Reviews (15)

For the Bossa in you
This album runs smooth with the bossa sounds from nicola conte his american release from esl records, a sure sign of a good record is that label for sure. For those unfamilliar, this album is bossa instrumental, making nice atmosphere music for the dinner party, A caution, for jazz lovers or bossa lovers. Do not expect heavy chilled out dub but instead a lively beat and more for Bebel Gilberto fans than Tosca fans. A good sound enjoyed by the casual listener, but bossa/jazz fans will love it. 3.5 stars. 4 stars for genre lovers.

Good Disc
I reckon this is the American version of the disc. His album in Europe is called "Jet Sounds", but Bossa Per Deu is probably the song most noticed in the United States, thanks to that wretched Acura commercial which doesn't do the song or Nicola Conte's music justice.

It is a great, high spirited martini madness kind of CD. I think the style Conte uses is "Bossa Italia", heh heh. Definitely a Brazilian influence in the music, but with a 60's, Italian feel to it. Very interesting and very enjoying CD. For the record, if you like or have heard one Easy Tempo, released by the ESL label, that is what this is similar too, only a bit more modern. Nice beach music. I like the tracks 2, 4, 6, 9 and a few others that are noteworthy. Get it, add to your international collection and enjoy for years!

Great stuff...if you don't have a pulse
Yes, that's right...this stuff is lifeless dross for the dead to devour...septic, unimaginative, metallic and machine driven without an ounce of human interjection...save for the occasional flesh-upon-chrome knob twiddling to trigger the machines. It's rather obvious that people read these reviews (for the most part) not to glean some sense of what a recording that they're unfamiliar with is actually like, but rather to VALIDATE their own enthusiasm for a recording they're already gung ho on...to champion an artist they dig (like that moron "Pattiscool from downtown Detroit"). If that's your m.o., then cast your vote of disapproval; however, if you use the system as it was intended, then you should appreciate the candor of my criticism. "Patti" evidently never met a machine-driven-push-button-induced-click-track-triggered tune she didn't think was dope maaaan, and if that corresponds with your taste, then by all means, buy this crystaline cold cadaver. If, however, you have a pulse, then there's plenty of real bossa-lounge tracks, and yes, even some electrolounge, that you'd be far better off getting to know. Let the dead die. You're welcome.

Very diffrent but fun sound
This might not be the most common form of dance music. The Italian Nicola Conte mixes 60's bossa nova with dance and the sound is quite unique. Here you'll find alot of diffrent inspirations like "The Samba" "Arabesque" "Bossa per due" "Missione a bombay" and "Jazz pour datine". Bossa per due which is exactly the same album as Jet sounds is a diffrent album with alot of catchy retro sounds. It reminds me a bit of Dimitri from Paris, so if you liked him check Nicola Conte. This album is fun and the music kind of reminds me of music from some glamourous bar from a James Bond movie. Enjoy!

Bask in its greatness
screw those 2 nay-sayers on here who say this album is mediocer. This album is F****** AWESOME. i have been reviewing music for 4 years and by far this is one of my favorite albums of all-time. Its 60s lounge sound brings you back to yesteryears of Eames sofas and herman miller chairs. i have let plenty of friends lend an ear to this disk. Needless to say, weather they like hardcore or simple top 40 crap, every single person enjoyed this CD. This is the best CD of 2001. Can't wait to hear Conte's next release, coming out in '04. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Compared to the minimalist plonk typical of the genre, this is a Technicolor epic and perhaps the only ambient techno opus you'll ever need. --Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (64)

Get Lost
FSOL has put out some excellent work. I own all their albums, from "Accelerator" to "The Isness" and even "Tales of Ephidra" which they recorded under the moniker Amorphous Androgynous, before FSOL became FSOL. Even against the brilliance of "Dead Cities" and "ISDN" this stands as FSOL's best work. Highlights abound throughout the album, on both discs, such as "Cascade" "Flak" "Dead Skin Cells" "Lifeforms" and "Among Myselves" on the first, with "Vertical Pig" "Life Form Ends" "Room 208" and "Elaborate Burn" rounding out the second disc.

IF any of these hold true for you...

a. you simply MUST have fuzz-box distorted guitar in all the music you listen to...

b. television has left you completely without imagination...

c. you lack the necessary attention span for music that isn't prepackaged for you by MTV or Clear Channel...

d. you are incapable of taking time to relax and take a break from whatever hectic lifestyle you've fashioned for yourself...

...THEN I advise you to stay far, far away from this album. You'll hate it.

For the rest of us, an original, inventive, visceral, surreal, and otherworldly sonic experience awaits. Put this on surround sound, pour some wine, dim the lights, and enjoy.

Unbelievably overrated
I bought this a few years ago as this was a record that was a classic of it's genre and I was led to believe that if I liked Aphex Twin and The Orb then I would love this. And I have to say I'm not won over with this.

I've played this many times and each time I play it I'm left unimpressed by it all. Sure a lot of craft must've gone into this. But it all seems so nothing-y that I'm expecting a little more substance from it. The sounds have absolutely no form to it. You can talk about this album in almost an amoeba like context - it's practically invisible, it duplicates itself countless times but not a lot else can be said about it!

If you like things that aimlessly go astray then this is the CD for you. If however you want something with a little more substance than try almost anything else - it's bound to get you going.

!?!?!?! Actually I love it.
FSOL are really a musician's musician. It's not easy to grasp what is happening in this album (it took me around a month), but once understood it becomes a glory to listen to. Trying to discribe what an album sounds like can be impossible at times, and this one is no exeption. High points are mostly on disc 2 (tracks 2,3,6,7,8,9), and I feel that this one should be listened to for the first few listenings. I absolutely LOVE this one! It's my favorite out of all the albums they've put out (ISDN coming in close 2nd). Most Def. for personal listening, I wouldn't recomend putting it on when friends are over.

Genious
I bought this album 5 years ago and still enjoy it today. FSOL truly have a sound all their own. You owe it to yourself to take a listen, this album is truly unique and refreshing listen to all of the other artist you hear cloning each other on the radio.

One of the best I've ever heard
I'm writing this in a hurry because I noticed this doesn't have an average rating of 5 stars, and I need to boost it. This is an incredible album. Genre-defining, a classic and a pinnacle of its genre, if such a genre exists. The soundscapes, the synthetically organic backbeats, it's all so new and innovative, and 10 years after this came out, I can't say that too much out in the soundscape/ambient world has surpassed this, certainly not in terms of ingenuity. In short, get this disc. Thank you. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Don't waste your time or money!
This is the worst CD I have bought in YEARS! Morsheeba seems to have all of the right elements. The music is good, the singing is good, but it does not fit. I think the writing and lyrics are a bit off and may the reason that it does not come together. I am a very open minded person and I look for the good in everything, but just could not find it here.

Great Compilation
After downloading the music (legally, using the new subscription-based Napster), I knew I had to buy this music. But not this album. I hunted down the version mentioned by another reviewer that includes a DVD. It appears on Amazon as "Parts of the Process (CD & DVD) [LIMITED EDITION]." It costs more, but it'll be cool to see the group performing live.

I love the electronica genre because of the near-universal presence of ethereal female vocals.... and this group is the epitome of that!!!

Great job Morcheeba! Keep it coming!!!

Stimulating & Relaxing at the same time , jazzy/acoustic...
This cd or any music of morcheeba's is amazing. You can listen to it at any time, any mood...it fits right in. The singer has a sultry jazzy voice and the music is slower paced but the songs that are more upbeat are very stimulating and still mood inspiring. This is by far the best new band that I've been introduced to in years!

This should be a part of your collection!
I have to a admit that I bought this Best Of only because I heard What's Your Name on the radio and I liked it. I didn't appreciate Morcheeba much but hearing this album made me change my mind. They're songs are absolutely wonderful.
They're strongest at the ballads (The Sea, Otherwise, Blindfold, Part Of The Process, Undress Me Now, Over And Over, What New York Couples Fight About, World Looking In). The special ones for me are The Sea and Part Of The Process. Since I live by the sea I don't need to explain the first song, but the other has wonderful lyrics (I don't realize how good lyrics they can write), it simply touches something in you. What New York Couples Fight About is a great song. We were all in love so we can relate to it.
But the "happy" songs are good too. Especially What's Your Name and Rome Wasn't Built In A Day. Actually Rome... was they're first hit.
The special edition album includes a bonus DVD. It contains 3 live performances from they're Live At Brixton Academy DVD (The Sea, Part Of The Process, Trigger Hippie).

