Lisa DeBenedictis is a singer/songwriter who has had great success at Magnatune with her ethereal, shimmering textural pop. A prototypical DIY musician she wrote and performed her entire debut solo album Fruitless. For Chronic Dreams Lisa re-recorded the vocals for "Brilliant Day" remixed here as a late-night ambient Al Green style in album's opener and later over a classical string quartet. She also sings a previously unreleased original song "Ocean in her Head" which makes it's world debut on Chronic.

Another DIY musician c. layne's music is pure, both in it's deceptive simplicity and depth of soul. On his Magnatune debut Potemkin Villages there are strong reverberations of 60's pop brought up to date in a distinctively modern style. Layne contributed the vocals to two previously unreleased songs to Chronic which were subsequently remixed here as a 10cc-style ambient ("Just My Luck") and the stunning album closer "How Soon We Forget (Minsk Mix)" which fuses layne's haunting vocals with the soaring, soul searing voices of the Kyiv Chamber Choir.

Ian Varley's band Drop Trio plays a unique blend of organ/electric piano jazz, fusion, rock. Their success, both artistic and commercial, is significant. Their brilliant album Big Dipper is a consistent best seller at Magnatune and their live performances are legendary for their energy and musicianship. The Trio's track "Lefty's Alone" was heavily sampled in Chronic Dream's "Not Even Alone" and Ian's brilliant electric piano playing can be heard on "Be Brave (Dip Blotter Mix)" which he specifically preformed for Chronic.

The prolific singer/songwriter Norine Braun is an indy iconoclast and her five (!) albums are all available on Magnatune. Her studio work is varied and deep and she proves a mastery over a multitude of genres. Norine's song "Be Brave" has been completely recast from it's original acoustic version on her latest release Now and Zen and appears on Chronic Dreams as "Be Brave (Dip Blotter Mix)" in a beat-era cool groove replete with jazzy-strings chorus.

Producer Victor Stone (a.k.a. fourstones.net, Four Stones, fourstones) has been producing and collaborating online for 10 years. His first Magnatune release was a 40 minute mega-mix entitled Ridin' the Faders: Magantune Remixed. He currently runs the popular Virtual Turntable site aimed at helping DIY independent musicians with technical issues relating to recording their own music. Stone is also an outspoken advocate for music industry reform and is a regular contributor to the Creative Commons weblog.

The Chronic Dreams project was originally based Stone's concept of showcasing both the new business model at Magnatune as well as its artists. A deep background write-up on the genesis of Chronic can be found here. He also contributed several original instrumental and remix tracks including "Dead Money" and "Art vs. Process."

The Chronic Dreams album is sprinkled liberally with samples from throughout the Magnatune catalogue including tracks by Indian artist touchingGrace, IDM techo by Beat Under Control, the Johannesburg Philharmonic, 30's style blues guitarist Jag and many, many others.

1. Brilliant Day (Chronic Mix)
2. Just My Luck (Chronic Mix)
3. Not Even Alone
4. Ocean In Her Head (Red House Mix)
5. Dead Money
6. Be Brave (Blotter Bros. Mix)
7. Calling Ella Baker
8. Ocean In Her Head (Spliff Mix)
9. Art vs Process
10. Brilliant Day (Eine Kleine Mix)
11. How Soon (Minsk Mix)

Listen to: the entire album.

Release date: 5/20/2004
Four Stones lives in California USA

Tagged as: Alt Rock, Rock, Happy Hour, Remix, Remixed by Four Stones

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2. Make Your Choice by Individual Choice: Classy and elegant jazz-rock grooves
3. Ohio Sessions, October to December by The Town Monster: sounds like synth pop walking down a dark alley
4. The Immortal Deadbeats EP by Mountain Mirrors: moody melodic prog rock
5. Ohio Sessions, April to June by The Town Monster: sounds like synth pop walking down a dark alley
6. Moonrise by Yongen: transnational dream pop luxury
7. Adore by Falling You: haunting, ethereal pop ambient
8. Lookin' Fly by The Old Recruits: a new take on old funk
9. Human by Falling You: haunting, ethereal pop ambient
10. I Catch the Wind by Dixie Cannon: Rock solid Pop rock, Vintage rock, Classic rock, Folk rock and Art rock
11. Swim the High Tide by Capital Sons: Heart on our sleeves Rock and Roll.
12. Chasing Time by Marcos H Bolanos: atmospheric, instrumental soundtracks for daydreaming
13. Happiness Hurts Me by Self Delusion: darkly addictive electro-pop songs
14. Highland Sunrise by Dixie Cannon: Rock solid Pop rock, Vintage rock, Classic rock, Folk rock and Art rock
15. Mojo Radio by Mojo Radio: dirty blues fo' yo' dirty minds
16. Opus2 by Superdirt2: highly danceable electro beats with virtuouso cello
17. Starborn by Opera Rock: 80's sound, metal Riffs and cinematic interludes to blow your mind
18. Ultimate Station by Curl: Groovy, French downtempo electro-rock songs

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