Sensuous Chill

Sensuous Chill is the eighteenth studio album by contemporary instrumental musician Yanni, formally released on January 29, 2016.[1]

Sensuous Chill
Studio album by
Yanni
ReleasedJanuary 29, 2016
RecordedYanni's Private Studio 2010-15
GenreEasy listening, new-age
Length67:32
LabelPortrait/Sony Masterworks/SME
ProducerYanni
Yanni chronology
Inspirato
(2014)		 Sensuous Chill
(2016)		 The Dream Concert: Live from the Great Pyramids of Egypt
(2016)

Production

In December 18, 2015, the single "Desert Soul" was released.[2] On January 2016, Yanni explained to NPR that the album, which took five years to create, had tracks whose selection and ordering were designed to be "consistent" rather than "demanding" for the listener.[3] In contrast to a market that is largely singles driven, Sensuous Chill was intended to be listened to in full and on repeat.[4]

Unlike Yanni's recent albums which featured a full orchestra and acoustic instrumentation, Sensuous Chill was built around synthesizers, programmed rhythms and electronic sounds, said to "come full circle" to his early-1980s albums.[5] Employing today's more sophisticated technologies, Yanni said that it took a 200 to 350 tracks per song.[5] The album's third track, "Drive", is a remix of "Looking Glass" in the 1986 album Keys to Imagination.[6]

Track listing

Sensuous Chill includes the following tracks.[7]

No.TitleLength
1."Thirst for Life"3:46
2."Rapture"3:34
3."Drive"3:55
4."What You Get"4:34
5."Desert Soul"3:35
6."1001"3:53
7."The Keeper"3:28
8."Whispers in the Dark"3:51
9."Seeing You Around"3:38
10."Orchid"4:13
11."Our Days"4:26
12."A Little Too Late"3:54
13."Dance for Me"4:33
14."Retreat to Dream"3:33
15."Test of Time"3:55
16."Can't Wait"4:06
17."I'm So"4:37

Charts
Chart (2016) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[8]173
US Billboard New Age Albums[9]1

Reception

AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that Sensuous Chill was neither rushed nor lazy. He thought the album's 70 minutes made the album "a little bit long" but that Yanni didn't keep its 17 tracks "treading water." Erlewine noted the album's variety, including "placid surfaces," a slight Middle Eastern flair, R&B beats, and "spectral soul vocals straight out of Pink Floyd." Erlewine added that there was a "charm to (the) traditionalism" of the album, which could have been cut in the 1990s.[10]

The sound of the album was said to be almost entirely built around synthesizers, programmed rhythms, and electronic sounds, so as to give the album a "modern edge."[11] Though Yanni continues to include music styles and rhythms from around the world, unlike the "epic sweep" or "placid feel" of some of Yanni's earlier work, Sensuous Chill's tracks were described as "pop-oriented" and "rhythmically assertive," with moods that are "sumptuous" and "sultry."[11]

Yanni was said to employ "sounds and textures used in today's electronica" to give the album a modern edge, its songs being "more pop-oriented and rhythmically assertive" than his recent albums.[5] However, Yanni's "ability to craft memorable melodies" was also said to be apparent throughout.[5]

See also

References
  1. Barnes, Shane (12 January 2016). "Yanni — Yes, That Yanni — to Release Album Called 'Sensuous Chill'". Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  2. Geller, Wendy (18 December 2016). "Song Premiere: Yanni Debuts New Track, 'Desert Soul'". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  3. Simon, Scott (interviewer) (January 23, 2016). "'New Age Becomes Old Age Very Quickly': Yanni Speaks". NPR. Archived from the original on January 23, 2016.
  4. Rancilio, Alicia (February 11, 2016). "Yanni says his latest album is meant to be a listening experience, put it on and let it play in full". Daily Journal (Associated Press). Archived from the original on February 12, 2016. ● Associated Press (February 17, 2016). "Yanni Continues to Embrace the Unknown With New Music, Tour". VOA News. Archived from the original on February 19, 2016.
  5. Sculley, Alan (July 8, 2016). "Yanni, playing at Sands, re-embraces electronic instrumentation". The Morning Call (mcall.com). Archived from the original on July 8, 2016.
  6. "Drive". The Hindu. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  7. Yanni / Sensuous Chill / Track Listing. Allmusic.com. Accessed January 23, 2016.
  8. "Yanni / Chart History / Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2016.
  9. "Yanni / Chart History / New Age Albums". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2016.
  10. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Yanni / Sensuous Chill / AllMusic review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 7, 2016.
  11. Sculley, Alan (February 14, 2016). "Yanni's new CD's sound built around programmed rhythms, electronic sounds". Spartanburg Herald-Journal (GoUpstate.com). Archived from the original on February 14, 2016.



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