Easy listening...with style
It's a really nice album. You can listen to it for hours without getting tired. The style of Morcheeba is unique and is getting better and more sophisticated with the time. I strongly recommend it as an icon of POP music for this 2003. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Juana Molina set aside the budding musical career she'd pursued since childhood to become one of TV's most acclaimed comedians in her native Argentina. Her original muse may have been denied for seven years, but never forgotten; indeed, Molina has managed something of an unexpected musical delight here. Her breathy, gentle vocals haunt unusual song structures and the album's quiet, playful production sense like some restless ghost, wandering a sonic landscape that's as electro as it is Latin. That pan-cultural, less-is-more sense is rare on any collection, let alone on a sophomore album (Rara was released in her native country in ‘96) cobbled together between club gigs while living in Los Angeles. Driven by an insistent, plaintive guitar and producer/collaborator Alejandro Franov's delicate, bubbling synth riffs, Molina's unusually structured songs often seem to float in on a breeze and escape on a daydream. She's claimed the album was recorded in moments near the edge of sleep, and that stream-of-unconscious tack variously involves rhythmic choruses of barking dogs, ticking watches, and rainforest soundscapes--most so delicately rendered they sometimes seem an auditory illusion--seasoned with impossibly plastic washes of synth and carried by Molina's sweetly somnambulistic vocals. More impressive, Molina's songwriting sense seems as inscrutably subconscious. A rare, true musical adventure from first track to last. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Review from AllMusicGuide.com
All Music Guide
America doesn't have a lock on all the off-kilter singer-songwriters. Take a listen to the very individual Argentinean Juana Molina. On her second album, she explores electronic and acoustic textures, treading through them like rooms in an empty house while inspecting details and corners. She's equally comfortable with detuned synths (as on "Medlong") or acoustic guitar ("El Zorzal,") but, whatever she uses, her music keeps taking the path less traveled. Her unusual, minimal touches transport lovely melodies into different dimensions. Molina is like a Latin Lisa Germano; both make small, intimate albums and think outside the box. But originality should be treasured, especially when it's wrapped in glistening little melodies. Molina can have an almost childlike simplicity at times in the way her voice glides between the blips and bloops, although her sensuality comes to the surface in other moments. She utilizes minimal arrangements and the production might sound more like work from home than the big recording studio, but this naïveté suits the songs. There's an irresistible charm about both this disc and Molina's approach. Even if you don't speak Spanish, you'll still be smiling.
- Chris Nickson

A beautiful summer record
Out here in LA, KCRW has been playing Juana Molina for a while but it was impossible to find her album, but it's finally been released. Although she is from Argentina, Segundo not really a "world" album. It's more in line with Mum, Bjork, a little Beth Orton, and Lali Puna. There is the sound of quiet electronic beats meshed with acoustic guitar and her voice, which is really delicate and airy. She just happens to sing in Spanish, so I have no idea what her lyrics are like. But it doesn't really matter when it's this pretty.

A sleepy voice with an awakening effect
This is an album that I can't stop listening. It brought back to my memory my childhood playgruond with the song "Que lluvia" which makes reference to a popular song in Latin America. I think Juana Molina mixed the sounds and subjects of the songs in a way so strange but effective that the whole album is like a single song with multiple faces. The lyrics remembered me those short japanese poems that reveal to you a big reflection with just a few words.

Consistently Beautiful
A mother who leaves her daughter.
A dog that never stops barking.
A preacher who plays with people's illusions.

Little stories and brief moments constitute the lyrical core of Segundo. The musical arragements (which compliments acoustic sounds with electronic/industrial/organ chords) all serve to further illustrate the stories portrayed.

At once fragile and strong, slow-paced but energetic, melancholic but hilarious, intimate but distant, Segundo has Juana Molina singing songs that will stay in your head like the most commercial 3 minute pop song ever, but by doing the exact oposite.

PD. I strongly suggest you try to find her latest album, 3 Cosas, which deals with the post modern world (in the lyrics) from a Yoga point of view (in the music).

Hum-along Melodies w/ subtle Industrial Noises
Juana Molina sings in a pleasant, strong whisper, melodies that are instantly your own and a joy to hum along. Add industrial noises - quietly moaning in the background, like a lovesick ghost, sometimes bubbling to the top - a great complement (and contradiction) to her gentle voice. Lots of uptempo rhythms smoothly blended in (never stealing the show) keep this quiet mood energized. This is headphone music. Her album bears repeated listenings. The liner notes tell us Juana Molina does all (or nearly all) the sounds, and the production. Her album definitely bears repeated listenings. Take it from a Simon and Garfunkle / Nine Inch Nails fan. (P.S. It seems to me the samples here cut too short before you get the full taste.) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Alpha--Corin Dingley and Andy Jenks--are among the best of the trip-hop generation. Signed to Massive Attack's Melankolic label, their debut owes debts to Scott Walker, Burt Bacharach, and John Martyn, weaving shreds and swatches into something new. Yes, it is downbeat, the kind of music for long, lonely nights, but it is absolutely perfect for those nights. Guest vocalists help out as Dingley and Jenks manipulate the sounds and the strings, fill it all out beautifully. Crafted and inspired, one of '97's standouts. --Chris Nickson ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Caramel coated, cinnamon scented
Any time I see a CD title that alludes to heavenly origins, I'm immediately suspect. But that's not the case here. Every song on this CD is so delicate and ethereal that it's barely there...a beautiful whisper. An earlier reviewer said that "Come From Heaven" reminded him of "a warm spring day in an endless field of grass with nowhere to go and nothing to do but exist." That description was the clincher in my buying decision and this CD lived up to every word of it.

A lounge variant on the Trip-Hop genre.
Those who listen to this CD and expect to hear something like the groundbreaking Portishead will not be entirely disappointed, but don't expect an exact clone. That's rather good, I think. Alpha takes the Trip-Hop genre into lounge territory with a sound that is somber, yet not so gut-wrenching.

Looking for the song from "My Life Without Me?"
FYI - My Life Without Me has no soundtrack available. But imdb.com gave me enough info to at least pin down this song. "Sometime later" from this album is what's playing at the end credits of My Life Without Me. (And the song playing in the car when Lee and Ann kiss is "Senza Fine", I forget the artist.)

Looking for the song at the end of "My life without me?"
FYI - My Life Without Me has no soundtrack available. But imdb.com gave me enough info to at least pin down this song. "Sometime later" from this album is what's playing at the end credits of My Life Without Me.

WOW
You know, I purchased this CD in 1997, and I listened to it all the time because I just loved it. Well, I went about a year without listening to this CD, and then I picked it up yesterday, and it just kicked me in the stomach all over again. A review just doesn't do this CD justice, you have to listen to it to experience it. That's what this CD is, an EXPERIENCE. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Last Emperor, director Bernardo Bertolucci's epic tale of Pu Yi, the exiled final potentate of China's 3,000-year old Qing dynasty, was the big winner at the 1988 Academy Awards, taking Oscars for (among others) Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Score. The composing trio of Sakamoto/Byrne/Su was an unusual one to be sure, but it's clearly Sakamoto who carries the day here. The avant-garde trained/former Yellow Magic Orchestra pop mastermind crafted a seamless fusion of grand Western themes, Asian shadings, and his own deliciously distinct timbrel sensibilities; an accessible if deceptively modern classicism. Not surprisingly given his Talking Heads roots, Byrne's efforts are more rhythmic and minimal, yet his consuming passion for world music thoroughly evidences itself as well. His lyric and lilting "Main Title Theme" (one of the film's unusual elements was its use of two main themes by separate composers) may offer a pleasant surprise to listeners overly familiar with his pop work. The composer Cong Su is represented by just one cut; but it's a gentle, ethereal spin on Chinese folk influences that fits well with his fellow composers' work. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (4)

What happened here?
I've been a fan of the "Moods" CD's since the first album, and each disc has provided a variety of beautiful soundscapes, ranging from ambient downtempo dance tunes to rapturous piano solos. Each album had me waiting eagerly for the next in the series, and though I was a little less impressed with Pure Moods IV since many of its selections weren't all that memorable, I still had high hopes for "Pure Moods V".

But now I wonder...is this compilation really *the* long-awaited "Pure Moods V" or is it just an appetizer for the main course, which is coming sometime soon? Whatever it is, I hope it's not a bad omen for the future of the "Moods" series, because it's really a very poor mix considering it's from the people who used to bring the most popular New Age compilation of the 90's.

The album is not a complete flop, first of all. Sheila Chandra's "Crescent Silver Scythe" is a beautiful song with poetic lyrics, and Moby delivers the same ambient panache he's always been famous for with "Love of Strings". Craig Armstrong and Enigma each provide a haunting atmosphere with "Wake Up In New York" and "Voyageur" (respectively), and the Norwegian duo Royksopp--quickly becoming one of my new favorite groups--adds a touch of class in "I Don't Know What I Can Save You From," with a bouncy beat but a laid-back instrumental background. The best track by far, however, is Sarah Brightman's version of "What a Wonderful World"; her angelic voice in the orchestral arrangement of the song is so beautiful, it's almost frightening.

