alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.lounge: March 2008

Chill Out in Paris by Buddha Bar

Volumes 2, 4 , 5, 6 & 7 (2008) mp3 vbr.

Huong Thanh & Nguyên Lê - Fragile Beauty (2008)

Fragile Beauty isn't the first time that singer Huong Thanh and guitarist Nguyên Lê—both Vietnamese-born, Paris-based—have worked together, but it is the first time they've shared the bill. Thanh has released three other ACT albums on which Lê produced, arranged and performed, and she's appeared on two of Lê's own discs—Maghreb & Friends (ACT, 1998) and the particularly stunning Tales from Viêt-Nam (ACT, 1997). Every one of these albums leads inevitably to Fragile Beauty, an album largely consisting of thoughtfully arranged traditional songs, but with some newly written material that sounds both as timeless and contemporary as the Vietnamese material Lê has arranged.

Call it world music, world jazz or whatever label needs to be applied to give it context; the title of Fragile Beauty says it all. While there are songs propelled forward by a wealth of percussion—and, on “The Swallows' Bridge,” by Karim Ziad's drum kit, which kicks in half-way through, locking in tightly with bassist Etienne Mbappé for a groove more Afrobeat than Oriental—there's a pervasive sense of delicacy and spare beauty. Despite the cultural source of the material, the preponderance of percussion instruments from around the globe, electric guitars, programming and sampling make this music of a global nature, with sophisticated harmonic elements pulled from (but not in) the jazz tradition, some of Lê's textures fusion- like (but his playing rarely approaching it) and guest trumpeter/flugenhornist Paolo Fresu's harmonized playing on “Swallows' Bridge” referencing Nu Jazz without actually being it.

1. (00:03:48) Huong Thanh & Nguyen Le - Drifting on the Water
2. (00:05:58) Huong Thanh & Nguyen Le - Weaving && Awaiting
3. (00:03:40) Huong Thanh & Nguyen Le - Faithfulness
4. (00:04:22) Huong Thanh & Nguyen Le - Plantation Song
5. (00:05:04) Huong Thanh & Nguyen Le - The Five Calls of the Night
6. (00:05:13) Huong Thanh & Nguyen Le - Fragile Beauty
7. (00:03:18) Huong Thanh & Nguyen Le - Rowing the Sampan
8. (00:04:55) Huong Thanh & Nguyen Le - The Pavilion of Cristallized Azure
9. (00:04:19) Huong Thanh & Nguyen Le - At Dusk, from the West Balcony
10. (00:03:58) Huong Thanh & Nguyen Le - Go Cong Blues
11. (00:06:23) Huong Thanh & Nguyen Le - The Swallow'S Bridge
12. (00:07:19) Huong Thanh & Nguyen Le - Tales of the Mountain

Playing Time.........: 00:58:16
Total Size...........: 95,42 MB

Adani & Wolf - Les Seigneurs (2005)

1. (00:00:46) Adani & Wolf - Les Seigneurs Sont Arrives
2. (00:05:34) Adani & Wolf - Daylight (Ft Ernest Ranglin)
3. (00:07:22) Adani & Wolf - Onto the Light (Ft Neobe)
4. (00:05:18) Adani & Wolf - So Sensual
5. (00:05:48) Adani & Wolf - People Gotto Move
6. (00:05:14) Adani & Wolf - Le Sheikh Noir
7. (00:04:19) Adani & Wolf - Wings of Santa Lucia
8. (00:06:56) Adani & Wolf - Where Would I Be (Sem Seu Amor
9. (00:04:59) Adani & Wolf - Sensing Some Kind of Presence
10. (00:00:31) Adani & Wolf - Les Seigneurs (Meanwhile...)
11. (00:05:12) Adani & Wolf - Look Around (Ft Billie Godfrey
12. (00:05:02) Adani & Wolf - Yesterday's Shadow (Ft Miss Bu
13. (00:04:24) Adani & Wolf - The Sign and the Seal
14. (00:06:23) Adani & Wolf - Mist of Dreams (Ft Praful)
15. (00:05:45) Adani & Wolf - Les Seigneurs (Theme)

Playing Time.........: 01:13:33
Total Size...........: 107,59 MB

Producers Adani and Wolf have created some exceptionallly delicious chill-out
music that have more than just the monotonous basslines and tripped out
vocals...these guys have blended jazz with elements of funk, r&b and world
grooves to create a tapestry of music not done successfully by most artist of
the "chill out" genre. More than likely these two will go unnoticed by the
masses, but they are deserving to be in the echelon with other well-known
duos like Kruder and Dorfmeister, Fila Brazillia and The Verbrilli Sound. Highly
Recommended!!!! See also Praful.

