Artist: The Forth
Title: Global Underground: Electric Calm V.2
Label: Global Underground
By: Simon Jones | 19 August 2003
Tracklist:

1. Inner Calm
2. Lo-Step Feat Lior Attar - The Roots (Reprise)
3. Spanner - Transition
4. J-Punch - Temple (Fretwell Dub)
5. Trafik - Kaleidoscope (Forth's Blue Mix)
6. P.B.A.S. Vs Trafik - Last House On The Left
7. Pako and Frederik - Pintan Alley (Extended Corridor Mix)
8. Forth - Dusk 2 Dawn
9. Avatar - Glitter Love
10. 23rd State - Catoplex
11. Trafik - Hard To Resist
12. Bluefish - Mellow Mellow
13. Pako and Frederik - Make Me (Electric Calm Reprise)
14. Twisted Air Feat Caroline Thorp - Feels Like Forever

The Forth "Global Underground: Electric Calm V.2"

2002's inaugural Electric Calm marked a departure at the time for the Global Underground, embracing the world of chill out, if you want to call it that of course. Downtempo. Laid back Electronica. They could all describe what that album encapsulated, and at the same time would be a pretty good description of what this album, Electric Calm V.2 is all about. But that's not quite accurate, because V.2 is all of those things, as well as a whole lot more. Whilst the first album was more of a journey through the ambient side of Quad and Coded, V.2 expands it's boundaries and sets it's aims higher, and the 'art of calming' is introduced by the The Forth's John Elliott and Andrew Archer, to create a unique mix that marks the next stage in the Electric Calm concept, taking what exists and developing it further.

For you only have to look into yourself and realise that somewhere, we all have 'Inner Calm', and as the introduction to the album escapes through the speakers, it begins to soothe your mind, removing stress, rage and all of the other negative influences on your mind, taking you away to a land of tranquility, on an uncharted destination, to an unknown place. That place could be a mystical ethnic country, as soundtracked by the ambient reprise of Lo-Step's 'The Roots', or an unknown limbo which Spanner's 'Transition' could reflect. It could even be a mysterious, magical place which is the image Fretwell's mellow breaks mix of J-Punch's 'Temple conjures up. If you have ever been to what remains of Teotihuacan, the ancient city of pyramids located deep in the heart of Mexico, then this track is perhaps the perfect homage to that special place.

Trafik's 'Kaleidoscope' blurs your thoughts, it's ever evolving bass and soundscapes washing over your mind like a blanket or wave, as the warm chords and heartfelt piano of 'Last House On The Left' lends a solemn yet beautiful edge to this already captivating mix. Vocodered vocals and drifting electronic effects add a sense of solitary placement to the track, the fact it was made in collaboration with an outfit called Peace Burial At Sea quite apt, as you can just imagine sinking deep in an endless ocean as the sounds of the track drown your senses. If that was indeed the case, then Pako and Frederik's 'Pintan Alley', carefully calmed by The Forth themselves, could easily soundtrack an underwater voyage to the city of Atlantis, encountering many strange and wonderful creatures of the sea until The Forth's 'Dusk 2 Dawn' heralds an arrival at one of the most magnificent sights imaginable. The sweeping atmospherics and cascading electronic sounds crawl around your body and mind, setting the hairs on your arms as your mind is taken over by the grandeur of this track, much like exploring the spectacular underwater city would.

Avatar's 'Glitter Love' drops the bpm level down somewhat, as the intricate sounds of this production are drawn out by it's bubbling beat patterns, soft vocals and spacial sounds lending a depth and edge to this track that reminds you of revered works from the likes of Brian Eno and Ulrich Schnauss. Meanwhile, 23rd State's 'Catoplex' interrupts like a distress signal from outer space, as Trafik's 'Hard To Resist' takes up deep into the dark, cold unknown. Indeed, this could be their very own version of 2001: A Space Odyssey, it's subtle melodies, distorted beats and outer-worldly sounds beckoning you to question your own existence in the grand scale of the universe. Haunting guitar and moody atmospherics only serve to add the thought of what exactly is there beyond your own boundaries and restrictions, if you were to expand your mind further.

'Mellow Mellow' by Bluefish suggests it could be sun drenched beaches, perhaps on a desert island, or perhaps barren sands in the deserts of Egypt. The shuffling beats and smokey soundscapes bring up visions of a wide and vast visual landscapes that seem to drift off into the horizon with no end, only interrupted by terrain, border or obstacle, but meanwhile Pako and Frederik's 'Make Me' prompts you to question whether you are happy where you are, in your current place, at your current time, doing what you are currently doing, almost if it's singular ambience is saying, it doesn't get no better than this, and in a way it's the truth. As the melancholic vocals of Caroline Thorp drift up from within the subtle grooves of Twisted Air's 'Feels Like Forever', you then realise that this a moment you should enjoy like it's never ending, as for the past hour or so you have escaped from the norm. From the rat race, the run of the mill, from the mundane of the usual 9-5 or perhaps the seemingly unavoidable stresses of life in general, you need not worry about any of them. Only two questions should now come to mind, as you need to ask yourself do you want this to end, and reflect on the many thoughts and images the past hour has brought into your mind, as the calming now ends, whilst you will be questioned subconsciously if you listen carefully, and look into the hidden message of what this album achieves.

In this hour or so of downbeat tracks, you will have been treated to a vast array of sounds and influences, as the boundary between each track goes by so unnoticed that you can easily find yourself lost within this audio soundtrack to a journey you've never yet experienced or a story that you've never been told. But one thing that is certain is that this overshadows the first chapter in the Electric Calm story in every way, and is a worthy addition to your collection, whether you're a downtempo junkie, like something for those post club early morning blues or if you just want some good old coffee table listening to escape from the general day to day life. Whatever your need, wherever you are, this is for you.