fractilx (alias of InklingBear) has created some smooth, wubbly chillstep for us all to enjoy. His delicious sound selection and mixing synthesize the atmosphere, while the synths themselves are pluck-y and gentle. The drop manages to be both relaxing and invigorating simultaneously, by pairing excellent wubs with those eye-drooping synths. All throughout, the song keeps a singular style and never breaks from it. Enjoyable at any time of day!
Chillout
[ASOS] Viricide Filly – Spearmint | Downtempo
Coming from the first compilation album of the A State of Sugar Crew: Lollipop, Viricide Filly creates an awesome and chill track that I can consider one of the best tracks from the album! The slow-tempo breaks, the pads and everything that Viricide did on this track turn out pretty amazing! One of the best, made by one of the best! I certainly recommend this track for you!
What are you waiting for? Buy or download Lollipop right now!
[ASOS] Lorris – Another Way | Chillout
A potent brew of strong bassline, lovely melody, and astonishing vocal chopping marks Lorris’s contribution to ASOS. Sweet, joyous, and kind, Another Way brims with emotion. Compositionally, it’s a masterpiece as well, with soft, smooth sounds and a very oldschool bassline.
[ASOS] Greyfade – At Night | Chillout
At Night is the opening track of Lollipop, and thus it’s obliged to hook the listener to get them to keep listening. At this it passes with flying colors. Beautiful ambiance, perfectly cold kicks, and fascinating bass merge in interesting, strange ways to form the soundscape of a cold pond by night.
Totalspark – Wishes | Chill House
Totalspark has some relaxing, soft chill house for us. A gentle but firm kick and trance-y plucks conspire to create an atmosphere of pure bliss. Usually if people say that music makes you sleepy, it’s a bad thing. But Wishes lulls you off to sweet dreams and panoramas of ponies at play in the fields.
Ataraxia – Motion Reimagined | Album | Electronic
I hadn’t realised until recently just how much music Ataraxia has put out over the past couple of years. From solo piano sonatas to cinematic electronic pop songs, there’s been quite a variety. But like all good things, the alias is coming to an end, and as a parting gift he gives us Motion Reimagined – deliberately named so as a ‘rework’ of sorts of his previous album Eternal Perfect Motion. The album often takes a more experimental approach to music production than Ataraxia’s previous work, in particular the VIP of Viridescent, and features a couple of other people’s remixes of notable songs too.
It’s a great parting gift. We’ll miss you Ataraxia. Thanks for all the music.
Motion Reimagined is available to purchase on Ataraxia’s Bandcamp.
A State of Sugar – Lollipop | Compilation Album | Multi-Genre
The team behind the trancey chill pony themed promo channel A State of Sugar have came together around 6 months ago to organise the collaborative’s first album. Now the album is finally ready, featuring both some of the regulars to the channel and a few new artists to the scene too! In total this one reaches 21 tracks, so if you’re still overwhelmed by the size of the Ponies At Dawn albums, this is something a little more digestible but still completely fresh for you to try out.
Lollipop is available to download from A State of Sugar’s Bandcamp page, and keep an eye out for some of the songs from it here on the site.
Direct Current – Star Chaser: Terrestrial | Album | Ambient / Chillout
Direct Current’s second full length album is packed with emotion. A prequel to their earlier album Star Chaser, this one is themed around a pegasus living on the rock farm, falling in love with Limestone Pie, and eventually venturing to explore the stars.
The vocals are lovely, the effects on them perfect. Fans of ElectroKaplosion will definitely feel nostalgic. The deep, atmospheric sound design and lovely synth creation.
All throughout, I’m struck by the sense of wonder the songs provide. They manage to be inspirational, down-to-earth, and foreboding by turns. Truly a stunning piece of music.
You can purchase this album on Direct Current’s Bandcamp for $5 or stream the entire album on YouTube.
Various Artists – Horse Music Central Vol. 3 | Compilation Album | Multi-Genre
You may remember the two previous albums released by the crew over at Horse Music Central, their last one being released at Christmas with a distinct wintry theme. Now the regulars of the big musicians’ Discord server have another release to offer. Although no specific theme this time, it features some of the more underground artists, as well as a few classic long-running musicians.
I swear I’m getting slowly worse and worse at these writeups
Ponytronic – Times Like These (Acoustic Mix) | Chillout
Emotional song warning! This alternate version of Times Like These proves once again Ponytronic’s skill at crafting unique pieces and arrangements reaching out to the soul in the most unexpected ways. There’s just something about that soft, mellow yet melancholic instrumental full of untold depth and beauty, and when the vocal samples come in, that’s when I feel like welling up. A much magnificent Acoustic Mix like you’ve never heard!
Horse Music Herald 