The cause is one well-worthy of support, as Amnesty International celebrates 40 years. And the music here is set to appeal to what is probably the organization's core following: the baby boomers. The music has a hip edge, mixing electronica and world music, especially on the first disc, without being overpowering or threatening; sometimes, in fact, it seems more like the soundtrack for a meal at a fashionable restaurant rather than music for serious listening (to be fair, it is called Peace). However, the final five tracks on disc one have some real meat, beginning with Nitin Sawhney's take on the Asian underground. Egyptian star Amr Diab brings new flavors in with his sha'bi style, and Mo'Horizons turns on the Latin beat before semi-classical diva Sarah Brightman chills it out with some Rachmaninov. Disc two, which is "blended and mixed by Frank Nigel," is more upbeat, but ends up being even more anonymous (and at times extremely annoying, like the stuttering repeated beat on "Thierr Mi Ti Ai"). In part that's because it falls between two stools. It's not music for the chill-out room, intended to be calming and soothing, but neither is it really meant for the dancefloor, so nothing's booming and banging. Most dance music -- and it's certainly true of the majority of the 13 tracks here -- isn't made for listening. There are exceptions, like Dorjee's "Mantra Chanting," which brings in Tuvan throat singing to help satisfyingly fill out the bones of the track. Overall, it's a mixed bag, a little too smooth and slick to be completely musically successful -- although, perhaps ironically, its very smoothness will help it find its audience. And, the bottom line remains the fact that the cause is good. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide

Club Bangahs - Headless (2007)

Club Bangahs teach you black music history while incorporating moods and topics of HipHop, Jazz, Soul, Earth Wind and Fire, Funk… an incredibly entertaining mixture of good grooves and atmospheres! Representing compository structures of “Modal Jazz” the composers - namely Marc Steinmeier and Michael “!BAZZ” Jackson - make a tribute to Miles Davis and you also experience the flute sound of Eric Dolphy - supposed to be the first “chill sound” composer.
Another inspiration for the kind of experimental way of dealing with many different roots is the sound of the Stacks and Motown Flavour. Contrary to the basic sources the Club Bangahs bring together what you never heard in this context: Black Music with experimental electronics and mad ideas. Marc Steinmeier is the musical composer. He worked and remixed for great Musicians as Eminem, LL Cool J, Christina Aguilera, Jungle Brothers and many more. He had been remarkable successful with Nuclear Hyde which got one of the big names concerning trance music in the nineties. And he is still a pioneer of music and has constantly developed unique and fresh styles, creating new standards all the time.
Michael “!BAZZ” Jackson is a passionate songwriter, composer and vocalist, a workaholic and really talented man which is rushing towards his dreams. His voice and lyrics perfectly fit together with Marc’s compositions and after 2 years of development and hard work they present their debut album "Headless" on Mole Listening Pearls Featuring the voices from Moe Mitchel, Leverne, Jean Buljaba, Nele, Benjie and Danny D. this seems like a great collaboration of music and people.

A female editor from one of the leading German radio stations said after listening to the album: "Surprisingly different and fresh interpretation of what was formerly known as “black music”!

By the way: Michael “!BAZZ” Jackson and Marc Steinmeier are also running their own HipHop label in Hannover (Germany) called "

Gimme Mo´ Records".

Discography: 2007:

Headless (mole076-2) CD, mp3 Say No (mole055-8) mp3

Audio Interview: 2007: Cub Bangahs - Headless

Koom.H - Koom.H (2007)

1. (00:04:20) Koom H - Rain
2. (00:06:17) Koom H - Song For Mozambique+
3. (00:06:25) Koom H - Mr. Cool
4. (00:05:10) Koom H - Ghost In Paradise
5. (00:04:36) Koom H - Come To Me+
6. (00:07:57) Koom H - Home
7. (00:05:56) Koom H - Move Yor Funk Take 2
8. (00:07:25) Koom H - Estate+
9. (00:04:55) Koom H - Don Vito Corleone
10. (00:05:04) Koom H - Just For A While
11. (00:06:33) Koom H - Rain - The Dining Room Rework
Playing Time: 01:04:38
Total Size: 74,31 MB

