I bought this CD based on the recommendations above but to honest I think it is dreary and downbeat. I know it is supposed to be chilled out but it just did nothing for me. Maybe I need to listen to it again but after a few listens I wouldn't recommend it.

Urban Myth club offer us something different in this sublime and moving album. They are not a band as such, more a collaboration of talented musicians, singers and a fine producer. The music contained within album is the fruit of almost three years of work. Year's of hard graft on an album does not necessarily guarantee an excellent piece of work however when you add into the equation someone like Stephen Barton a Hollywood film composer who work on `Gladiator', and `Narnia' among others, things seem to fall into place. Though the album could easily been sectioned away as a "chill-out" or "down tempo" it floats graceful over all the pitfalls of these genre's. The phrase "chill-out music" seems put off music lover's mainly due to the churned out drivel that seems the fill a substantial amount of album with "chill-out" in the title. "Helium" on the hand is not mere background noise, it comes with the weight of a excellent film score and manages to stay as accessible as other similar bands such as Morcheeba or Portishead.

The Album starts with a short an sweet instrumental piece which allows "Urban Myth Club" to flex thier musical muscles and let the listener know just how well produced and musically flawless this album shall be. It also sets the scene for the single of the album "Feel It" which comes right after, this track effortlessly achieves both accessibility and manages to stay credible and interesting. As the album progresses the beautiful vocals of Clare Szembek who is prominent in 'Feel it' take more of a back seat and the music takes over. This is by no means a bad thing, compositionally the music is fantastic. Track three to eight seem float past with song structures so intelligent they could probably beat you at scrabble. My highlight of the album however is track nine "So Beautiful" both music and vocal's seem to flawlessly compliment each other in a passage that leads through sounds that tease with our emotions. The album wraps up with 4 tracks that revert to the more musical driven aspects of middle keeping the down tempo vibe going throughout.

Surely "Helium" can't be a perfect, flawless album? Well no there are of course some snags such as the lyrics leaving a little to be desired and it perhaps it loses a bit of momentum towards the end. In conclusion however I believed you'd have to go a long way to find a British down-tempo group coming anywhere near this standard. As with their first gig (Glastonbury) they have punch above there weight and I think its only a matter of time before they are in and amongst the biggest names of "electronica".

Best Tracks- So Beautiful, Moon and the Night

I think this is the most relaxing album i have to listened to in a long time. Consistently mellow while managing to be melodic at the same time.

I'm almost as curious to see if I can get away with submitting a 3 star review for this album as I was to hear it, having seen 5 star reviews across the board. Maybe a crack squad from the UMC E team will hunt me down and destroy me, for going out on a limb?

This is perfectly acceptable background music; the kind of album that people who don't buy albums will hear and ask 'Who's this?' then add to their collection, alongside Moon Safari, Zero 7, Dido and that CD what Moby did [sic].

For the rest of us, there's plenty more rewarding and eclectic sounds out there, and these folks who've all been moved to pen their singular, breathless 5 star reviews ("Make sure you use the word 'downtempo' in there!") could do worse than to indulge in a little Smoker's Delight.

Where do I begin? ,Helium' from UMC is awesome to say the least. The album as a whole is a masterpiece and hits the mark on so many levels. As a matter of fact, it is far from being categorized as "just another chill-out" album.

A collection of film scores, modern beats, cool and cosmic electro-songs that dispense with notions of time and space...this album is a melting pot of musical ideas. `Helium' will basically leave you wanting to get your hands on anything else UMC have ever touched so far.