Various - Live At Dakini Nights 1999-2004

Dakini Records is one of my favourite chill out labels. It is based in Japan, where they also organise some parties several times every year, called Dakini Nights. At the Dakini Nights, the Dakini artists have some incredible live performances. Dakini Records is now out with a new compilation, where we get some live recordings from these nights… With this compilation, you also get a booklet with pictures from the parties and information about the artists.

First out is Greg Hunter. A talented artist who has been involved in the scene from the early beginning. He got well known when he released his fantastic Subsurfing album in 1994 on Apollo Records. He has been involved in a lot of different ethnic music projects, and likes to mix ethnic music from all over the world with modern electronic music. He has lately been doing a project called Fifth Sun, where Arabic music is the main ingredient. The track we get here is a pretty tribal track where they have used a lot of Celtic harp. Very relaxed, with some slow drums too. Track 2 is a new track by my favourite, Makyo (Gio), who runs the label and has compiled this compilation. This is a really nice dubby, but totally drifting track. Relaxing beats and some beautiful vocals. You get a lot of tabla rhythms in this track. Good as always from this guy. My favourite track on this compilation. Track 3 is by Karsh Kale, which is a talented tabla musician who has worked a lot with Greg Hunter and Talvin Singh. Here he gives us his own track, with relaxing tabla rhythms and floating melodies. Very ethnic sounding chill. Track 4 is by Puff Dragon (Steve Good), also known for his psytrance project called Double Dragon. He has lately been doing a lot of chill out music, and will release a Puff Dragon album on Dakini Records next year. The track he gives us here is really nice. You get some deep down tempo beats for slow dancing, tabla rhythms, some female vocals and a totally drifting, relaxing vibe. One of my favourite tracks on this compilation.

Track 5 is by Japanese Ochi Brothers, two brothers who have released an album on Dakini Records. They give us a beautiful track with some flute and a lot of tabla rhythms. Totally ethnic vibe all the way through. Sort of mystic and happy at the same time. Track 6 is by Sevda. They give us a middle eastern relaxing sound. Totally mystic floating vibe with several organic instruments. Nice. Track 7 is another track by Greg Hunter. This one has a weird kind of under water feeling, with some sort of bubbling sounds mixed with relaxing tabla rhythms. Here you get that Middle Eastern vibe again. Track 8 is by Ishq (Matt Hillier) who has released an album (Orchid) on Dakini Records. He is a really talented ambient artist. Personally I have seen this guy live a couple of times at Samothraki Island in Greece, and he always serves some fantastic, relaxing shows. The track he gives us here lasts for fourteen minutes! A beautiful, very slow, drifting ambient journey, without much beats at all, just beautiful floating sound. Fantastic! The last track we get here is by Rasiya, which is a group of talented musicians on various organic instruments. The track they give us here has some nice acoustic guitar, beautiful female vocals and some slow relaxing drums. Really nice finish on this compilation.

This compilation is full of relaxing neo exotica as the Dakini crew says. Not as interesting as the Sky Dancing compilations in my opinion, but the tracks you get here are absolutely beautiful. It’s also nice to see some pictures from those Dakini Nights we have been reading so much positive about.