"Chill Out" - The KLF Album Review

The KLF are notorious for their aggressive performance at the BRITs in 1992, burning a million pounds (while making a movie out of it) and subsequently all but disappearing. But there's a lot more to the duo than "art terrorism" and rave music.

In 1990, the two men (Jimmy Cauty and Bill Drummond) met at their studio and created one of the best ambient albums of all time in just one night. That album was "Chill Out".
Chill Out sounds as fresh today as when it was released. It's a concept album, depicting a nighttime journey across the US. Each piece segues into the next, and it's sometimes hard to tell where one ends and the next begins. This only serves to make the album all the more immersive.

The KLF's penchant for sampling is evident throughout the record. Ambient synths are interwoven with moaning slide guitars. Radio transmissions babble as cars zoom past. Elvis makes an appearance.  Everyone from Fleetwood Mac to 808 State are sampled, creating a fascinating collage of sounds. Who'd have thought Tuvan throat singing and sheep baa-ing would work musically?

I think "Chill Out" is an inaccurate title for this album. There is so much more to it than just calm sounds. "Chill Out" is in fact a very moving work of music.

I believe "Chill Out" is criminally underrated. This is perhaps owing to its availability, as The KLF infamously deleted their entire back catalogue. It's available on YouTube though.  https://youtu.be/5S_lktstwrs

"Chill Out" is an amazing album. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in ambient or experimental music. This of course means that it's not the most accessible, and I think most people wouldn't find it interesting, but if you enjoy ambient music, it's an absolute must.