The Vitals:

Label: Cardamar Music
Genre: Ambient / Chillout Trance
Number of Tracks: 11 (8 full length tracks)
Where to Obtain: www.cdbaby.com, www.cardamar.com

Factor Scores:

Production Quality: 8.5
Programming and Arrangement: 8.0
Entertainment Quality: 8.5
Total: 8.25

The Scoop:

Over the last 6 months, my musical tastes have evolved and matured to include downtempo and chillout. This is a gross understatement, as I would dare say I've developed an addiction. It can be difficult to understand and, therefore, to appreciate music of this style because it is often only listened to passively as background music. While you may pop in a chillout CD simply to fall asleep to, it is much more than just "muzak", and one must actively choose to "listen"—as opposed to simply hear it—to really gain an appreciation of it. It takes a certain breed of person to become especially good at producing this style. Someone who's not looking for the "fame and glory" that comes from the attention-getting, 4-to-the-floor, dance club stompers. You most certainly will not hear it from the run-of-the-mill, template-driven, trance producers who use the generic structures that you hear in every typical trance album. Scott Zeilenga not only typifies the downtempo and ambient producer, but he excels in this field, and his latest offering is perhaps some of the best this genre has to show.

Digital Aura's Take:

I've been a fan of s.zeilenga since hearing his tracks on DI.fm's ambient channel over 6 months ago. His music is a fine balance of interesting sounds and melodic musical themes, which he weaves into an amazing mosaic of tones and tunes. This album not only enforced my admiration of him but solidified him as the foremost ambient and chillout producer in my mind. His ability to create specific atmospheres and moods makes this CD not only a sonic pleasure to hear but also a very visual experience as a musical movie for your mind! It is both visceral and intellectual.

There are no "skippers" on this CD, and indeed I had difficulty even picking a favourite. Some highlights, I suppose, are the great vocal snippets in "Uncharted Continent" and the especially inspiring words in the title track. Also, there is a video on the disc that was surprisingly good, considering the budget he had for it. Let me be clear that there were no poor tracks on the album… but I was somewhat disappointed in the Sheltershed remix. This may be unfair considering that no one can hold a candle to the brilliance of Scott's tracks on this CD.

The title of the album, "In Medias Res", means "into the midst of things". This is more than apt seeing as s.zeilenga hurls us into the middle of a sensationally vast and prolific texture of sound and music. Three of the tracks clock in at less than 1:40ish, and he did resort to using beach samples (on more than one occasion).

The CD played fine in my "Ridgeline" and at home in the studio, but I had problems on both my laptop and my PC because of the format and the included video. Nothing that a slight workaround didn't solve. I say this to dispel the thought that perhaps he has achieved godlike producer status. Superhuman... maybe.

Production Quality: 8.5

Having the actual physical CD (and not just a digital download), I can take greater liberties and be a little more critical in assessing the overall mixdown and mastering of this project. This is perhaps the most critical element in the success of any ambient album. A bad job of EQing, poor use of panning, etc. can instantly derail the best arrangements and the greatest programming. That said,the quality on this CD is top notch. Crisp top ends and boomy bottoms frame each track. The CD sounded great on my stereo system, in the laptop, and really sweet in my truck! (Okay, so it's my wife's truck.)

Programming & Arrangement: 8.0

Without vocals as a lead instrument, there's really nothing a producer can hide behind. This means it is imperative to have some incredible talent in the field of programming and arrangement. In order to create and maintain the listener's interest, it's essential to use great sounding synth patches and even more essential to know how to put everything together. Scott more than delivers here. The overall thickness of sound can sometimes maim one's senses. Each track flows into the next, not like a seamless DJ mixset, but like the patches of a well-crafted quilt.

Entertainment Quality: 8.5

Call me partial, but one or two tracks from Zeilenga's In Medias Res have more replay value than probably your whole library of CDs! (And if yours is like mine, that's saying something.) From the simple tensions of "The Secret Place", the rhythmic chanting of "…No Roads" to the melodic quality of tracks like "Uncharted Continent", there is definitely more than a few days' worth of entertainment to be had with this album. I'm keeping this one in my truck! (Yes… right… my wife's truck.)  

Total: 8.25 – Great!

This is a CD I can heartily recommend to anyone. If you don't have a lot of ambient stuff or if you only collect chillout music, this is for you. s.zeilenga has created a project that every music lover will love and appreciate because the style is so versatile. Whether you like to critically listen, or you simply want something in the background to break the silence, this is one album that can't be missed.