Customer Reviews

Vol. 1-Hotel Costes

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am new to club/lounge compilations in general, and the Hotel Costes series in particular, so I am perhaps being overly enthusiastic here. But I am really knocked out by this music. As background, I am more into classic rock and soul, but I bought this CD after hearing a couple of Costes tracks on an internet radio station from France (Wax Radio--very cool). The CD did not disappoint.

For the benefit of other lounge music newbies, let me explain that the Hotel Costes is a chic nightclub/lounge in Paris, and the Costes series CDs are compilations of tracks by various artists, mixed by the Costes DJ, Stephane Pompougnac. This CD does a wonderful job of evoking the mood of being in a hip nightclub. (I have never been to Paris, but I've hit a few nightspots in my time.)

The music is designed to set a laid back partying mood. The beats tend to be mid to uptempo, danceable, heavy on drums and bass, sort of like disco, but updated and more sophisticated. The melodies are more atmospheric than song-oriented. What especially intrigues me about this compilation is its emphasis on an eclectic mix of international artists and sounds. There are French, Spanish, Brazilian, even Middle Eastern (as well as American) sounds here that you rarely hear on American radio stations. The fact that I had never heard of any of these artists (except Grace Jones) only added to the sense of new discovery I experienced with this CD.

Due to the high cost, you probably should sample this CD before buying. There is an older, out of print version of this CD listed at amazon that includes samples. As far as I can tell, the contents are identical to this version. An even better way to sample is to tune into Wax Radio on the internet--they play Costes numbers fairly frequently.

Another note of fair warning. One of the tracks--"Rollin' on Chrome" by the Aphrodelics--features a heavy-duty vulgarity in the vocal. This doesn't bother me, but it can startle unsuspecting listeners with more genteel tastes.

I finally bought the very first Hotel Costes thanks to a friend (Hey, J.C.!) of mine, who I guess got tired of me sampling it everytime we visited Borders on our lunch break. And let me tell you honestly after listening to the incredible Volumes 2, 4 and 5, I am left slightly disappointed with volume 1. I guess I should have started with "Costes" and went in order, because after hearing the other seamless and beautifully mixed CDs from French DJ Stephane Pompougnac, I am left a little more critical of the CD that catipulted this phenomenally successful series. I realize now that there really isn't anything new or ground-breaking about Pompougnac's style of mixing other than the unique selection of most of his tracks and the way he's able to blend them all together so flawlessly. The addition of Grace Jones' 1981 (whoa, how old was I then--11?) classic "Libertango" and Nitin Sawhney's "Migration" were added nicely to this set without disrupting the flow of things. A+ for Pompougnac! He also manages this form of "cross-genre-mixing" successfully on Costes Volume 2 with Pink Martini's Parisian, Sympatique, and on volume 5 with Gabin's "Doo Uap, Doo Uap...". I think a lot of hype has contributed to the success of this series...Hey! Guilty as charged...after reading the reviews from you guys, what can I say? I did in fact go out and purchase the Costes series myself...except for volume 3 which is still unavailable in record stores...so, stand-by, Amazon. com...I'll be ordering it from you guys soon no doubt. Anyway, Volume 1 is still a gem and in my part of the US a rare find. It opens with my all time favorite vocal song, "My Funny Valentine" very nicely done by Big Muff with sultry female vocals from some chick named Ital Shur (???). Other songs of note, and worthy of repeat plays are Baffa featuring Paganni, Rinocerose, Flying Pop's, New Phunk Theory, Almeidinha Do El Gringo and a few others that have yet to grow on me, but I'm sure will in time. Don't know when this series will end and I somewhat feel complete after purchasing Costes Volume 1, but after investing in these babies, it has left a brother seriously in the hole, financially. One thing I can say is at least you're compelled to listen to the Costes series over and over again and that in itself makes all the money I spent (or you'll spend) acquiring these CDs well worth it.