Koom.H is a Sicilian project manned by DJ's Salvo Borrelli and Massimo Napoli,
resident DJ at Mercati Generali in Catania, with die-hard producer Salvo Dub.
Working together, they unify their different musical origins giving life to an
original sort of techno-jazz style. Their debut album opens with "Rain", an
intense tune with deep atmospheres. A jazz trumpet mute converse with a
classic piano, although almost in contrast. The same melancholic feeling
starting the album resurfaces in the last track, which is a rework by The
Dining Room of the same song "Rain" where the beat is more marked by the
drum. The second tune is a cover of an Archie Shepp composition. The style
is nearly lounge and could be associated to those collections of jazz classics
remixed by contemporary producers. The third track "Mr. Cool" just displays
how detailed the production is on this album. It is a thumping funky bass that
trespasses the tune from cool ambient into acid jazz. It is almost visible the
scene of Mr. Cool attending a party in France's Cote d'Azure at sunset.
"Ghost In Paradise" starts with a jazz drum kick but sound effects and piano
chords make it quite cinematic. It could be a spy movie chase-up in the
streets of Paris, on the contrary the title suggests rather different moods:
the ethereal and spiritualistic ambience of a ghost going around in paradise.
"Come to Me" is the fifth track of the album reaching the peak of yearning as
represented. Ambient meets jazz courtesy of the touch Marco Bianchi on
piano but also from the emphasis in the singing style. The rhythmic texture is
remarkably interesting as highlighted by percussions and bass. The following
track "Home" was written with Stefano Ghittoni (The Dining Rooms/Double
Beat) and is a piece of bastard jazz mixing together Detroit techno, batucada
flavours and epic drum solos. Their first single "Move your funk" is track 7 in
the album; a tune based on their Afro and soul background with influences
from funk and breakbeat to spiritual voices. "Estate" is a tune that spreads all
the heath of the season to which is dedicated. The feeling is relaxed. It's a
track inviting imaginary moods where sound effects transcend, from the
skilful touch of Paolo Fedreghini. "Don Vito Corleone" is a piece paying
homage to a hugely popular, Sicilian character of literature and cinema. "Just
for a while" is the second last track in the album, before The Dining Rooms'
re-work of "Rain". Jazz colours melt into resonances that virtually recall
Trip-Hop, a trumpet solo transcends remarkably but delicately.

Windows Musique

Buddha-Bar presents Living Theater 1, 2 & 3

Living Theater 1, 3

Living Theater 2 (flac)

Claude Challe (12 albums)

Claude Challe (born in 1945 in Tunisia) is a French DJ and club impressario of Tunisian descent. He is perhaps best known as the founder of Buddha Bar.
Aged three years, Claude Challe arrived in France. Growing up with a potent fascination with Asian mysticism and a deep respect for ancient cultures, Challe attended Rabbinical school and studied Judaism as a young man.
Challe's manual dexterity as a DJ was foreshadowed in his youth, when at the age of 19, he opened a forward-thinking hair salon in Paris, for which he quickly became known as "the man with the golden scissors." As Parisian jet-setters flocked to his door, Challe abandoned the salon and lived-out a hippy dream as part of a tribe in Sardinia, Italy.
Soon thereafter, Challe travelled to India, Nepal and Indonesia. He reportedly tries to combine Occidental elements with spiritual elements in his music.
Challe returned home to France and was introduced to the sounds of New Age musicians Andreas Vollenweider and Ennio Morricone. He soon became addicted to the country's burgeoning nightlife.
Challe managed a series of France's most famed hotspots, including Le Prive in 1974; Le Centre Ville in fashionable Les Halles(1979); Les Bains-Douches (1984); El Divino in Ibiza (1992); and - perhaps most notably - Buddha Bar in 1996.
The chic restaurant / club became a popular destination for Europe's most glamorous people and it was subsequently the inspiration for Challe's immensely successful Buddha Bar mix compilations.
Challe went on to enjoy success with huge events such as the "Reveillon de Mondes" event for 50 000 people, held at Vincennes and produced in conjunction with Radio Nova.
By 1996, Challe launched the record label Chall'o Music. Challe has been quoted as saying, "I consider the art of DJ-ing to be the passion of life. When I'm DJ-ing, I give myself to the people. When I play, I'm in the music."
Today, Claude Challe's DJ booth comprises three Technics SL-1200 series turntables; four Denon dual-drive CD players or two Pioneer CDJ-1000 digital decks; and either a Rane or an Allen & Heath mixer.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Challe"

1. [1996] Les Bains Douches
2. [1997] Lover Dose
3. [1998] Flying Carpet
4. [2001] Sun
5. [2001] Karmix (Kuon Ganjo)
6. [2003] Claude Challe - Je Nous Aime
7. [2003] Happiness
8. [2003] Near Eastern Lounge
9. [2004] Emmanuelle
10. [2005] The Best of Claude Challe
11. [2006] Magic Marrakech
12. [2006] Just Good Music (Jean Marc Challe)

Govinda - Sound Sutras 2007

Little People

Mickey Mouse Operations (2005)

Lemon Jelly

'64 '95 (2005)
NZB
last.fm

Lost Horizons (2002)

