Chill Out is not entirely beatless. Beats weave in and out in some parts.
I agree it's a great album, one of the best ambient albums. But also over-rated in these circles. And repetitive (how many times do we have to hear a train passing?). In fact, I sometimes wonder if it's a parody (affectionately, perhaps) of ambient music with its lambs and trains and Elvis... I wouldn't put it past the KLF.
THE ambient album that's a must is Biosphere's Substrata. Beautiful. Stretches your concept of time, it's excellent musical air conditioning and it's truly beatless.
my opinion, of course.
On another subject, anyone pick up the Depeche Mode tribute album? I was repulsed at first, but some of it, SOME, is starting to grow on me. (Still feels like sacrilage to me), though. I like the Pumpkins' mellow Never Let me Down..., Meat Beat's Everything Counts and Self's Shame. Could have done without the Deftones, Failure and Apollo Four Fourty. Oh, and Rammstein!
The album's in HDCD (high definition compatible digital) Any idea what this is, exactly?