Those songs, however, are the only ones that even closely resemble a "celestial celebration" of some sort. Many of the other tracks are nice to listen to, but they get boring after a few listens--especially tracks 4, 6, 15, and 17. Those songs are almost a cappella, except for a very simple background harmony from one or two instruments. Other songs don't really seem to flow with the album; the peppy razzmatazz of "Amado Mio" and "San Antonio" is especially bombastic and overbearing, and although the remix of "Days Go By" sounds a lot better than the original version does on the Mitsubishi commercial, the lyrics are just too poppy for my taste. Furthermore, the inclusion of a live performance of Sarah MacLachlan's "Building a Mystery" is absurd--cheering fans? Audible microphones? Loud guitars and drums? This is a "celestial celebration" we're talking about?

What irks me the most, however, is the blatant lack of creativity in the choices of three songs in particular. The first song, Dido's "Here With Me," features Dido's sexy vocals and makes for a nice opener...but it's so overplayed, it practically qualifies as a mainstream song! Plus, it's been in so many other compilations, from chillout records to the "Love Actually" soundtrack. And then there's Delerium's "Euphoria", which we've already heard on "Pure Moods II"; sure it's fun to dance to and even more fun to have it blasting from your car speakers late at night, but doesn't Delerium have *some* other hit we haven't heard from the series yet? And finally, we have Massive Attack's "Weatherstorm". I *love* MA and this song, but this was featured on "Moods II" *and* "Instrumental Moods"! I just don't understand; why couldn't they have chosen a song from their newest album, "100th Window", which is mostly ambient instrumental work anyway? And when's MA's other instrumental masterpiece, "Heat Miser", ever going to get the attention it deserves?

This disc may mildly be worth checking out if you're completely unfamiliar to the series, but it doesn't provide nearly as much of a "celestial celebration" as I wanted it to. And by looking at the previous work done by the people who brought us this compilation, I don't see how it has any right to the "Pure Moods" name.

Not the best in the series
"Pure Moods" is the original chill out series in my opinion. I think Virgin records started the chill out/downtempo movement when they released the original "Pure Moods". I have all but the second volume. I recently bought "Celestial Celebration" today when I found an unused copy in the used cd bins today. I still wanted it despite the fact that most of the songs just happened to be older than dirt. C'mon, a live version of "Building a Mystery" or "Here With Me"? How many times do I have to see "Weather Storm" (Massive Attack) and "Euphoria" (Delerium) on a chill out cd? Get it together folks. These songs are predictable and tiresome. I like them but not that much. Get a clue from the folks at George V Records. They know how to put together a good chill out cd. I found Charlie Hunter/Norah Jones' interpretation of Roxy Music's "More Than This" utter garbage. It is bloody boring. Although the song is a couple of years old, I love Craig Armstrong's "Wake Up in New York". I love Evan Dando's deep voice. The song is incredible. I was suprised to hear how well Joss Stone's "The Chokin' Kind" fit so well on this compilation. It wasn't what I was expected to hear but it is a wonderful song from this up and coming star. Not fond of the Polyphonic Spree track. Just couldn't get into it. The other few highlights on this utterly bland and predictable cd is the tracks by Sarah Brightman, Sheila Chandra, Eva Cassidy, Dirty Vegas, and Cassandra Wilson. I so hope the folks at Virgin Records gets their heads out of the sand and start listening to REAL chill out music and put together a compilation that isn't the disappointment as "Celestial Celebration" turned out to be.

Nice, if bewildering.
Virgin has certainly gone out on a limb with its new Pure Moods Collection (by the way, WTF? "Pure Moods Celestial Celebration" sounds like the kind of tea you'd get at the local co-op). While most of the choices are certainly not unexpected and still a little mainstream for my taste, they are a little more left of the middle than the last collection.

There are some strange choices on here: "Building A Mystery (live)" is one of my favorite songs on the planet. I love it to death. But it just didn't quite blend with the rest of this mostly ambient disc. For the most part, this collection is lulling, comforting background music. "Here With Me" is, as always, pleasant, Moby's "Love Of Strings" proves that he's still got the touch, and the Dirty Vegas remix blew my mind away. (I cringed when I saw that "Days Go By" was on here. I hate hate HATE that song. The remix is actually very smooth and soulful, and not very techno-y at all.) The track that surprised me most, however, was Sarah Brightman's cover of "What A Wonderful World." Sarah's breathy voice combined with the simple, earnest lyrics created an almost CREEPY effect that sent shivers down my spine.

I only had two complaints--first, the slightly repetitive nature of the Pure Moods series. This is the second compilation that "Euphoria (Firefly)" has appeared on, and the THIRD time we've seen "Weather Storm." This irks me, because Delerium and Massive Attack both have tons of great songs that make wonderful mood music. Even if Virgin was determined to take the "predictable" route, they could have used Delerium's "Terra Firma" or "Duende," and Massive Attack's "Exchange" or "Angel."

As for the other issue I had with this compilation...Track 7. Ugh. Not a bad song, mind you, but a jarring note in an otherwise very mellow playlist. I was just winding down at the end of Polyphonic Spree's "Have A Day," dozing off, when suddenly my room was filled with a banshee wail. "AAAAMAAAAAAAAAADDDOO mio..." Perhaps if the tracks had been shuffled a little, and "Amdado Mio" had been the fiery first track, I would have been okay with it. As it stands, I skip the track every time I listen to the CD.

So, four stars out of five. Virgin is improving, and I look forward to Pure Moods VI--whatever they decide to call it. Probably Pure Moods Mellow Yellow, or Pure Moods Oolong, or somesuch toodles.

great!
a real nice musical change for Pure Moods - better artists than the last one and some great songs, well-known and more obscure. less new-agey. thumbs up ... Read more

Album Description

Liberation is the evolution of a musical journey started centuries ago. Producer/musician/composer Karsh Kale maps out the sonic terrain of Asian-American music for the 21st century. Kale's latest features his band, Realize and special guests Zakir Hussain, Bill Laswell and the Madras Chamber Orchestra.

Critical praise for Karsh Kale's Realize:

"Realize deftly weaves together variant eras and cultures - and that's what revolution is all about." -SF Weekly

"...sonically sumptuous." -Washington Post

"I found in Realize the emotional impact of music that can unite listeners - Eastern, Western, or somewhere in between." -San Francisco Bay Guardian ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Amazing... absolutely brilliant.
Karsh Kale is the AR Rahman of the Asian Massive movement. No composer out there has the versatility of Karsh Kale. Realize was itself an amazing album, but this album really tops expectations. While most Asian Massive is just really a blend of western-style techno with some Indian instruments, Karsh Kale manages to blend so many different styles of music into one fluid composition. He keeps intact a lot of Indianness and adds even more to it. In this album, it is the addition of the Madras Chamber Orchestra that makes every track particularly amazing. Overall, it is definitely an album for everyone to listen to, as invariably, everyone will find something to like about his compositions.

Picks of the album:
2) Instinct - A very atmospheric and moody piece that makes some lovely background.

4) Milan - My personal favorite. The piece is so beautifully composed that one cannot help but fall in love with individual phrasing.

10) Epic - A very nice closure to a wonderful album.
-Rishi J

Just to be perfectly out front . . .
. . . I bought this album because I mistakenly thought it was a disc by that all-time beach volleyball great, Karch Karaly, the only man to win a two-man beach volleyball tournament in his forties. Just kidding.

I do remember KK from his guest stint on Dave Douglas's Freak In. And I was impressed.

Admittedly, this disc is a little beyond my usual categories, so you, gentle judges, may be forgiven if I sound like I don't know what I'm talking about. In the end, I think I like it. Quite a bit, actually. It seems to be operating in musical territory not completely removed from world jazz, a musical area I do know something about: It maps an alien (though not incompatible) sensibility (neo-Indian classical) onto an emerging musical aesthetic--electronica/trance/global house(?!). I don't know, I may be way off here; that's just what it seems like to me.

It's all rather enjoyable, with some cuts working spectacularly ("Milan," which is, simply, just absolutely gorgeous, "Break of Dawn," which has that mysterioso Indian drone-thing happening all over it, and "Letting Go," another ravishingly beautiful number). The inclusion of the Madras Chamber Orchestra is a touch of genius.

Really, the more I listen to this, the more revelatory it seems. Do check it out.

Kale's best yet
Karsh Kale improves considerably with the release, showing a new and wonderful maturity both as a songwriter and a producer. His technique and ability as a musician have never been in question. This album sparkles with life and energy, effortlessly combining acoustic and electronic, ancient and futuristic. Very good.

Refreshing
Great fusion of eastern melody with western beats. Definitely an album to have if you are a fan of Talvin Singh, Medival Punditz and others in the same genre. Liberation is also best KK album to date.

