with the second edition of their "Relax" series. Spread out over two discs, disc one (called "Sun") seems more focused on pure leisure,while the second "Moon" disc offers some slightly more uptempo tunes while still maintaining a calming mood overall.
Perfectly exemplifying the difference between the Sun and Moon CDs are a number of the tracks which actually appear on both discs,but in different remix guises that make them more appropriate for the tone of one or the other. For example, the version of the instrumental "Balearic Blue" on disc one has only some soft tabla drums running through it, while the Sa Trincha Mix on disc two retains the plucked guitar lines and sunshot keyboards of the original, but here introduces bongos that lead into a relatively pumping yet still unhurried new drum track. Similarly paired up are other instrumentals from disc one like the ethereally atmospheric "Twilight," that's given midtempo breakbeats in its Chill & Grill Remix on disc two, or the delicately shuffling "City Of Angels," which has a midtempo House rhythm added on the second CD's Beach House Mix.
Vocal examples of this on "Relax" would be the excellent track "Revealed" (one of this set's real standouts) with Steve Kilbey, where the disc one's version's dramatic and melancholy building piano lines are enhanced with the additional percussive accents and elongated wind flutes in the Bliss Remix on disc two, or the Sun disc's gorgeous and delicate ballad "I Love You" featuring Mike Francis, which is treated to a chugging downtempo mix with minimally tapping beats on the Moon disc.
Some of the tracks only appear once though, such as the Elles De Graaf -fronted "Closer To Me" with its laidback shuffling beat and chiming synths or the vintage 70s Soul influenced "Cruisin'" filled with relaxed guitar work, lush warm string lines, and warm electronic organ, both of which are unique to disc one, while the guitar-strummed, female vocal swirler "Mind Of The Wonderful" with Elles and the dreamy Tech-House track "Stars Shine Bright" (L.A. By Night Mix), which heightens its mood with oboe parts and the sounds of birds and crickets chirping in the background, are unique to the second CD.
Naturally "Relax: Edition Two" is more appropriate for and intended for leisurely moments like lounging over drinks with friends or winding down after a night out rather than for peak hour club play and as such provides a warmly charming aural journey ideal for such times.