Between 2012 and 2017 the average tempo of songs in the main pop and club charts dropped by 23 beats per minute (the average is now 90.5 bpm), whilst the percentage of songs above 120 bpm fell a whopping amount from 56% down to 12.5%. Some were quick to say this was because we’re living in more serious and reflective times while others put the statistics down to the rise in popularity of hip hop.
Maybe, just maybe, it’s because we’re all starting to appreciate the art of chilling. After all not only has Netflix ‘n’ chill has entered our vocabulary but the popularity of meditation apps like Headspace have made mindfulness mainstream whilst headlines about the importance of relaxation and unplugging have made us all aware that relaxation is an integral part of health and wellbeing.
Artists such as Nils Frahm, Floating Points and Four Tet have shown how slower, more jazzy or classical styles are fast becoming cooler than club beats with hectic bpms, whilst the huge rise in popularity of string sections performing contemporary classics (see Pete Tong and The Heritage Orchestra with their Ibiza Classics tour and the sellout Hacienda Classical which reimagined Madchester’s acid-house glory days with 70-piece orchestra and choir) show how tastes are changing.
This isn’t the first time that ‘chillout’ has had a moment in the nineties and noughties artists such as Moby and Nitin Sawney capitalised on Ibiza’s hippie meets club culture with music ready for Cafe Del Mar and a Balearic sun-downer electronica that soundtracked sunsets and comedowns alike. As we all know music’s power is not just seen on the dancefloor, it’s power to help us relax, study and as an important part in meditation, as a tool to quiet the mind is universal from the ragas of Indian Ashrams to the ever popular The Chill Out Session series from Ministry of Sound’s imprint. This year Fabric is hosting a meditation event featuring B Traits and Michelle Cade with a tagline “time to breathe, not rave” showing just how far the clubbing community have embraced the chill-out movement.
Our staff pick the best chill music
We asked SEM staff for their pick of the best chill-out mixes, labels, artists and albums to kick back to, relax to or study with.
Yoss
Formed in a Manchester record shop Marconi Union worked with sound therapists to create the track “weightless” which was found by neuro-scientists to be the “most relaxing tune ever” – or in science jargon: reduces anxiety by 65 percent. It also has an enchantingly simple video. Yoss says: “It’s scientifically the most relaxing track ever made. Nuff said.
Tom
Zen CD : A Ninja Tune Retrospective
A 2003 collective of the iconic label’s best releases in Electronic, Breaks, Future Jazz, Hip Hop Experimental and Jazz. Tom says: “I couldn’t just pick one so other great ambient or chill artists to check out would be Brian Eno, Cinematic Orchestra, Massive Attack, Aphex Twin (Ambient Works) oh and the Blade Runner Soundtrack!”
Elle
Self described as “All Sorts of Different Kinds of Music” Leaving Records’ releases often lean towards the ambient end of the spectrum. Elle says “This Boards of Canada remix of multi-talented American underground hip hop producer, DJ and visual artist Odd Nosdam is the perfect example of why I love this label’s output when I want to relax.”
Ian
A special B2B collab with ambient master Synkro and Cafe Del Mar Chillwave artist Gelka. Ian says:“Love this mix because it really takes you on a journey.”
Stef
The third mix in a series showcasing some of Teen Daze’s favourite ambient and new age music. This edition leans a little heavier on the new age side of things. Stef says: “Ideal for long train journeys.”
Aiden
This is probably the closest thing I get to relaxing/meditation, chilling out with some classic J Dilla Instrumentals. It keeps me quiet in the office anyways.
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