Wow
It's the best cd!!, if you're a fan of the asian massive movement you must have it!!, Karsh Kale it's my favorite musician and I felt in love with his music when I heard it for the first time and that's why I have all his CD's.
All I can say it's that Karsh Kale's music takes you to another dimension... ... Read more

Reviews (2)

More accessable than "One Word Extinguisher"
When I first purchased Prefuse's first offering on the Warp label (which turned out to be a very pleasant surprise, as I was anticipating a sound more Warp-ish, that is before they began to dabble in hip-hoppery), I was floored by that amazing concoction of heavily-processed hip-hop samples and analogue synths. I found this sort of sound the perfect marriage between the grooves of hip-hop and the complexity of IDM (or whatever you feel like calling it). I was extraordinarily happy when I found out that Prefuse was releasing a follow up album. I was even more happy when I found out that he was coming through Atlanta on his CD release tour. Though the show was the best I had ever been too, and though I actually listened to many of the tracks before they were released, I found that I was somewhat dissapointed. I was expecting another "Vocal Studies," or, in other words, an offering where the clicking and processing of samples deferred to the driving hip-hop groove. Though this, in my opinion, was reversed in "One Word," "Extinguished" appears to carry on the more focused direction that was found in "Vocal Studies." In this album, which proclaims itself to be "Alternate Takes and Beats from One Word Extinguisher," the songs progress in a gloriously rump-shaking manner. There are absolutely amazing tracks which, fortunately for us, capture the direction of "Vocal Studies," the mania of "One Word," and the analogue playfulness of both. And the album, or EP rather, is just plain fun to listen to throughout. Again, I find this EP to be much more accessable than "One Word," and I will almost certainly be listening to "Extinguished" much more than I will "One Word." Prefuse 73, please keep up the good work.

Check this out
this album is a little different, it reminds me of 92 vs 02. its pretty much just instrumental. But prefuse is insane, he has some of the most creative beats put together. This album is done beautifully, that is why i say check it out. very intelligent cd, i dig prefuse 73. ... Read more

Album Description

Pure Chillout Moods is the very finest in laidback grooves!

All the biggest names in Chillout are here with Groove Armada, Nightmares On Wax, Smith & Mighty, LTJ Bukem and many, many more selected especially to relax your mind body and soul. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This latest installment in the Café del Mar series, designed to defray the effects of Ibizan-type madness (or usher some in), sees the del Mar folks weaving together their most mature, confident, and well-placed aural massage yet. Sometimes it rolls across the ears like a slow, steamy, romantic rubdown, as on Digby Jones's "Piña Colada (Jazz Mix)," and at other times it evokes deep sunrise spiritualism, as on Mari Boine's superb "Gula Gula (Chillumanti Mix)." There are even some poignant and melancholic pressure points, such as Hollywood fave Thomas Newman's haunting "Any Other Name" (last heard on the American Beauty soundtrack). Also seemingly bound for soundtrack inclusion is Dido's "Worthless," which overflows with piano-tinged, jazzy trip-hop flavor. Whether used as a chill-out album, a warm-up collection, a record to dine with, or a romantic backdrop, Café del Mar, Vol. 8 will find good use in most contemporary lifestyles. --Steffan Chirazi ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Another relaxing compilation!
It is the 8th compilation under the well-known name of Cafe Del Mar, a place on Ibiza Island where outstanding Dj - Jose Padilla - was giving once music sessions. The music on this compilation is as always chillout, meditative and moving. But this time there are several "buts" what made me ranking it as 4-star-album.

The 8th edition was compiled not by Jose Padilla but by other Djs, Peter Neville & Ben Cherrill. Well, I don't say they're bad Djs, but they didn't make an outstanding album anyway. The reason for this is here. All but one song are incredible, setting your mood to different heights. But only one by one. They don't make a whole piece of music as in previous compilations. Each part of the album (prologue, the middle and the end) are too overextended, lasting for 2-3 songs. Besides, the edge between these parts is very palpable what makes this CD like ordinary compilations of "easy-listening" music. With Jose Padilla music was floating very gradually from the very quite, meditative to even sometimes hard-beat, very rhythmic music.

A very pleasant presence here of Goldfrapp with their "Utopia", a thoughtful, mystic song. Thomas Newman's "Any Other Name" feels much like soundtrack music, with a scratch-like-noise sound what makes this track very warm and lovely. Afterlife presents us their "Sunrise" - great song for sitting on the beach with friends and looking on the moonlight in the sea. Dido with her "Worthless" surprises us with an unusual for us sound, which we can't hear on her "No Angel". Here the music is more alternative, with strong, enigmatic beats and vocals. Very interesting work! Mari Boine with her "Gula Gula" gives the album the most mystic, unforgettable touch. Mark de Clive-Lowe's "Day by Day" I'd skip. Ben Onono gives great French vocals with his sentimental "Tatouage Bleu". Illumination's "Cookie Raver" is perfect for dancing with friends in some club - great beats, mysterious floating sounds and disco-vocals. Digby Jones' "Pina Colada" is one of my personal fav here. It sounds like Soul Ballet, very measured, pretty-sounding, warm music. Scripture with their Apache gives an outstanding instrumental piece of music art! What a splendid work; ac. guitar, horns, choir-singing - all that makes this track to be the finishing on the album; unfortunately it's not. And Lamb comes with her "Gabriel". An interesting song, with great beats and background sounds albeit I don't like the vocals which are quite insignificant against a background of the music itself.

All in all, this album brings one more pleasant spending of time. The collection of songs is great, but repeating again, all of them are compiled very badly; sometimes you feel you'd put one or another song to a different position. That is unpleasant feeling what eventually led me to put this CD a 4-star rate.

Not good enough
Track 1-4: Volumen Ocho wants to set it off with some downtempo songs. These songs are so light (read boring) that I skip these first 4 songs everytime I listen to the CD. These song dosen't belong on a lounge CD.

Track 5: Mari Boine - Gula gula on the other hand is an excellent track, and really the only reason for buying this CD.

Track 6-11: The rest of the CD is more uptempo, but still lacks quality. A decent track is Digby Jones - Pina Colada, while Lamb - Gabriel is listenable.

All-in-all the Mari Boine song safes this CD from getting 1 star. This CD can hardly be called a lounge-CD, and resembles more the "Pure moods" and "No stress" compilations. For true lounge you would be much better off with an older Cafe del mar compilation (4-7) or try instead all Hotel Costes (especially vol. Quatre), Buddha Bar (II), Om Lounge (2,1,3), Thievery Corporation "The mirror conspiracy" or St. Germain "Tourist".

unique downtemp grooves
A year after buying Vol. 7 and Vol. 8, I still find myself spinning these grooves up. Timeless downtemp joy.

Getting worse
It seems the Cafe Del Mar series just gets worse. Aside from Goldfrapp's introductory track (mesmerizing), and a funky Digby Jones track, this CD does not impress. It has a nice variety of musical styles, which I can appreciate, but get the first few Cafe Del Mar CDs before this one.

NIce cover, disjointed content, not more than its parts
For some reason everyone has heard of the "Cafe Del Mar" series, and I'm convinced its as much the catchy series title as the quality of the work. It tends to be the love of public radio music shows also (see KCRW, Santa Monica, CA). Probably the label had a lucky ride on the early 1990s sudden penchant for lounge/ambient/chill etc. and the series was initially quite novel, but has since been overtaken.

The main problem is the jarring styles jammed on to this and the other disc, you have reggae, samba/latin, jazz, R&B, soul, trip hop, new age for goodness sake, the obligatory French female vocal (beloved of all chill) vying for your ear. The sum is not more than the parts here, if someone made you this compilation out of their music collection you might think it was Ok, but not to shell out serious bucks for. This particular compilation delves dangerously close to some new age soundtrack for meditation. For example, the famous Thomas Newman piano piece is a bad choice. The bane of a thousand movie soundtracks its very sad, and will make you weep into your pine colada. Then this is followed by a jolly summer day "Girl from Ipanema" style samba-acoustic guitar piece. Yikes.

Compare the genius of Thievery Corporation or Kruder and Dorfmeister for making something thematically unified, which just "sounds right", out of other people's songs. Here, however, you are painfully aware that, "now its time for the cool "French" vocal, now its time for the reggae one, etc."

Look, if it works for you fine ambient, pleasant enough for the beach, but its just not the transcendent experience all many reviews [make] it up to be. But I think the Cafe Del Mar series has worn out its welcome after the departure of uber chill meister Padilla.

There are much better choices out there, see anything by Thievery Corporation, K&D, Air etc. Oh and for summer beach listening, the more obscure "Cafe Ibiza," or anything by Costes. And it terms of value, see the Budda Bar series or Verve Remixed or any other two disc collections that give a lot of more value, and arguably a lot more of a consistent feel. ... Read more

Album Description

'Quixotic' is the eagerly awaited debut solo album fromMartina Topley Bird, Former muse & musical partner toTricky. An album that combines both contemporary &traditional sounds, breakbeats & trip hop fused with funked up jazz, vintage soul & laid-back blues. Featuresproduction work & collaborations from David Holmes, Tricky, David Arnold, Josh Homme & Mark Lanegan. Includes her debut single 'Need One'. Independiente. 2003. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

You really need this one
Undoubtedly magnificent and absolutely radiant. Quixotic speaks to the soul, resonating deep within you. it provides a journey of truely heart felt lyrics, elegance combined with a laid back trip-hop sound, subtle sultry soul, with a certain rock punch. Martina Topley Bird captivates her listeners with a voice that engrossers, her sensual innocence takes a hold of you and leaves you wanting more. Yes, her voice that you've heard sooo much about, words and descriptions really can't do it any justice, just trust us and listen to her for yourself. personal favourites: cruisey Soulfood that showcases her luxuriously smokey vocals, a slightly more charging and rocky Too Tough To Die, I absolutely love Lying, possibly my absolute favourite on the album, theres an effortless beauty that leaves a smile on my face and the deep full sounding llya. Quixotic is nothing but a beautiful offering from Martina Topley Bird. It hits you just where a perfect cd is suppose to. What i love is that Martina is humble and delicate while a power and strength is still behind her.

