artist: Vibrasphere country of origin: Sweden style(s): Ambient dub, psy-ambient, lounge essential releases: Selected Downbeats volume 1 (2006, Cloud 99 Music)

It's a bit odd to think of Swedish duo Vibrasphere as having helped write the book on psychedelic downbeats given that their first album dedicated to ambient tunes didn't appear until seven years into their recording career. Yet I can't think of any other act this decade which has set psy-ambient standards higher than they have. Rickard Berglof and Robert Elstermain's main forte is progressive psytrance for the dancefloor - a genre which they do very well - but I find their less frequent dubby ambient work allows them more variety and is a better showcase for their remarkable melodic gifts.

Over the years scattered one-off downtempo tracks have graced their own dance albums as well as V.A. compilations for Ultimae Records, Chillcode, Digital Structures and other indie labels. Selected Downbeats volume 1 collects tracks from these sources with the addition of a couple of newly minted compositions.

So what makes Vibrasphere's music special? For starters their dub production techniques are impeccable - big basslines, reverberating snares, massive space - and they have proved masters at adapting this Jamaican invention into something new, exotic and much more multi-cultural. Most unique is how their arrangements resemble massive pieces of architecture - complex, huge, futuristic structures with clean edges and spacious surrounds, full of light and colour and warmth. Its exceptionally visual music of which "Ice Flow" is but one fine example. And those melodies...my god, there are tunes here to die for.

All up Selected Downbeats volume 1 is progressive chill of the most polished and accessible kind. Minor gripes: the sublime "San Pedro" isn't here and a remix of "Manzanilla" mutes the once sparkling acoustic guitar to detrimental effect. The patchy follow-up Selected Downbeats Volume 2 (2009) is enjoyable enough but it's an inferior showcase for just how good the duo's downtempo music can be.

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