I only could get two of the trilogy from "le Costes", but this is definitely a better choice than "Etage trois". The sound is irreprochable (unlike the other cd where the recording level is too high and some tracks are over saturated, if you see what I mean), and the tempo is a bit higher. The overall quality of the songs and the mix is also better (all the tracks are mixed and you have no timeout between them).

Of course, you still find strange tracks that some will find absolutely cheesy (Actor Yves Montand telling a funny story in "pour faire le dessin d'un oiseau". It is an overdub and a tribute, because Montand passed away several years ago, but it is really too long). However I really appreciated listening to Grace Jones again, and the closing track (love the DJ) is top. Curiously enough, just as for the other cd, it only really gets hot after 8 cuts. From there on it's close to ecstasy... The packaging is great, with some comments about the club in a brochure you will find inside the sleeve.

Even if it's not the best cd in this genre that I have, it's recommendable if you have been there (I haven't yet) and are nostalgic, or if you like to have a cd to play when having friends over, or to go clubbing without even leaving your house or your car.

I think this is one end where French pop rules. For those who think that French pop sucks and there is nothing original and new, then all I can say is "vous avez tort"!

This album is a great find and well worth it. It has such a sensual quality which pours over you like something seductive yet dark. It has such energy, but at the same time, it is so calm.

Keep this series going. Trop bien!

I love compilations, when they are good that is, and this one is one of the best I've found in a while. Every song continues and develops the mood that the first track begins. Usually there is a dud in the mix somewhere but not in this case. Each track, and you may have several of these tracks from other compilations or other disc (like De Phazz, or Grace Jones), is a gem on its own. Reading the brief liner notes from Milla Jovovich, and looking at the photos of the Hotel Costes while listening sets quite a nice mood for an after work trip away from it all.

If you want to live by the bossa-nova, put this record to play as the background music. If this SUITS you, check also Vol. 2 - "La Suite". I will never forget this record because here I discovered my love for the 2000 - De Phazz (No Jive). I think De-Phazz is one of the best kept secrets in downtempo and trip-jazz. And it's a pity. And I recommend "Chorando Sim" as well to everybody with a taste for subtle nuances. "Machine Pour les Oreilles" by Rinocerose - another trend-setting FBB from France.

A lot has been written on the Hotel Costes series (1-7), including my own contribution elsewhere. If you like electro-lounge (whatever) music and want to sample this stuff, head straight for this opener with great tracks like Grace Jones' "Libertango" and De-Phazz's "No Jive." The rest of the series is a bit hit and miss. However, through the sweep of it all, I must say DJ Stephane Pompougnac's vibe carries. Listen to his own worthy "PNC aux Portes" (#3) which you could easily argue is derivative, but then who gives a sh**t. As Duke Ellington (remember him?) once said, there are only two kinds of music: good and bad. This series has given us hints of greatness, of inspiration, but could do better and should. So, please, somebody give us a consistent touchstone of what's happening out there in places beyond the average consumer's scope.
What kind of stuff (solid/quirky) should we be hearing more of: Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band, (Matthew) Herbert, more recent DJ Shadow, older Akasha stuff, of course, De-Phazz, and even more electronically based wizardry like Boards of Canada? What about sampling some of the great 60's-70's avant-garde jazz masters like Archie Shepp, Pharoah Sanders and Coltrane; DJ Cam took a stab at it. Let's keep this lounge/jazz/house groove going as a dynamic and INNOVATIVE kind of thing.

I was a bit taken back by the price but I must say that this is a compilation with many new and different groups that you won't find in the ESL lounge family of artists.

The new players here are Rinocerose and Ballistic Brothers. This is a whole new direction in a sound established with forerunners like 9 Lazy 9 and Funky Porcini. All sixteen songs are fabulous the only weak link would be the Aphrodelics, but the rest are sounds that break new frontiers.

I love Costes album. I collect all the album from 1 to the latest. It's really niceeeeee....

the tracks are harmonious, you're never bored to play it. Is not a revelation in the music, no new kind of music but really pretty.