Brilliant.
The haunting songtress of Tricky's albums: Maxinquaye, Nearly God, Pre-Millenium, Angels With Dirty Faces and Ruff Guide finally steps out on her own. This album as highly anticipated by Tricky fanatics worldwide (including myself), and this album was very very satisfying. The tracks vary from chillout trip hop, to jazzy soul, to 'almost' rock, and she does not disappoint her fans. Certainly an album to have on your shelf. Independiente should make a US album, because Martina does have (new) fans here!

simply phenomenal.
at once sensual, atmospheric and moody, plus it is really hard to ignore the towering 'needone' and the black magic of 'lullaby'. martina is surrounded by good company -- david holmes, queens of stone age, tricky, among so many others -- and deservedly so for such a creative force. plus she is a fox to boot.
oh that voice, everyone exclaims.
except this time, please believe the hype. it woule be unlikely that many better CDs will be found this year.

I've no words! It's the best album I've recently heard!
When I first heard Martina backing Maxinquaye for Tricky I took to her voice much. Always thought it would be a good idea to make a solo album. Finally I own it. Can't stop listening to it for last two days! Superb material.

Simple Excellence!
I don't think it is possible to describe, with accuracy, exactly how fantastic this album is. THAT VOICE!!!! Incredible. Simply a must hear and a must have.

You won't be disappointed, this album is an essential. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sasha and his fellow turntable conspirators John Digweed and Paul Oakenfeld have been on impressive winning streaks since the mid- to late '90s, particularly with their increasingly popular and influential Global Underground series. This addition to the cycle, a live set recorded in the Spanish dance-music haven Ibiza, comes close to setting a new standard. Sasha is working solo here, and in addition to showing off his prodigious live mixing skills and inventive use of source material, he creates an undeniable identity for himself. Digweed accomplished the same thing with the masterful Bedrock, but where that record was elegantly light and airy, this one burns with a sharper, more manic energy. Throwing out resolute rhythms and melting house samples bathed in dreamy backdrops, Sasha cuts through dense structures and clever transitions with superhuman alacrity. It does take him a little while, as his use of trance-inducing repetition strays a bit while he establishes a groove on the first disc. Disc 2, however, simply tears into an incredibly danceable vibe. Mixing together melodic snippets and varying moods, from the dark trance of "Fibonacci Sequence" to the ecstatic release of "Xpander" (from his EP of the same name), Sasha mainlines rhythm and creativity through to a satisfyingly exhausted conclusion. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (130)

A breakthrough in electronic music, a masterpiece of DJing
People who may think that the raves of reviewers below ("Sasha is God") are over the top probably haven't heard this set. IBIZA is Sasha's finest body of work, a masterpiece, and a landmark in the history of techno music. Listening to the two CD's the listener is amazed by the incredible amount of talent Sasha has. No DJ in the world, even his customary parter John Digweed (who does come close), is as skillful as Sasha when it comes to mixing. Sasha manages to take an original work and improve it, give it a virtuoso structure, and leave it belonging to both the club floor and the personal stereo.

Disc 1 is a calm, relatively laid back set. Raff/Freddy - "Deep Progress" is a strong beginning that immediately creates a mood that persists through the entire first CD. "My Lexicon," by Dutch producer and DJ Sander Kleinenberg, shows Sasha cleverly organizing the song's bass and cymbals into the quintessential good house track. The following track, Orbital's "Nothing Left (Breeder remix)" is finer than any other remix of the ubiquitous track. The high point of the first disc is the mindblowing mixing from Stage One - Space Manouvers (Pariah remix)" into Sander Kleinenberg - "Sacred", an unforgettable display of ProTools wizardry.

Disc 2 is where Sasha's skills really shine. BT's "Fibonacci Sequence" shows that Sasha could weave ambient elements in and out of traditional trance. Cass and Slide's "Perception" is an extremely smooth and danceable track. But the two highlights of the second disc are Sasha's own "Xpander" and John Digweed's Bedrock project's "Heaven Scent/Lifeline." The version of "Xpander" on IBIZA surpasses either of the versions on the XPANDER EP, it's a complex and mercurial track that shows that Sasha can compose just as well as other trance producers and he can mix like no other. The remix of "Heaven Scent/Lifeline" transforms what was even originally an beautiful track into a clever and bangin' variation though ProTools editing.

This reviewer firmly feels that IBIZA is a masterpiece of not just electronic music, but of music, period. I would recommend that anyone with a pulse get this album.

ABSOLUTE CLASSIC
What an amazing double CD! Common opinion is that CD 2 is better than CD 1, but I disagree. CD 1 is a space shuttle flying through the galaxies of smooth, silky trance, seamlessly stitched by the super Sasha. From take off, with the groovy, ambling beats of Raff and Freddy's 'Deep Progress', this CD takes the listener on the aforementioned space flight, before touching Earth in a whirling crescendo with the beautiful 'Amber' by Natious. (And then you have CD 2)! Sasha really starts to escalate the set with Medway's pumping 'Baseline Track', but he's in no real hurry, keeping dancers calmly tripped out with Kleinenberg's cheese-free 'My Lexicon', and the ghosty vocals in the brilliant Breeder remix of 'Nothing Left'. When he storms into the bumpy 'Move!'(second best track on CD), there's no turning back. The top song of this CD follows, 'Talkin' by Intec Jimpy injects the listener with an energy that keeps your ears hooked and feet moving. Honorable mention for Sander Kleinenberg who makes his presence felt again with the sweet 'Sacred'. His NuBreed Cd is a MUST BUY if you enjoy this CD. CD 2 is excellent in its own right, but it relies on some definite crowd movers like the two BT tracks , Sasha's own 'Xpander'and THE definitive progressive anthem, Bedrock's 'Heaven Scent'. CD 2 is typical Sasha (i.e. DJing genius), but CD 1 highlights his ability to build a set from scratch. There's no question as to whether this CD should be part of your collection-question is how many times you will hear it over, bracing yourself for a different lesson in trance everytime.

whatever...
Geez... I got suckered into this one.
Relatively inexpensive way to make the mistake thou.
Not what I had hoped... maybe my idea of unbelievable trance sets must be different to the others here. Not a patch on Gatecrasher Black -The Late set. Thats my idea of good trance.
I really like Sasha's efforts with Northern Exposure...and a live set he did for Gatecrasher / Radio one... but this was far short of being, what I would describe as..."Timeless".
2 stars... coz I've heard worse.

It is 2004 and I am still listening to it
Since its release way back, Sasha's GU13 Ibiza has spun the world just a little bit faster. After so many years, and so many other CDs in my collection, Sasha's Ibiza has to be one of my favorite mixes. It is 2004 and I am still listening to it.

The best DJ compilation EVER- Hands down!
Alright, really people. This is the best DJ compilation that has ever been recorded. Really!!! I am not just saying this because i am some huge Sasha or trance fan. If you are looking for the best, then look no further. Sasha is not even my favorite DJ/artist, but this compilation is the smoothest mixed set I have ever heard. He takes mixing to a whole new level. I have owned this CD ever since it was released (years ago) and to this day I have never heard anything to top it. CD 2 is a collection of a few trance singles which are great and an awesome disc, but does not hold a candle to the deep, dark, groovy, smooth, rich, and full sound of CD 1. A perfect cd for in the car, or in the bedroom. Get this CD! ... Read more

Album Description

The world's most popular dance DJ meets the world's bestdance brand! Louie DeVito has established himself as aforce to be reckoned with in the dance world. Includestracks by Galleon, Weekend Players, Dannii Minogue, LunaMora and more. Slipcase. Ultra Records. 2003. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

