Om returns with a third installment in their "Om Lounge" series, a collection of middle-tempo music featuring a variety of artists involved in the electronic jazz scene across the globe. This collage of smooth grooves, electronic styling, deep bass, and ear candy dynamics, creates an ongoing relaxed mood throughout its duration.

This mid-tempo music, blending the styles of acid jazz, trip hop, ambient, electronica, latin and world beat, has been rising in popularity, with its combination of the roots of modern music (jazz, soul, blues, classical) with the modern day electronic styles. Om is one of the major indie labels supporting this genre, as well as labels like Ubiquity/Luv'n'Haight, Compost Records, BBE, and many other labels based internationally.

Travelling across this soundscape, Pimp Rekker flips some funk laced izm, with the southern gospel feel of a Hammond organ, and a layering of classical horns, on the appropriately titled "Mackzen and Relaxin." Kevin Yost flips a familiar break in "Drums Delicious", and layers on top a nice full bass and subtle guitar, along with the every existing groove that never stops on this album. Chaser drops a booty shaker, picking up the tempo a bit on "Blue Planet" (Abacus Blue Planeteria remix), with its spacey sounds, crooning vocals and dynamic effects over a Miami booty type beat. East West Connection adds a jazzy little cut with "Love Music", with vibey keys and bongos, the percussion giving it a bit of a latin flavour. Soulstice bring the acoustical edge with the beautiful track "Tenderly", with it's solo acoustic guitar, and butter vocals, along side a driving drum'n'bass break that comes in on the chorus. Finally, J Boogie (dubtronic science) and People Under The Stairs drop some more hip hop oriented tracks, with vocal samples that any true head will recognize, respectively in "La Sangre" and "Schooled In The Trade."

The album also includes strong showings from King Kooba with "Koobesq", Herbert on "The Last Beat", Andy Caldwell with the world beat influenced "Tropicalis", and The Verbrilli Sound with their ambient influenced "Cansadia."

The Final Verdict: A very consistent album, where a group of solo artists create a work that flows from begging to end. I would also have to congratulate the A&R's Chris Smith and Christian Ruteledge, who did a great job in bringing together a variety or artists in one cohesive album. Anyone who likes to have an album to chill to, from beginning to end, without having to reach for the stop or skip buttons, be sure to pick up Om Lounge's latest offering. A solid offering, from a label offering original and unique music.