Alex Lauterstein- “Global Groove: Chillout”

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It's a fine line that DJs walk between mixing Chillout and Dance music. Although both are related to the same Electronica family, they’re more like distant cousins. Each needs and deserves a different kind of attention, and has almost opposite points of view. Dance music is all about exciting partiers to their feet with thumping beats and rousing vocals, while Chillout generally entices us with quieter bedroom vibes. Few DJs have had success trying to jump from one style to the other. Luckily, Alex Lauterstein makes a smooth transition with his second Global Groove release “Chillout”. Here he puts together an intelligent and impressive collection, including tracks from downtempo darlings Alex Gopher, Zero 7 and Groove Armada. The compilation is deliciously inviting and perfect for setting the mood—whether you’re trying to unwind or unzip.

Starting out the mix is the ethereal “Float On” by Mystic Diversions, a warm, jazzy track that evokes the feeling of a relaxing, sunny afternoon on a beach. As with other types of Electronic music, escapism is an important part of Chillout—it’s easy to get lost in it’s flow. Lauterstein continues this ambiance by almost seamlessly melding Tim “Love” Lee’s swanky “One Night Samba” into Goldfrapp’s strangely beautiful “Pilots.” This simple movement sets a good pace, demonstrating his ability arrange a solid compilation. He ends the disk nicely with “At The River” by Groove Armada followed by Mandalay’s “Not Seventeen”, two modern classics that are truly representative of the genre.

The problem with most Chillout mixes is that DJs rely far too much on popular hits, forsaking the easy flow of music for safe, overplayed tunes. Clearly, Lauterstein does not fall into this trap. And even though he might have honed his skills in the New York House scene, on “Global Groove: Chillout”, he also shows us he’s not afraid to explore greener pastures.