A great Hit from yet again Louie DeVito!
Louie DeVito is definitely one of the best DJ's in the world. He usually picks spectacular music for his compilations. The first Cd starts out slow with Galleon "So I Begin", Jason Nevins "I'm In Heaven", Weekend Players "Into the Sun", but then gets up a beat or two with the 4th song called "Stuck, by Stacie Orrico, which is the Thunderpuss Mix remake. Then Louie DeVito plays the remix of Dannii Minogues "I Begin To Wonder", (Instrumentals copied from Dead Or Alive's "Spin Me Round".) BT "Simply Being Loved is a boring track here, but then Becky Baeling and Deborah COx start to come up and the cd begins to get more exciting. Milky "Just The Way You Are" is a track from 2001 so it brings the beat down a bit. The end of the cd is the best. Dana Rayne's "Object of My Desire !!!!!MY FAVORITE SONG OF THE YEAR SO FAR!!!!!!. QED "Love Bites", nice Valentin mix of it, and LIV~ Journey of Love. The second cd isn't that spectacular but it boasts some good club hits like Benni Benassi's "Satisfaction", Amuka's "Appreciate Me", Luna Mora's "Better Day" and Motorcycles "As The Rush COmes". I would recommend this cd to any Louie DeVito fan and any fan of dance music, both (Underground, Trance, and Mainstream Dance)

Louie DeVito's First Mixed CD For Ultra Is Excellent!
For the fourth installment of the ever so popular Ultra Dance compilations, New York D.J. Louie DeVito does the mixing honors. Known for his blending of popular house, electro and trance tunes, this 2-cd compilation is for those who like a nice mix of different styles of dance music. Disc One which is mostly house and trance, includes the popular "So I Begin" by Galleon, "I'm In Heaven" by Jason Nevins Presents Holly James, "Into The Sun" by Weekend Players, "Stuck" by Stacie Orrico, "I Begin To Wonder" by Dannii Minogue (this is a cool track that samples Dead or Alive's 80's Hi-Nrg Hit "You Spin Me Round..."), "Somnambulist" by BT, "Getaway" by Becky Baeling, "Play Your Part" by Deborah Cox, "Just The Way You Are" by Milky, "Object Of My Desire" by Dana Rayne, Qed's trance remake of Def Leppard's "Love Bites" and "Journey Of Love" by L.I.V. Disc Two is more progressive with a number of electro tracks including "Don't Laugh" by Winx, Benny Benassi's massive Kraftwerkish "Satisfaction", "Bucci Bug" by Andrea Doria, the electro "Appreciate Me" by Amuka, "Girlfriend" by Robbie Rivera, "Shake It" by Lee-Cabrera, "A Better Day" by Luna Mora, "The Hurting" by Mac Quayle Feat. Donna DeLory, "As The Rush Comes" by Motorcycle, ""Pressure" by Hatrixx, ""At Night" by Shakedown Feat. Terra Deva and "Be Free" by Lock And Burns. What separates this mixed cd from others I've heard is that DeVito remixes some of the songs himself and uses looping, phasing (flanging) and stutter effects to recreate how a creative disc jockey in a club would work these songs. The cd booklet, like all the Ultra Dance releases, has more attractive buxom ladies posing with Louie himself and by themselves. Just another reason to buy this excellent 2-cd set. Recommended!

Just Nice
A good amount of Club music never hurt anyone. Well except maybe Country artists. The Ultra Dance series continues it's apparently non-stop journey into the underground life of the weekend clubber. Track selection is good. However the unnatural shift sometimes from pure Club Remixes into House Remixes sometimes doesn't go very well. It's kinda odd to mix out from Deborah Cox into a very Joey Neigro sounding Housey groove. But Louie does get his point across at least.

the best ultra dance period
better than 1,2,3,and,5 put together
mixing good ,songs good well most of them anyway
1 of louie devito's best

Pretty decent CD
Okay, I've listened to the set a few times now.. and it's not that bad. In my opinion CD 1 is much better than #2. It's got a fair amount of "pop" type tunes but Louie does a pretty good job of threading them together. Yes it's kind of like a sugary dessert but I liked it. CD 1 really kicks in after the breakbeat after about the 3rd or 4th track.. then it's on overdrive.
CD #2 is just boring, imo. I don't know what happened there. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Unique, Enlightening, and Enjoyable
I purchased this album on a whim at my local college record store. I listened to the very first song and immediately knew I needed to get it. The vocals are entrancing and sound a little bit like Sarah Mclachlan with the music a mix between Hooverphonic and Tricky. However, I wouldn't even really consider it to be trip hop. There are so many layers to this album that it is really quite amazing. It is techno, trip hop, classical, and mainstream all blended into one sonic excursion of sound. Song one is one of if not the best on the album. It is simply superb. Song four is a little jazzy which is really fun to listen to (especially the vocals). Song five is an incredible love song, very moving. Other standouts include songs six, seven, and nine. But to be honest, there is not one bad track on here. I highly recommend this album if you would like to hear something refreshingly original, creative, and conducive to your listening pleasure. Nearly 5 stars.

The music of my dreams...
I bought this album on a whim because a friend told me that since I like the band Lamb, I should check Halou out. I'm so glad I did! This is one of the most amazing albums I own. Even if you're not a big fan of the electronic genre, you'll fall in love with Halou. The whole album sounds like a dreamlike sequence and each song is better than the last. "Milkdrunk" is probably my favorite track on the album, but it's hard to narrow it down! You should definitely add "Wiser" to your CD collection.

I remember
first hearing Halou on the Loop: Cut and Paste Groove Collection (1998) album and being totally enthralled by the ethereal "I'll Carry You". It sure enough did carry my spirit through some tough and wonderful times in my life.

I tried tirelessly for close to a year to find out more about Halou to no avail, thus I'm glad that Halou is more readily available now. Wiser has become a mainstay and staple in my collection the past few years. Halou is pure beauty and I'll always look forward to another album.

very pretty
Some of the prettiest music i've ever heard. Listen carefully, this cd will suck you in.

Exquisitely beautiful
I was totally unprepared for the talent of this local gem--richly orchestrated vocals, mellifluous and concordant rhythms, and not a track that's not worth listening to--let's be honest, pretty damn rare these days.

My favorite tracks, "Oceanwide" and "I'll Carry You" are written by the group, and have a tender sweetness and warmth than can be lacking in some of their peers (Cocteau Twins, Portishead, etc).

For full effect, try in a candlelit room with stereo surround sound...truly an ethereal experience. I can guarantee you won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Liquid, Melodic, Transcendental
So many great parts to this album, where do I begin?Shall I tell you about the rich dance-able groove of 'So Easy' or describe the melodic retro-astral quality to 'Eple', or even the sonic soul massage that is '40 Years Back/Come'.Or perhaps the surreal vocal track in Sparks, with just the right weight to hold your ear, and light enough to unburden your cares, would pique your interest.My favorite has to be 'Remind Me' hands down.It seemed to have it all.Great lyrics, simple yet pleasing melody, a rich bass line, and a very clean feel to it.You can sing to it, and it's quite memorable.The album is like Sunday on a disc and worth every penny. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When it comes to popular music, a proven formula is a safer bet than chancing something new. Apparently, such is the wisdom behind Conjure One, the new project spearheaded by Delerium and Front Line Assembly architect Rhys Fulber. As he did with Delerium, Fulber pairs guest vocalists of the mostly ethereal variety with gauzy ambient-tribal pop full of Eastern shadings and just enough chanting to maintain the spooky quotient. And when Fulber nails a vibe--as he does twice with singer Poe on the dreamy, goose-fleshy "Center of the Sun" and the downright chilling "Make a Wish," and with Tea Party belter Jeff Martin on the widescreen "Premonition"--he nails it, creating a haunted landscape best described as New Age-worldbeat. There are some clunkers here, too. Sinead O'Connor is thwarted by the leaden clichés littering "Tears from the Moon," and Israeli vocalist Chemda shamelessly borrows from the late, great Ofra Haza to negligible effect. But anyone who dug the Delerium project--or kindred spirits such as Dead Can Dance--will declare Conjure One a success. --Kim Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Not bad...It's growing on me.
I must admit that I was expecting nothing but the absolute best when I got this album. I've been a fan of Rhys Fulber, mostly through his Delerium work and some other projects. I guess I should have known better then to expect the deeper and darker textures and rhythms I have come to love in his work. Unforunetly, with this album, Rhys Fulber seems to be playing in the realm of pop somewhat. Don't get me wrong, this album is quite good...it's just moving in a direction that I'm not sure I want to follow...though it is growing on me. I was mostly disapointed with Sinead O'Connor's track: Tears From the Moon. The lyrics just don't seem to stick to the mood of the music...which uses far too many sappy sting hooks for my liking.

Not perfect, but I love it anyway
This album will definitely appeal to fans of Delerium's "Poem", people who appreciate haunting and beautiful female vocals mixed with Arabic-style techno music. I am such a person, so this album was definitely a hit with me. I am especially fond of Marie Claire's "Sleep" and the final some "Premonition", though I also thoroughly enjoyed Poe's contributions to this album. I appear to also be in the minority of those who liked the Sinead O'Connor song "Tears from the Moon".

I agree that Chemda's vocals are overused on the album. Her voice is lovely, but I think that sampling the same track over and over throughout the album was an obvious error. I also agree that the lyrics for the song "Manic Star" are damned silly.

