The warnings are becoming clearer and clearer, the sign posts to the end are being raised, the banners are being waved, and artists of all kinds are heeding the call. George Clooney is going after unjust slaughter, Neil Young after the very administration destroying America, and now Code Indigo after the environmental crisis. It's not overtly obvious with their new album Chill, but after listening to the record one can get a clear indication that the duo of David Wright and Robert Fox are tired of the direction the world is going towards.



Code Indigo has been creating ambient electronic rock and roll jazz for some time now and this is a rich exploration not only furthering their oeuvre, but also a message to listeners. The album brings the guitar of Andy Lobban to the very front of the record as a guide throughout the layered music. Samples protrude then disappear thoughtfully, but with great impact, and sound-scapes are forged then obliterated like the world we are coming to know.



Some highlights include the ominous "Vapour" which opens with a news broadcast announcing the terrors of a flood "...the worst in the last half century" A delicate piano follows then the hovering strings open up the void to an epic array of passing samples mixed with high piercing synths. The floating voices are well chosen and the message is crystal clear.



The "Lost Radio" suite pushes the record in an alternate direction, creating lush environments and angelic crescendos over a strong piano stream. The suite shifts several times but stays consistent, almost attempting to rebuild the collapsed world which they described in the first half of the record. Simple rhythms of maracas, electronic drums, and shakers keep the beat in a jungle atmosphere. I feel though, that the instrumentation could have been pushed further and could have incorporated more real percussive elements to give texture to the songs. The suite floats very nicely but it may be too much 'cloud music' for some.



I enjoy the record, not simply because it speaks on the ever impending issue of global destruction, but because it is generally very nice to listen to. An issue which arises because of the nature of the album though is accessibility. The message is clear most of the time but listeners will have to try and keep up with the sometimes slow pace of the album. The layered samples songs such as "Back with the Weather - Calm Front" and "Back with the Weather - Storm Front" may be too repetitive and may flatten out all together at times.



All faults pushed aside though, it's a soothing and alarming piece which won't exactly convert you to an ecologist, but will put the issue into perspective. It's just nice to know that many people out there are realizing the damage we are doing to the earth, and how we can turn things around.



Track Listing

1 Autumn Fades

2 Chill

3 Vapour Tales

4 Ten Degrees Per Second

5 Vapour Trails

6 Back With the Weather - Calm Front

7 Back With the Weather - Storm Surge

8 Vapour

9 Cultures

10 Culture Shift

11 Vapour Tails

12 Lost Radio (Tuning In)

13 Lost Radio (Program 1)

14 Lost Radio (Program 2)

15 Lost Radio (Tuning Out)

16 Close Down