Customer Reviews

Vol. 3-Hotel Costes

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I adore this CD. It is a remarkable mix of mellow, funky, over the edge, in the groove, diverse ear treasures. The blend and transitions delight and surprise. Shirley Bassey's remix of Love Story-- so over the top and powerful. Funky Lowlives! Cleopatra in New York - makes you need to bellydance, no matter what your belly looks like. Every Time by Lustral-- sends you to mellow heaven. Put this music on and you'll imagine guys in tuxes, women in Capri pants, the crowd in the bar at the Paramount, and the "Forget Domani" gang.

I've played this CD for friends of every ilk and of every age, and everyone loves it. The perfect background music for every occasion-- I've use it at a range of affairs, from intimate gatherings to corporate events-- and it flies every time. Thanks to Todd's "What CD's I'm listening to" list for turning me on to this spectacular music.

And what a brilliant idea on the part of the Hotel Costes-- you can bet I'm spending time there on my visit to Paris in a few weeks!

Most has already been stated about this cd. The Hotel Costes series is based on Wagram, a label that specializes in downtempo/lounge/chill cd's. Other successful series in their cataloge include Saint Germain Des Pres Cafe (1-4), Paris Lounge (1-3), Hotel Costes (1-6 and Stephane's feature release)and even Nueva Bossa Nova and other cd's.

I for one enjoyed this Costes a bit more than the others. From the kickin' Shirley Bassey cut to now classic lounge cuts like "Cruisin" by Can 7 or "Yachts" by Coco-Steel. You have a bit of a global experience with the tunes and some diverse musicians. A splash of Brazil, a touch of Tango... you name it! The Costes series prided itself on not being just any old lounge compilation with the same redundant tracks and atmosphere. It was hip, cutting edge, for the swanky and the people in the "know". Stephane Pompougnac always has at least one of his own tunes on the cd's and this isn't an exception. Good bachelor tune - every lady I know digs this when I put it on.

I recommend this one. You'll always get a quality unique cut with Pompougnac. IMO, Etage 3 is one of the better cd's of the franchise. However it's not without a few missteps - this particular rendition of Lustral's "Everytime" hardly seemed to fit in, even for an ender. And the Boyz from Brazil Remix of Hi-Fi Trumpet isn't my favorite version of the song either. Also you'll want to be careful of serious overlap if you pick up French compilations - in otherwords, some cd's may have the same cuts on one another. And if you like this series... check out Boss-A-Troniq, Break & Bossa 4 and 5 and Paris Lounge 1.

If you're that man, under 25 years old, who loves to drink a vodka martini with a stylistic girl while listening some sweet beats and vocals as background music, that's the album of the year. a great compilation mixing those underground lounge, bossa, jazzy artists around the world, also contains some remixes and covers of songs like "love story" with shirley bassey and last tango in paris, both with a upbeat modern feeling, i felt so good while listening those songs :). and all the tracks are mixed by the stephane pompougnac. enjoy!

Great ambient party music for any gathering of hipsters, nonchalants, chic geeks, supermodels, gigolos, mobsters and aspiring Parisian Beatniks...

Only those with a yearning for danceable after hours house-of-style mixing will warm up to this CD...I'm one of 'em, and this CD makes me hot. Il fait chaud, baby!!

Buy it if you "get it"...

It seems like the other 2 CDs by this artist are now almost twice what this one costs. And I think this one's the best of the lot. It's got a real swanky lounge sound and all the newest hip music that's out there. I say pick it up before the price doubles. I especially like "Yachts," but I'm sure you'll find something to cherish about this.

Almost as good as his exceptional "Hotel Costes Quatro", Stephane Pompougnac's "Hotel Costes Etage 3" is what that perfectly cool Parisian bar you've been waiting to find will be playing in the background. Brilliantly sequenced, it drifts effortlessly between smooth "chill out" and high quality "electro-jazz" delivering, on the way, some real gems such as Funky Lowlives' "Latazz", Hacienda's "Late Lounge Lover", Cujo/Superstars of Rock's "Apollo", Stephane Pompougnac's own "PNC aux Portes" and The Troublemakers' stunningly funky "Electrorloge". Play it back to back with "Quatro" and luxuriate in two and half hours of quite unforgettable music... and then, as you will, play it all again.

I find the H.C. series completely different from other Chillout compilations, Stephane knows how to find sensuality in music, and doesn't mind showcasing it. Etage 3 starts like the rest of Costes' cds, an engaging beat and then goes on to the most soothing music on the planet. Definately worth buying, either for the artwork, the quality, the great possible evenings with that special someone... Highlights: (Where Do I Begin) Love Story [AwayTeam Mix], and 15. Every Time [A Man Called Adam Balearic Remix], simply because they're timeless classics with a twist.

This record was an impulse buy for me.Lured in by the attractive cover that promised a downtempo experience, I have been VERY pleasantly surprised. This record is oh-so languid and elegant and while it's not groundbreaking, it is my perennial favorite. My friends haven't stopped trying to borrow it!

The Hotel Costes series is up to ten albums now and I have finally got around to writing a quick review of Etage 3. This one is still my favorite. It just flows so effortlessly, both within the tracks and from one track to another. I'm a great fan of the Hotel Costes series, and would be even more so if they were all like Etage 3.

This is the kind of CD you will hardly find boring, is a compendium of good taste. Is like enjoying a good champagne looking the sunset... or having a glass of good wine, while looking at your beloved's eyes. Maybe the mix is not excellent, but the music selection, makes this CD enjoyable each time you play it. Enjoy