Albums
February: 18 albums you need to hear this month
That's the month sorted, then
Vermont 'II' (Kompakt)
Sometimes, chillout music should be formulaic. Brian Eno’s idea of creating “audio wallpaper” isn’t to be sniffed at: wallpaper can be very, very beautiful and create a sense of luxury. But formulaic can mean bland, too, and Marcus Worgull of Innervisions and Danilo Plessow of Motor City Drum Ensemble’s second album as Vermont treads a fine line between the two. All the familiar reference points are here: Larry Heard basslines, post-’E2-E4’ guitars, Carl Craig-y singing synths, new age doodly synth lines. It drifts from merely being waftily pretty to really elegant to sublime and back with the greatest ease, which can be frustrating – but those sublime moments are enough to make you come back for more. Joe Muggs
6/10
