Lost Horizons

Lost Horizons is the aural form of all the good things in the world. It blissfully captures a world without worry and wraps it inside of an acoustic instrumental electronic/downtempo/trip-hop package. I say this with no exaggeration, this is possibly the happiest music I've ever heard and I love it.

The most interesting thing about this album from a musical perspective is how it balances the instruments with the electronic melodies. It primarily uses folk acoustic guitars and jazzier stuff like horns and strings, this gives all the songs a very comforting rural kind of feel (the fun and comforting kind with community like you see in Japan and Europe) while not feeling stuffy and old fashioned thanks to the downtempo beats.

Lost Horizons also uses extensive use of sampling, most notably for vocals, which is generally short repeated phrases from old media, again contributing to that rustic feeling. Samples are also used for the music though it blends in a lot more.

The album is extremely mellow, apparently some people complain about this but I think it's playing to its strengths. It does get very ambient at times which leads it starting to play into the background during certain, weaker songs, but usually snaps back to reality with a vocal sample or the introduction of new instrumentation. I like the ebb and flow that it has personally. It also has smooth transitions as to not break it's zen state, the only exception to this being the one between Nice Weather for Ducks and Experiment Number Six.

Should it be on the list: Yes

Top 3 songs: Elements, Space Walk, Nice Weather For Ducks