DISCOGRAPHY: Chillout
Title: Shine (ep) (2007)
Awards: Shine (ep) featured on Lounging Sound Radio Serve Chilled Vol 4.
STEPHANIE SANTE Guitarist Stephanie Sante continues her evolution away from her spacemusic/ambient roots toward something quite different with her new EP, Shine, as she heads deeper into the jazz fusion/electronica territory she first journeyed to on Coffee Culture (2005). What’s new here is a more pronounced chill-out attitude from Sante, something she appears to excel at, as this recording amply demonstrates. Steph’s guitar chops continue to impress me as does her ability to layer synth textures and programmed beats, both of which are also improved from Coffee Culture. On her CDBaby page, Sante cites jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell as an influence and her playing features some of the same subdued breeziness and good nature that Burrell is known for. The title track gets the party started in outstanding style, with snappy cymbals, wood stick percussion, and thumping bass pounding a sexy beat while kalimba-like sampled notes play a nice sequence and Sante anchors it all with a combination of rhythm guitar and subtly stinging lead work. Those sampled kalimba notes and some twinkling bell tones steer this cut into chill-out bliss, although there is some tasty guitar jazz on hand as well. Anne McGlochlin contributes some pleasant (sparse) spoken word vocals to the track and they fit in nicely. “Missing Paris” slinks in as a slow-paced quasi-blues tune with trap kit rhythms, subdued electronic textures, and more Burrell-esque lead lines. “She Serves Love” opens with overt fusion guitar softly sighing, singing and crying against a backdrop of shuffling beats, accompanied by some mellow rhythm guitar chords. Sante tosses in some slinky vibrato now and then for good measure. “Reflections” features solid midtempo chill-out contemporary beats and some tasty synth washes over which the sparkling notes and clipped jazzy chords dance and sway. I particularly liked a cool refrain that occurs now and then on which Sante bends those notes just right with a touch of vibrato and echo. Ushered in by the sound of cymbals and muted “ping-ponging” synths as well as strings, “Lush” oozes sly sensuality in much the same way Richard Bone has done on albums like Coxa and Alternate Realities. The beats are more in the electronica/chill-out camp, but Sante’s lead guitar brings a jazzy vibe to the proceedings. The album closer, “Pagan Sunrise” starts off in a decidedly ambient vein with flowing washes and textures, gradually introducing world fusion rhythms (again reminiscent of Bone on his CDs such as Disorient). As the beat intensifies, Sante slowly folds in sustained leads enhanced with a tremolo effect and the track settles into a nice steady groove. I’ve been on the Stephanie Sante bandwagon from the start (2000’s Into Light) and, as talented as she was making spacemusic and ambient music, I have to admit this new direction she’s headed in meets with my enthusiastic approval. Coffee Culture was a solid album, but Shine exceeds the expectations created by the former, and with considerable ease. Sante sounds more confident and self-assured as she extends her soloing and improvising on guitar, while also dialing up the quality of her samples, chill-out beats and melodic textures. Whether one labels this jazz fusion, chill-out, or just plain kick-ass tuneage, Shine is yet one more recording that illustrates the adage “Quality, not quantity.” At a tick under nine bucks at CDBaby, this qualifies as a steal of a buy. So, what’re ya waiting for? Highly recommended! Bill Binkelman
Stephanie Sante graces us with some beautiful chilled grooves from her album "Shine". These are jazzy hypnotic late night grooves that you will not want to miss. Stephanie once again captures the very essence of "chill" with subtle melodies which seem to have been crafted on the tranquile shores of an exotic island. - DJ - Dub_Ninja : Subsonic Temple
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