"Grains of sand are all we are, crawling on our Manic Star. One tiny person in one shiny car..." The whole song makes absolutely no sense. A pity, too, as the song is well done and her vocals are exquisite.

Bottom line: I have played this c.d. almost every day since I bought it 2 weeks ago, and likely will continue to do so. The album is very addictive. For those who enjoy Delerium's last 3 albums, as well as Collide's "Chasing the Ghost", this is definitely a worthwhile album.

Boring. The other "half" of the Delerium duo goes solo
I really wanted to like this album. I enjoy most everything the pair (Leeb/Fulber) put out. From the angelic vocals to the darker heavy hitting trance pieces. From Delerium to Noise Unit....I really really wanted to enjoy this album and get into it like (clearly) all the other reviewers managed to.

The trouble with Conjure One wasn't that it was "slow" or "relaxing", but that it was b-o-r-i-n-g. Don't get me wrong, I like Kitaro and Vangelis and other airy works, but the tracks on this CD just seemed to drag on and on.

And I haven't even begun to talk about the lyrics. I think it is Bill Leeb that writes most of the lyrics for the Delerium tracks. The Delerium tracks have darker, or at least more mysterious, undertones to them. There's complexity. And they don't always rhyme A-B A-B. This CD is overflowing with cheap (kindergarten level) rhymes and flat lyrics. The angelic voices are good, but do your best to tune out the lyrics or suffer having the track ruined.

I hope Fulber puts out another album, for I would surely purchase it and give it a shot (this being his first solo, really). However, I would have to recommend against wasting your time and money on this one.

Rhys fans, this is what you've been waiting for...
This album simply must be picked up by anyone whose a fan of Rhys from Front Line Assembly or Delerium. Musical elements here are probably closer linked to present day Delerium works. I love all Delerium works, and all Front Line Assembly, and I love it. I bought it for my friend whose a big Delerium Karm/Poem era fan and she loved it. I think you will too.

A truly great CD
As a subscriber to Radioio.com, one day I heard a fantastic remix of Conjure One's "Tears From The Moon" on the Beat channel. I had to have it. After some research on Cduniverse.com, I found this album on amazon (slightly cheaper). This CD has two disks. The first has all of the tracks listed above. The second CD has 4 remixes, each (about) 10 minutes long.
DISC 2: BONUS DISC:
1. Tears From The Moon - (Hybrid's twisted on the terrace mix)
2. Redemption - (Max Graham's dead sea mix)
3. Sleep - (Ian Van Dahl mix)
4. Tears From The Moon - (Robbie Rivera mix)

The Hybrid remix is particularly outstanding, and was the reason why I bought the CD. The other remixes are pretty good too, but the Hybrid stands out.

As for disk #1 with the original songs: They are all very good. Atmospheric Middle-Eastern sounds is how to best describe it. If you liked Sting's "Desert Rose," then add a bit more syth and expand the accented singing and unique instruments, and you have a basic idea of this cd's sound. If you go to cduniverse, you can hear samples from all the tracks on both disks. ... Read more

Album Details

Bonus dvd is Pal format, Region code 0 ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Listeners Love it!
This disc is fun. As a non corporate radio DJ, I can only write from experience; the phone rings off the hook when I play it.I find it musically, intellectually , and even spiritually fun.Any kind of statistically interested person will enjoy the almost cheeky delivery ofThe Facts of Life.Sure like every full length recording, there are definitely the hits like Facts...., Underwear...(wherein we are blessed w/ a stream of genius from Greg Giraldo), or We Only Read the Headlines, but nay alame duck in the whole thing. The rhythms and bass lines are catchy and create an over all "feel good" collaboration.The kind of music you wann'a clean your house to...Or...create the next big revolution.Think in similar lines with Chumbawamba's Ready Mades and then Some... only THEY don't have Giraldo's brilliance. ~Peace

Food for a Lazymind
An album full of spoken thoughts and facts can seem unappealing for most music lovers.But dive into this one!... it's full of pleasant surprises and musical flair.Uplifting, insightful, funny, and entertaining.It's food for your lazy mind with a pretty powerful message in "Underwear Goes Inside the Pants": don't judge.Give the songs a few play-throughs and you'll find how addicting this album can be.

An original
This album is reminiscent of Baz Luhrman's Graduation Song. What separates it is the album's political undertones. Made even more obvious by the music videos included in the bonus DVD. Yet despite the inherent politicizing of the music, the message remains a positive one: let's celebrate our differences. The one surprise, however, is that this CD is brought to us by the same guys from Aqua. All in all, a good investment even if you're not a fan of electronica or dub.

Yes for underwear, "eh" for the rest of it...
Yes, Underwear Goes Inside the Pants is a lovely small standup routine, vulgar but in a hilarious sort of way. The remainder of the album doesn't quite measure up, although the couple of "factoid chants" ("Are You Qualified?" and "Desiderata") are fun in a diverting sort of way.

This assemblage (album may dignify it a bit much) is fun the listen to once, but there isn't any real substance to the musical bits and some of the songs are quite tedious twice. Although there is no outright PMRC-offending swearing, the subject matter is not suitable for children of all ages. It's an adult disc (which will bore your children to tears, frankly). There is also an included DVD with four music videos (Underwear is one), but I haven't popped it into a player to see what I guess I'm missing.

Download the underwear song, the rest is forgettable.

Just download the only good song and save your money...
I'm glad I downloaded the songs off of iTunes instead of buying the entire CD..it gave me a chance to see that purchasing the album would have been a waste.

If you've heard "Underwear Goes Inside the Pants" on the radio or elsewhere and are expecting an album full of the same stuff, you will be disappointed.The other "songs"focus more on electronica, and the sampling is just cheesy, not entertaining.

Go see Greg Giraldo perform....he's the comedian sampled in "Underwear", and he does not appear elsewhere on the album.The rest of the musings are boring and not worth the money. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Weaving electroclash and Euro-sleaze through a strong set of tech-pop, Miss Kittin continues to evolve on I Com. Kittin is still known primarily for the campy, droll persona she perfected while collaborating with the Hacker (First Album), and especially Felix Da Housecat (Kittenz and Thee Glitz). But she brings more to the table than just a talent for irony; her 2003 mix record Radio Caroline 1 showed off an impressive authority in the studio. I Com shows the same ear for production, and makes an admirable effort to stretch, pushing songs forward with an aggressive futurism. The formula results in songs like "Dub About Me," which uses patient, Massive Attack-like development and a rude chunk of electric noise to induce a brooding hypnosis. It’s a cerebral record, but Kittin herself is such a natural tease you hardly care how much skill is involved: you’d rather grab a French-to-English dictionary to find out what salacious bits you can translate on songs like "3eme Sexe." Sophisticated and incorrigible, I Com's detached sensuality is tough to resist. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A Collection of Singles
Warning: If you are expecting this album to sound like "Miss Kittin & The Hacker, Volume 2," then prepare to be disappointed. "I Com" is much tougher and rocks much harder, with electric guitars and a more pop music sound. Unfortunately, with this album, the transition from "collaborator" to "solo artist" has proven to be a difficult one for Miss Kittin. Owing to a multitude of collaborators and producers, this album has a very choppy, confused sound, incorporating elements of pop music, electroclash, and hip-hop. On some of the more pop-oriented tracks (Professional Distortion, Happy Violentine, Meet Sue Be She), Miss Kittin sings (she has a fair though unremarkable singing voice). On other tracks (Allergic, Soundtrack of Now, I Come.com), she speaks in the icy cool electroclash persona she perfected with The Hacker. On one track (Requiem for a Hit) she attempts hip-hop in a collaboration with L.A. Williams. One track is not even performed by Miss Kittin. "3eme Sexe," one of the best songs on the album, is performed by the French band Indochine. Although a great song, one wonders what it is doing on an album by Miss Kittin. Taken individually, these songs are great on their own, but collectively they give the impression that Miss Kittin has not yet found her own voice as a solo artist. "I Com" is not a complete miss though, it is rather like an interesting experiment. Excluding "Requiem for a Hit," the remaining songs are very good. A must-have for any Miss Kittin fan, this album proves that Caroline Herve continues to evolve and mature as an artist.

Utter Nonsense?!?!!?
I don't know why people are saying her lyrics don't make sense. A lot of them seem to be about her life on the road and getting drained by all these strangers and there expectations of who and what she is supposed to be as both a musician and a person. Sure "requiem" is nonsensical but sometimes dance music has to be vacuous to be enjoyable. Take a break from yourself and listen to an artist evolving.

Dazzle me
Miss Kitten is a busybody from France. She is a DJ and singer. She did a record with The Hacker, which was one of the first Electroclash records. Everyone knows that song "Frank Sinatra." This her first solo record that also has a lot of people showing up here. Miss Kitten does a lot of talking over these songs in her deadpan style. She is not repeating the now clichés of Electroclash. "Requiem For A Hit" goes from fast rock to R&B. The changes in speed are very unique. She covers a lot of styles, like punk rock in "Meet Sue Be She," minimal techno in "Soundtrack Of Now," and more ambient sounds. This is a must have for electronic music in 2004. Miss Kitten is a cool French chick that wishes she was from Berlin.

