Album Notes

From striking uplifting and melodic electronica chill-out synth pads and spacey, hypnotic beats with amazing central piano section ("Sunglasses off") the mix of the first three laid-back electronica tracks to dreamy easy listening synth/piano/orchestral pieces brings together two distinct styles on one album, perhaps and uneasy mix for some listeners. Yet these compositions does not really push any musical boundaries; gently pulsating bass, beats and ambient pads on the orchestral and piano pieces, and the melodic, mellow lo-fi of the electronica tracks helps to bridge the apparent genre differences.

Composer Johann Kotze felt the urge to do an album "less therapy, more accessible" after producing a number of ambient/meditative albums over the past year and a half. Like many music lovers he feels far too little quality background music is heard in public spaces, from waiting rooms to malls, despite the efforts of labels like Windham Hill and artists like David Arkenstone who produces many wonderful albums ideal for inoffensive easy listening without insulting the discerning listener.

Johann also commented that, in retrospect, "Cafe Sky" contains elements of the classic Arkenstone sound, and that "Clear skies" for example sounds like a simplified, tamed version of a Jean Michel Jarre piece. "I never intentionally copy another artist, nor do I intentionally strive for individuality. I sit down, compose and record a new piece according to the kind of album that I decide to make at the time, or the mood that I am in at that moment. And of course the equipment at hand shapes the sound. All the tracks on this album was produced in a customized Garage Band".

Another simultaneously released Being Music title, Ambient Ocean, includes a different mix of "Dolphin play" with ocean sounds, more in the vein of the therapy related Being Music titles. A few of the tracks on "Ambient Ocean" are reworked from earlier ambient pieces. Also check out the double CD (containing Being 2 & 3) for the classic Being Music deep healing/meditation/therapy sound.