The Vitals:

Label: Devout Artists
Genre: Downtempo
Number of Tracks: 16
How to Obtain: iTunes

Factor Scores:

Production Quality: 8.4
Programming and Arrangement: 8.0
Entertainment Quality: 8.8
Total: 8.4 - Great

All these noises in my head
They drone like insanity.
I'm longing for a moment of solidarity.
Introspect.
To hear your voice again.
Where am I?
And what am I doing with myself?
On calloused knees I plead.
Place me on your easel
Paint me with a different brush, with a different color.
~ from the song "Colourful Year"

Z's Take:

Eleven seconds into this recording, I knew I had found something special. It is there that the sepia-toned breakbeat takes your hand and leads you into the wood between the worlds that is Colourful Year. With sounds and songwriting that can only be described properly with visual references, The Weather Inside engages nearly all senses in a pop-influenced jaunt through electronic downtempo music. There, buried in the layers of sound, are colors and feelings and emotions that much of current electronic music lacks.

Truly, this is music I wish I had written. The production quality is nearly flawless, yet nudged and jostled just enough to make it organic sounding. The tracks flow and weave in and through themselves in a complimentary, storytelling fashion. The songwriting is lovely folk-touched electronica. And there are probably three of the world's greatest breakbeats nestled in these songs that made me rewind them more than once.

Of the 16 tracks that make up Colourful Year, 7 are nearly full vocal tracks. My favorite of the lyric-based songs would have to be "Colourful Year", with its insanely creative spoken poetry (see above). But, in general, every vocal track has a touch of something lyrically deep and thoughtful. The vocal mixing makes the lyrics clear and understandable, yet interwoven enough to turn them into an instrument in themselves.

I thoroughly enjoyed Colourful Year. I was hooked after the first play. And every time I listened, I heard something else that I liked. I would definitely recommend this CD to anyone who likes electronic lounge, chillout, folk, or pop. There is an inter-genre feel to the entire recording that would make Colourful Year a great addition to any collection. I hope to hear more from The Weather Inside. So far I am very impressed, and I will be keeping an ear open for more.