Miss Kittin :: I-Com (2004) 3 and half stars
1.Professional Distortion - This is a great song, it's wicked, and would fit perfectly into the cd players of the guys with massive speakers in their cars. It's loud, funky, and the beat is one of the best i've ever heard. Cooly, funny lyrics, too. THey don't make sense. Gets boring quickly. 9/10
2.Requiem for a Hit - This song is sooo good! At first i hated it, but it really grew on me with its incredibly simple beat, and that synth that just pumps all the way through. It gets even better when Miss Kittin starts singing too. 7.5/10
3.Meet Sue Be She - Kind of annoying, an obvious filler track. Miss kittin's voice makes me laugh again, and the lyrics are woeful. But its a good song to jump around to. Pretty catchy though. 7/10
4.Happy Violentine - A bit of a long track, but well worth the time for the experience. When i first heard it i was taken aback by Miss Kittin's songwriting talent, almost flabbergasted. It gets even better when all the synths, pianos, and singing all manage to wind together nicely in the end. 9/10
5.Allergic - This song is cute and fun, it's quite wierd, it's very quiet and trance-like, but still has a fast beat. It's unusual to the ears, but its still an above average listen. 8/10
6.Kiss Factory - Easily, the worst track on the album, another filler. It doesnt make sense and its very annoying and generic. I guess one could call it catchy, but i could never stand it, even with 5+ listens. Turn it off please. 4/10
7.Clone Me - The best track on the album. It's got an awesome, synth paced throughout the entire song, like Requiem for a hit, and is very danceable. Catchy beat and tune, i love it. The lyrics, like the lyrics in most of the album, are nonsensical, but you forget about them quickly. Great chorus - "Hello Kittin you came to play, Hello Kittin you look strange today..." 9.5/10
8.I Come.com - Lyrics are utter nonsense. The whispering at the beginning is kind of annoying, but once the rhythmic singing comes in halfway through, it gets very, very good. And the way she distorts her voice is great, too. 8.5/10
9.Soundtrack of Now - The only song on the album featuring The Hacker, and thank god. This song is so annoying and is incredibly uncreative. It's a bit of a joke on this album, and its about time Kittin dropped The Hacker once and for all. Worse song on the album. 2.5/10
10.Neukolin - This is really just an experiment in music. It makes no sense, and the only lyrics are a few words in german. It's very synthy and not pleasant to listen to. It's an experience. 6.5/10
11.Dub About Me - Another slow, long song, but not as good as Happy Violentine. It's still very good and makes you think. It could do without the heavy, jarring synth that comes through every now and then. 7.5/10
12.3eme Sexe - BEST SONG EVER! This song sums up the album perfectly. It's a beautiful french ballad, with a hint of electronica. If there's one song you need to listen to, it's this one. Beautiful chorus, beautiful music. Leaves you with good impressions of the album. A perfect 10/10.

Basically the sum of its parts
When I heard Miss Kittin was going to be launching her solo album without the production help of the Hacker or Golden Boy (with whom she's released one album each, plus a few singles), I was skeptical to say the least. Considering the last time I heard a DJ set by her, she spent a lot of the time vocalizing like a bad haunted house effects box or ghost cat, I had little faith in how she would pull it together for a full length.

The album is scattered, with varied results. Some tracks are electroclash rockers like "Meet Sue Be She" and "Professional Distortion," although the lyrics are so awful that it really detracts from what is otherwise pretty decent music. It is refreshing that she isn't completely relying on her "I'm bored, I'm bored" schtick that brought her attention originally, with tracks on which she sings quite well as well as more aggressive vocals (a la T.Raumschmiere's "The Game Is Not Over").

All this considered, I suppose it's no great surprise that the best songs are produced by the Hacker and Smash TV. "Soundtrack of Now" is light on the vocals and heavy on the stiff, 4 to the floor sound that characterized the duo's album on Gigolo. "Dub About Me" is a dub reworking of Smash TV's "What About Me" (from their outstanding 2002 album "Electrified," on BPitch Control) with floating vocals by Miss Kittin as well as the original vocoded vocals from Smash TV.

While the album is a bit uneven, honestly it's better than I had expected. Miss Kittin is more of an artist than her image tends to let on, and she has proven capable of assembling a reasonable set of tracks. The genre-hopping doesn't always work, but it's never dull. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

San Francisco's DJ Cheb i Sabbah bends and twists Hindustani ragas into the modern world of sequencing and sampling for an intriguing snapshot of ancient India seen through modern eyes--fascinating for both its incredible musical artistry and beautiful Hindu spiritualism. Plucking the sounds of drone, sitar, tabla, vocal, and other instrumentation from classic Indian recordings, DJ Cheb opens the modern universe of ambient and dance music through the gates of traditional masters, creating one of the most innovative albums of 1999. --Karen K. Hugg ... Read more

Reviews (35)

It moved me to tears
I'm a fan of both classic Hindu music and Dance music, so when I saw this CD in the record store, I had to pick it up. When I got it home and played it, I was overwhelmed-the first track, Shri Durga, moved me to tears the first time I heard it. It's not often music has this effect on me, but when I closed my eyes and listened, it was as if I was taken away to a sensuous paradise...excellent! Buy this just for the first track alone! However, the rest of the album was very well put together-I liked the classic chants mixed in with the DJ beats-it's danceable without being silly or bubblegum-ish. Actually, I feel more comfortable sitting and meditating or working on my art to this recording than dancing-it moves my heart and spirit much more than my body! Get it NOW!

what an interesting combination
I'm not very familiar with Indian music, but this CD sounds very authentic to me. The DJ writes sincere liner notes explaining that he is trying to perserve the sanctity of the Indian music while bringing in modern touches. Don't worry -- it's not a pulsing techno-beat kind of CD. It sounds much more traditional. I love the combination of instruments and the blend of voices. I've only listened to it once so far, but it's very captivating music. My ear is getting accustomed to it still. I've been really happy with all the 6 degree traveller CD's I've found so far. This should prove even better upon repeated listening.

"Everything is closer than you think."
Rhythm, earthy and deep.. vocals, soaring in wordless praise.. a musical approach that blends different traditions into a beautifully seamless whole. I'm a complete neophyte when it comes to the various musical traditions of Indian culture, so I'm sure I don't even understand the extent of what DJ Sabbah has done here. I just know that Shri Durga is as accessible as it is faithfully traditional, and as hypnotic as it is organic. As you've probably read by now, it's something of a blend of classical ragas, performed by a cast of Hindu and Muslim musicians, with an element of modern techno.. but very light on the techno. If you want a helping of raga and tala suitable for the club dance floor, try Maha Maya (Cheb's mix-oriented followup to this) or anything by Talvin Singh or Tabla Beat Science. This disc is for relaxing, for sleeping, for meditating or just quietly chilling out.

The element of electronica is not always even noticeable - "Kese Kese"'s slight touch of mixology could just as easily be mistaken for handclaps in the background. "Maheshvara Yogi" is ten minutes of hypnotic meditation, its vocal chants easily gliding through space with all the time in the world to spare, without any techno accompaniment at all. Then, right away, "Ganga Dev" and "Radhe Krishna" provide some of the most propulsive beats on the disc (though still not overriding the primal earthy rhythm that forms the basis of all the music in the first place). The entire offering is a marvelous buffet of reverent chants in the classic tradition, while the techno element is never more than a subtle seasoning. Cheb's mixing contribution isn't limited to the subdued beats either: he samples Muslim prayers, "mantric ambiances" from India, and various public chants and rituals to join with his own compositions.

Looking for an exotic/calming listening experience? You can't go wrong with either of DJ Cheb i Sabbah's 'regular' albums. Between this and Krishna Lila, I can't even pick a favorite. Want to get up and shake something? Then pick Maha Maya to start. They're all full of beauty well worth hearing, and as foreign as this whole style may sound, there's something immediate about it that makes it accessible to anyone with open ears. Everything is closer than you think.

Don't believe the hype....
I have many "Ethno-Techno" albums and this is not one of the best ones. Maybe "D.J" stands for "Doesn't Jam", because the until the 5th track (and there are only 7) the DJ doesn't show up. The fusion of Indian and electronica is done much better on many more albums. If you have Joi, Midival Punditz, Tabla Beat Science, Badmarsh & Shri, Karsh Kale (try Redesign)or others, than don't count on this album delivering the same. Do your self a favor, pick up any one of those artists mentioned first before you buy this.

Psychedelic yogis
Really respectful remixes of traditional performances. There are even sound bites of local color. Each listen reawakens my wonder of India, its steadfast traditional life and religious practices. It's very low-key though -- don't expect the fast, western-influenced stuff you might find on "Spirit of India" or "Karma Collection." ... Read more