Here's my problem with chillout albums, and you can try this little test next time you are at your favorite record store. Pick any three chillout albums, flip them over and read the track listings. Chances are you'll think you grabbed the same three, cause they're so damned similar! I'm not sure if this is because of a global shortage of "after hours cool" tracks or really lazy, unimaginative corporate selectors.
Whatever the case, Chillout 05 tries to up the ante on track selections, with at least positive results. Oh, the perennials are here: Sarah McLachlan makes her umpteenth appearance (World On Fire), as do her frequent collaborators Delerium (Serenity) and the always welcome Goldfrapp (Deep Honey), but alongside these are newcomers with real gems, such as the Flaming Lips (Do You Realize?), Starsailor (a remix of their European hit Four to the Floor) and a gorgeous contribution from Wax Poetic (Angels), who, along wth featured vocalist Norah Jones contribute one of my faves on the disc. While the track listing does seem a bit unimaginative, at least it's a step in the right direction . This proves more or less adequate.
