Just by looking at the cover art, you can easily deduce that "Songs For The Gentle" was not meant to set dance floors on fire. Which naturally doesn't make it a bad release. Once the CD is taken out of the CD tray, the sleeve under it is gorgeous as well: a picture of a beautiful sunset taken from under a green tree... Yummy! The artwork is pure eye candy, and all these photos of innocent nature really set the mood for some mesmerizing and soothing music. So, what does this trio have in store for us on their debut?
Basically, the whole album follows an already known formula, sticking to covered grounds rather than pushing forward the envelope and venturing into the unknown. Subtle undertones, kliks & bleeps & klaks accompanied by segments of touching melodies and velvet soundscapes descending upon your ears like the falling sun depicted on the cover art. Great stuff, very relaxing too. Not ambient, but the well known minimal anno 2006, just about two steps up the ladder. I just love it when an album comes along which just buries negative critics and skillfully manifests how minimal can be just so much, so much more of everything! There is a lot to enjoy here, the listener's enjoyment should be preovoked by moods and musical segments assimilated from the music, rather than the superficial plik-plok sounds which so often today plague empty minded minimal releases. This stuff is different though. How can I put it nicely? It's a nickel plated Rolex amongst plastic digital Casios... If you're a fan of downtempoish, seducive, minimal yet deep music, get this one. It has soul, it has lots groove and it is modern, thought provoking electronic music. I like it, and it gets my highest sign of approval. It's not the best the genre has to offer, but not giving it a chance it deserves would really be a shame. Enjoy!