Moods: You, the Night, and the Music

• Artist: Various Artists
• Release Date: February 19, 2008
• Type: Collection (various artists)
• Genre: Electronica

Review

The alert consumer might be forgiven for regarding with suspicion any album that comes billed as the "first in a series of sophisticated, mood-enhancing soundtracks for modern living." "Lifestyle" music is almost always more about lifestyle than about music, and is usually designed to flatter and soothe rather than to deliver really compelling grooves. But those two aims don't always have to be in opposition to each other, and the young Backdrop label has done a good job of putting together a program that offers the kind of smooth and silky surface that its target demographic wants without sacrificing musical interest or quality. For example, Fat Freddy's Drop contribute the dark and fascinating "Flashback [Jazzanova Mashed Bag Mix]," which doesn't force you to pay attention but rewards you well when you do, while Crazy P's "Can't Get Down" edges into electro-pop territory and Osunlade's "The Day We Met for Coffee [Afefe Iku Remix]" brings in a house-inflected dancefloor groove. The Ananda Project's "Let Love Fly" starts out in a slippery trip-hop mode before unexpectedly going all Latin during the last couple of minutes. There are one or two questionable inclusions, such as Grand Pianoramax's aimless noodling and a mediocre contribution from Stateless that tries to sound jazzy and succeeds only at sounding lazy, but overall this is a very successful compilation. Recommended. ~ Rick Anderson, Rovi

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