GrooveOut Chill-Out The state of mind with its own soundtrack by Chris Sill

"To chill or not to chill?" Once a question commonly asked by ravers, the term "chill-out" served as a description for a room at an underground rave party where one could escape the frenzied energy of the party. Soothing music and visuals aided the recovery process, and soon the chill-out room became a vital part of the party. As the phrase "chill-out" found its way into the mainstream, similarly, so has the style of music often associated with it.

But long before the chill-out sounds of raves existed, the origins of its music were being created in the early ’70s by genre pioneers Brian Eno, Can, Tangerine Dream, and others. Dubbed "ambient," the music’s purpose was to compliment an environment, providing a background of sound that could be repeatedly listened to or completely ignored. With leaps in computer advancements in the past two decades, sounds from all genres have been fused together to create new hybrids in music. Chill-out combines elements of dance and ambient, resulting in downtempo electronic beats with often jazzy or ethnic influences.

While some chill-out is certainly danceable, the mood remains relaxed and laidback. Save the hands-in-the-air anthems and glow sticks for the clubs, chill-out takes you somewhere else.

"When you’re out in a club you’re usually in a hyperactive mindset," says Houston clubber Brendan Stuart. "Chill-out music is good for putting you in a different mood. It’s not something that’s going to make you jump off the wall."

Stuart also says he’s noticed an increase in the popularity of the music among his friends. Perhaps some of the club music has become too repetitive and people are craving something else. "With the variety of new downtempo music available, people are looking for different options for pleasure listening," he says.

Debbie Ratliff, store manager for Soundwaves on Montrose, agrees. "We play a lot of chill-out in-store, and the response from customers is very strong," she says. "Most people are not aware of this style of music but find it’s an alternative to the mainstream sound." Ratliff explains that chill-out serves as an in-between point to radio and club music. "You still get a vibe and a groove but it’s fresh." She adds that the sound has been slower to catch on in the states because so much of it is imported from overseas.

Today chill-out has risen out of the underground to find new life in a variety of places ranging from hotel lounges to restaurants. Immensely popular in Europe, chill-out provides the soundtrack to some of that continent’s hippest clubs and lounges. Just west of the Place Vendome in Paris stands Hotel Costes. Inside the restaurant and bar you’ll find DJ Stephane Pompougnac adjusting the atmosphere with a sultry selection of sounds ranging from chill-out to samba. His sets have earned so much attention from the hotel’s international crowd that they have been compiled on CD. Hotel Costes, Costes La Suite, and Costes Etage 3 each capture the feeling of one of Paris’ coolest spots with seamless sophistication. Also hailing from Paris is design guru Claude Challe’s Buddha Bar. Once a trendy eatery set in a subterranean cavern-like space, Buddha Bar has now almost become a tourist attraction due to its popularity. Still, Challe’s uncompromising musical taste endures on a collection of CDs. For an aural feast of world sounds, check out Buddha Bar, Buddha Bar II, and the just released Buddha Bar III. Other titles worth investigating from Challe are Nirvana Lounge and Flying Carpet. Another tasty slice of Parisian chill-out can be found on the new release Mezzanine De l’Alcazar.

Amsterdam’s answer to Costes and Buddha Bar can be found on Supperclub Presents: Lounge and NL. Both NL and Supperclub serve two main courses of delicious music: downtempo and deep house. Although slightly harder to find than their European counterparts, both are excellent choices for wining and dining friends.

Back in America, where record companies are starting to notice the renewed interest in chill-out, comes the Nettwerk Records compilation Chillout 2001. A healthy mix of ambient, techno, and trip-hop make this compilation’s focus more electronica in nature. Guidance Recordings out of Chicago offer Doubts and Convictions by Troublemakers. This full-length album of downtempo grooves adopts the more soulful elements from jazz and funk and adds a bit of French film noir for fun. In America, the prime city for chill-out is San Francisco. For chill-out from the city by the bay check out Om Recordings’ Om Lounge Series.

Call it a trend, but chill-out is back and reaching new audiences of all ages in places other than raves. Its unobtrusive nature gives it a versatility and appeal that most other forms of electronic music lack. To chill or not to chill is no longer the question. The question is how long it will last.