CHILLOUT: THE FUTURE
In the past few years we've seen Chillout stretched to encompass a range of styles and sounds - moving on from the glut of compilations several years ago, which tended to overdo the same old names.
But if there's one largely untapped new direction, it's classic songs from decades past, rediscovered and re-contextualised for present-day consumption.
With the accent firmly on melody and harmony, pop songs from as far back as the 60s are likely to be included in discerning DJ sets. I can see a merging of the late 60s feel with today's prevalence of more folky sounds. Without sounding too hippy-dippy, the world could do with another summer of love. Why not in 2007, forty years after the first?!
Chillout is surely the most flexible, utilitarian music around and can work on different levels - whether as a soundtrack to dinner parties, washing up or working, or for deep listening on headphones. With the decline of the superclub and its chillout room annexe, bars rule the roost.
A slightly more upbeat mood is now required, which has left a big hole for more meditative, ambient sounds. Who's to say that someone won't update the total- immersion listening concept with some timely ambient loft parties....
Everyone loves chilling out and with such a wide melting pot to dip into, it's hardly likely to go out of fashion, even as the zeitgeist moves around.
Pete Lawrence
