Search - Claude Challe & Jean Marc :: Music for Our Friends: Select 2009

Take me friggen there...

Brett Barry | Cave Creek, AZ United States | 07/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been listening to Claude and Jean Marc's beautiful music for many years now, and these boys always have their fingers right on the pulse of what is new and hot.



Select 2009 follows up in grand style with all new groves of supreme lushness and lets face it... a lot fun on the Challe brothers dance floor! The Hotel Costes series and Buddha bar ad nauseum has really lost their focus on what made their original discs so cool - that is discovering those beautiful little gems of music that flow perfectly and get better with each listening. Yet the Challe brothers never settle for mediocre material, and the result is more top notch discovery sessions for listeners.



OK, well the excellent previous review by "PC LA" hit the high points, but let me chime in too. I found that there were more French vocals on these discs then usual, but that is cool with me as the music is fantastic.



The discs are separated into the by now familiar "party" and "chill" CD's (one to dance, the other to make babies lol). The Challe vibe throughout is Middle Eastern/world beat/African/reggae with a bunch of Grace Jones intensity for good measure. The fist chill disc has an unmistakable dreamlike quality that you gotta love!



Favorite tracks would be these little babies, first disc #1:



Bob Marley's "Sun Is Shining" on disc 1 by Reunited. A mellow and new take on an old favorite.



"City Of Gold" by Temple Of Sound - Very sexy, French, delicious...almost a lullaby before milk and cookies...mmmm!



"DJelem DJelem" by opium Lounge. A flamenco dreamscape that will take you to the clouds, with haunting vocals.



"Madrid" by Holden - OK I agree, certainly one of the top songs on disc one. French vocals with some interesting start/stop sampling, and some 60's electronic surf guitar riffs and jazz sax. Guests at your next garden party will say "wow, what is that tune?"



"Don't Wake Me Up" by Ganga - Starts out nice and slow and works it's way up the beat chart.



Finally, don't miss the middle eastern tinged version of "Englishman In New York" by Dolpadere Big Gang - This one is a lot of fun.



DISC #2 (PARTY):



Alright, you know have just entered your favorite island club when you hear "Smiling" by Jazzbox...with sampled Lois Armstrong vocals. This one sounds like it could have come off the newest "Verve Remixed" CD...I love it, turn it up loud, awesome beats.



"Rum 'N' CoCola" is just a lot of fun, definitely a 40's sound with trumpets and a reggae rap twist...



"Framed Profile" by source is the next segue, and also has that 40's groove continuing the party. This is a hot number, and gets the temp up a few notches.



OK, I have to say that this version of "Wicked Game" (Chris Issac's hit) was one of the coolest tunes on disc 2 - The layered vocals are simply on the money, with a great new interpretation and some fabulous guitar work. Put the top down, head to Big Sur (or the Cotes Azur!)...and enjoy.



The party is now officially started...and I'm just having a blast with the Challe's at the controls. Nobody does it like these boys, and these discs are HIGHLY recommended.



By the way, Select 2009 has quite a different feel from last years superb Select 2008 - which is a good thing in my view. The sounds here break some new ground and take us forward...this is turning out to be a great series."

Challe: Always stupendous!

M. E. Moore | El Cerrito, California United States | 08/16/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have purchased most of Claude Challe's cds and I have never been disappointed. Select '08 and '09 both surpassed my wildest expectations in so many ways. Disc 1 '09 is mellow, and I listen to this one while in traffic, unperturbed by the slow commute as I listen to the entire cd. Disc 2, makes me want to scream and jump up and dance wildly, because the music is soooooooooooo deliciously good! Song one? OMG! Love it! I can't say enough about these gentlemen and will never get enough of their music. Excellent! Go and buy Select 2008 and 2009, you won't be disappointed."

MIX MAESTROS RETURN

peter christian | los angeles | 07/12/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"THE CHALLE BROTHERS RETURN IN STYLE AT THIS

TIME EACH YEAR AND NEVER FAIL TO DISAPPOINT

WITH THEIR ASSORTED WORLD INSPIRED GEMS.





WITH THE DEMISE OF MANY COMPILATION LABEL

RELEASES FROM PREVIOUS DECADES CLAUDE AND

JEAN-MARC SET HIGH STANDARDS WITH THEIR

INSPIRED HIP SELECTIONS CONTINUING THE

TRADITION OF BRINGING US WHAT'S GOING ON

OUT THERE IN WORLD MUSIC LAND.





DJ RAVIN TAKE NOTE - THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD

BE DONE, UNLIKE YOUR RECENT LACK LUSTER

OFFERINGS FROM BUDDHA BAR DISC TWO THAT

FAIRLY SCRAPED THE CREATIVE BARREL.





SUPREME TRACKS - DISC ONE.



HOLDEN'S FRENCH INSPIRED "MADRID"

MALENA'S BAHIA INSPIRED "NO ME DIGAS NADA"



GREAT TRACKS DISC ONE.



MAIA KRASNAIA'S MORCHEEBA ESQUE "SOVSEM DRUGOI"

REUNITED'S EURO INSPIRED "SUN IS SHINING"

INDIGO SUN'S GRACE JONES ESQUE "YOU DON'T FOOL ME"

NITIN SAWHNEY'S MIDDLE EASTERN "SHADOWLAND"

EDDY LE CLERCQ'S CAMPY"LES MONSTRES SACRES"

TEMPLE OF SOUND'S SPANISH "CITY OF GOLD"



SUPREME TRACK - DISC TWO.



HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR'S FRANKIE KNUCKLES

KILLER POUNDING REMIX "BLIND" (AWESOME)



GREAT TRACKS - DISC TWO.



LORENZO AL DINO'S CHRIS ISSAC"S "WICKED GAMES"

DEMARCO'S GRACE JONES INSPIRED "EN ORSA"

GONZALO SHAGGY'S INSTRUMENTAL "SOMOTANO"

TIM TIM'S 40'S CAMP "RUM N COCACOLA"



WANT A LITTLE SOMETHING TO PACK FOR THOSE TEN

DAY'S AND NIGHT'S IN ST BART'S THIS SUMMER THIS

IS THE ONE - SAY HELLO TO BECKS FOR ME.





SELECT 2009 MUSIC FOR OUR FRIENDS - BUY IT OR

FLY IT? IT'S A WICKED BUY! - SO FAR THIS YEARS

BEST COMPILATION IMPORT RELEASE.



BEST - PC LA.











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