artist: Kruder & Dorfmeister country of origin: Austria style(s): Ambient dub, lounge, nu jazz essential releases: DJ Kicks (G-Stone/K7, 1996) The K & D Sessions (G-Stone/K7 Records, 1998)

Did these guys invent modern chillout? The pair would probably balk at the suggestion but Kruder & Dorfmeister certainly put Vienna on the map as Europe's downtempo capital in the 1990's. It says much for the power of the remix that, despite being occasional DJ's and composers of their own music, they have made the greatest impact through producing and reinventing the work of others.

Their contribution to the DJ Kicks series is the best of their several DJ mix albums. It's a beautifully programmed cruise through warm downtempo grooves and includes gems from Thievery Corporation, Hardfloor and Herbalizer. But The K & D Sessions is the album upon which their legendary reputation stands, a glorious 2-CD set of blunted beats, shimmering reverb and spacious sound design. The duo's production style is unmistakable and often sounds like an update of the dub techniques pioneered by Jamaican reggae producers in the 1970's. Highlights are many and for ambient fans the more instrumental second disc provides the majority including tracks by Sin, David Holmes, The Sofa Surfers and Mama Oliver. Also noteworthy is K & D's own and rather stupidly titled composition "Boogie Woogie", a lovely piece of landscaped ambience with pristine acoustic guitar and crying, windswept synthesiser. The album remains a massive influence on the beats-based downtempo music which today continues to thrive on the fringes of house, breaks and hip hop.

Although K & D as a duo have released little music since, they continue to engage in high quality solo projects. Look out for albums by Richard Dorfmeister's band Tosca and also the self-titled release by Peter Kruder's Peace Orchestra.

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