Search - Various Artists :: La Bodega Lounge

Chill out that is still accessible and keeps the beat

Scott Jeune | kerhonkson, ny | 02/21/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I do have to say that I ordered this album on a lark and because there's not much detailed information about it here I feel obliged to give a review because it is worth more than one listen. The high point of this album is that it works because its remixers have decided to really keep their beats meaty while at the same time trying (and really making a stellar effort at it) to keep the original arabic integrity of the songs intact. It's a bit more like "Pure Moods" rather than Bill Laswell, and I actually like the fact that it proves that this style of international music proves that you can have electronics in the music without it having to be death by tablas (although there is some great d n b inspired moments in here). So pick this up if you've ever dug the Vanilla Music series, or hey, even if you've ever wondered where Timbaland gets the inspiration for those beat structures from. So, without getting too much into track by track details, I'd recommend this- honestly, it was like getting a poppier Buddha Bar album without the exorbitant prices. I can truly say it's one of the best chill out albums in a while in that it has been tracked in a way that it makes a good album for late night black suit driving, and it also has tracks that are SONGS that can stand up on their own... and really, how many chill albums have there been lately that can say that."