Vintage Chill Vol. 4: Winter CD

This is the fourth volume in Kriztal Entertainment's seasonal Vintage Chill series, arranged appropriately around the theme of winter and wine. But while the set has its moments, it's unclear what's necessarily vintage here. Besides the De-Phazz remix of Ella Fitzgerald's "Wait 'Til You See Him" (culled from 2002's Verve Remixed), the majority of Vintage Chill, Vol. 4 clicks along on a gently insisting beat somewhere between downtempo and electronicized smooth jazz. Sure, traditional vocal jazz is a muse for Emo's "First Time Experiences [Povo Remix]," and Micatone's "Quiet Boy" supports Lisa Bassenge's dusky cabaret voice with a gently tweaked mix of keyboard soundscapes and jazz club sidemen. But while vintage sounds flutter nicely throughout the album, it's electronics and modernity that take center stage. Greg Long's "Sun Sleeper" is a cut-up downtempo number with chattering programming and snatches of acoustic guitar, while Bobby Hughes Combination contributes the pretty sway of "Olympic Girls." Listening to the latter's laptop easy listening lilt, it can be difficult to discern where recycled old meets the recombinant new. The same can be said for Pimp Daddy Nash's "La Femme C'Est Mysterie," which melds soulful horns and piano with scratchy sequencing and futurama reverb. It's on this chilly, cool path that Vintage Chill, Vol. 4 finally finds its footing. These tracks are obviously, blatantly indebted to the sound of the past. But instead of simply banking on a few vintage samples, they aim for a more seamless integration of old and new. Overall, Vintage Chill just isn't unique enough to truly stand out -- its beats are so well-designed, the vitality washes out like a red wine stain under baking soda. At the same time, the album's more notable moments are resonant enough to rescue it from the faceless existence most sound-alike chill compilations wallow in. ~ Johnny Loftus

Ella Fitzgerald/Nighthawks/Emo Jody Watley/Michel Tello/Micat

Audio Remasterer: Horst Schnebel.

Audio Remixer: Pit Baumgartner.

Director: Beth Sereni.

Arranger: Micatone.

Personnel: Praful (vocals, saxophone); Lisa Bassenge (vocals); Boris Meinhold, John Warrin (guitar); Matt Keegan (saxophone); Jérôme Bugnon (trombone); Paul Kleber (double bass); Tim Kroker (drums).

Audio Mixers: Stefan Rogall; Boris Meinhold.