NZB
last.fm

Beady Belle

Home (2001)
NZB
last.fm

Cewbeagappic (2003)
NZB
last.fm

Closer (2005)
NZB
last.fm

Siddharta (Spirit of Buddha Bar) Vol. 1, 2 & 3

NZB

This album, if you're into the whole ethnic lounge series typified by the excellent Buddha Bar series, is right up there with the very best that the genre has to offer. CD1 is virtually perfect, with just the right blend of new-age beats, great melodies and varying tempo. CD2 is, as to form, more dance-oriented, but Ravin keeps the mood going in a way that I haven't seen since early Buddha Bar albums. (G. Ranasinha)

Alphawezen - Comme Vous Voulez (2007)

NZB

Last.fm

1. (00:03:43) Alphawezen - Green Eyes
2. (00:03:15) Alphawezen - Gun Song
3. (00:06:57) Alphawezen - Fim3 (Brigitte Bardot)
4. (00:04:49) Alphawezen - Days
5. (00:05:15) Alphawezen - Freeze
6. (00:03:38) Alphawezen - Out Of Sight
7. (00:03:27) Alphawezen - Me Optimized
8. (00:06:30) Alphawezen - Road Movie 1
9. (00:06:17) Alphawezen - Deja Vu (Vocal Version)
10. (00:01:40) Alphawezen - Rootstrackers
11. (00:04:27) Alphawezen - Heimat.de
12. (00:02:43) Alphawezen - El Nino
13. (00:05:23) Alphawezen - A Thousand Tears
14. (00:06:59) Alphawezen - Doux Reves

Playing Time.........: 01:05:03
Total Size...........: 84,61 MB

Buddha Bar Series

NZB

Buddha Bar 1 (flac)
Buddha Bar 2 (flac)
Buddha Bar 3
Buddha Bar 4 (flac)
Buddha Bar 5

Buddha Bar 6 (flac)

Buddha Bar 7

Buddha Bar 8

Buddha Bar 9 (flac)

Buddha Bar 10 (flac) new!

Llava - High and Rising (2005)

NZB

1. Llava Theme
2. Desperately
3. What´s The Point
4. No Greater Love
5. Flute Thing
6. Stranded
7. Butterfly
8. I Lose Control
9. I Didn´t Know
10. Vibe Received
11. I Need You
12. You´re All I Need To Know (feat. Pat Appleton)
13. Somebody
14. What A Feeling

Thievery Corporation - The Mirror Conspiracy (flac)

NZB

Thievery Corporation make abstract, instrumental, mid-tempo dance music somewhere between trip-hop and acid jazz. The production duo of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton, Thievery Corporation released a few warmly received singles on their own Eighteenth Street Lounge (ESL) label (named for their Washington, D.C. bar and nightclub) in 1996. Previously known primarily among acid jazz and rare-groove DJs, the group shot to minor celebrity when a track from one of their early 12"'s appeared on respected DJ/producers. (allmusic.com)

Review by John Bush.
Like their debut album, Thievery Corporation's second, The Mirror Conspiracy, is a pleasant album of sublime mid-tempo trip-hop, reminiscent of easy listening groove music, and continually referencing the breezier, atmospheric side of Brazilian, Jamaican, French, and Indian forms. The nocturnal dub-poetry of "Treasures" sets a tone for the bruising basslines and echoey keys throughout the album, and "Lebanese Blonde" is another early highlight, with the graceful vocalese of Pam Bricker framing live sitar by Rob Myers and a Jamaican-style horn section. Brazil represents with a triple-shot of "Air Batucada," "So Com Voce" (with vocals from Bebel Gilberto), and "Samba Tranquille." French chanteuse Lou Lou adds a bit of downtempo continental flair on "Le Monde" and "Shadows of Ourselves," and Thievery Corporation even samples Ella Fitzgerald on the ambient-jungle closer "Tomorrow." As on their first LP, Garza and Hilton occasionally appear satisfied to just push a few grooves and reference their favorite styles of music over the top — at the expense of any new ideas — but The Mirror Conspiracy is excellently produced and almost as stylish as the duo's swinging suits on the cover.

Tracklisting (FLAC):
1 Treasures Garza, Hilton 2:24
2 Le Monde Garza, Ghelichkhani, Hilton 3:11
3 Indra Garza, Hilton 5:22
4 Lebanese Blonde Garza, Hilton 4:48
5 Focus on Sight Garza, Hilton, Steele 3:47
6 Air Batucada Garza, Hilton 4:46
7 So Com Voce Garza, Gilberto, Hilton 2:47
8 Samba Tranquille Garza, Hilton 3:06
9 Shadows of Ourselves Garza, Ghelichkhani, Hilton 3:37
10 The Hong Kong Triad Garza 3:01
11 Illumination Garza, Hilton 4:38
12 The Mirror Conspiracy Garza, Hilton 3:45
13 Tomorrow Garza, Hilton 3:43