Customer Reviews

Air Farina

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

You've seen those TV ads where a spirited group of ultra cool, fashionably hip, beautiful, young mixed singles descend on and commandeer an out-of-service subway coach for their private indulgences, especially the downing of some trendy alcoholic beverage that promises more than just kicks. Well, Air Farina is sorta' like that, but more the real deal. This supposed party of parties takes place on a "destined to anywhere" jetliner cruise captained by none other than the original funkmeister himself - Mark Farina. The CD digipak artwork even resembles one of those folded, laminated universal flyers that instruct emergency procedures stuck in the back pouch of every seat on the plane. Concerning this on-hands emergency, how do you get all these musical styles - Chicago house, West coast funk, Mediterranean chill, Latin jazz, domestic downtempo, and East coast hip-hop working together without sounding novice or trial by error? In answer, Mark Farina has penned all original material for one of the most funkified, smooth move musical liberations as his first solo album. Air Farina strays all over the place, but simultaneously remains steady on. Snippets of banter between air traffic controllers, pilots, and stewardess garble act as natural break beats between tracks. All the best elements from the Mushroom Jazz, San Francisco Sessions, and Connect albums are present. Amongst his crew assisting your listening pleasure: Lance Desardi, Sean Hayes, Kaskade, and People Under The Stairs keep the album form being too one dimensional. The groove is almost hypnotic. The material sticks without really realizing why. The execution and mixing is flawless. I don't know if this is the best thing he's ever done, but I like it more with each play. If the album suffers in any aspect it's that Farina leans to heavy on his DJ skills to make up for any obvious inadequate songwriting capabilities. Next time out, he might do well too hook up with a proven partner in that department, otherwise.........sky pilot speaking loud and clear, roger wilco, over and out.

***The Amazon samples & reviews don't do this album justice!!***. I absolutely HAD to know the info on this song when I heard those lyrics/ song on KCRW, so I basically paid $50 (pledge drive) for that info but in return I got the CD/ membership... anyways... Track 9 alone was worth $50. I was stunned when I put this into the CD player for a spin, expecting something similar to track 9, it was kinda like the intro parts of the "Lauryn Hill- Miseducation" album. I thought LESS misc BS/talking, more MUSIC, but this isn't a CD you can skip through. In the 2 weeks I've owned it, I've listened to the CD over 20x! In my mind it ranks up there with Groove Armada, Gabin, Zero 7 & Telepopmusik, but falls short of St. Germain/ Thievery Corp. (everything does). It is a great/ avante guarde pick; there is a subtle/ 'intellectual' humor most people don't get (just look at the bad reviews), excellent mixed/ groove tracks and an overwhelming theme that always seems to make me smile. I LOVE listening to this CD. (-No, this isn't a very technical review, I know, but since music the closest thing to tangible emotion, and it consistently makes me dance & laught at the same time for weeks, that's gotta be worth $15+).

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE Mark Farina and I have all of his cds except for one: Seasons. (Hoping Amazon will get this one SOON). Any way, this is one that you either love or just don't feel. Judging from the reviews I've read, this is a correct statement. I don't mind the 'talking' or any of his soundbites. In fact, those were the very things that drew me to Mark in the first place. On this particular cd, it just didn't click for me. Well, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Mark Farina, best known for his jazzy-house Mushroom Jazz DJ-mixes, finally releases his first album -- and it's not what you would expect. House is still the order of the day, but it's more abstract, with cut-up voices. "Betcha Do," for example, sounds almost like Akufen. "Talk to Me" has some more of the jazzy chords and deep house that you would expect from Farina, but with the same cut-up aesthetic. "Futbol" does the same, except with Spanish vocals. There's a change of pace in "Dream Machine," which features the watery voice of Sean Hayes (not the "Will & Grace" star, though) over a downtempo beat, while "Travel" throws in the dexterous vocals of the People Under the Stairs. An interesting, if not entirely successful, album.

This is an amazing artist cd that covers a variety of genres of music. This is a great CD to have and to listen to. You will be amazed at how many tracks you will love!

I give this album a five due to the fact that all the tracks are Mark Farina's, the house is good, the house is mid-sound-prevalent whereas a lot of house is too hatty, and I appreciate the gesture. Tis funky, tis grounded, tis quirky, original and fabulous tracks. However, on the flipside of this analysis, I give this album a four in the respect that nothing really stands out highly overall in the sea of funky house. For instance; Musically I like the tracks on Mushroom Jazz one better. =)

That's all really, this CD is one of the best in my collection! If you like house, you should love this! One thing I really liked about this CD was that all the tracks are joined like one long track! Excellent!

I am not a house person and might not have known that Farina was house if weren't for the categorization here. However I do recognize that this is his style. So for a guy that is drum and beats plus a bit of Trip-Hop, Farina has 3 of the top 5 songs on my iPod and Fatboy and Moorcheeba have none:) Two of those are from this album....so if you are questioning the sub-genre or just looking to start into electronica, he's a guy you can't go wrong with and this is a great start. And if you ever buy an album for just one song, then by all means allow it to be this album for Travel. In fact, had that been the first song, I may have never heard another on it....it's that good.

Some of the reviews on this CD were ridiculous and don't give Mark Farina his props for being an outstanding mixer. That notwithstanding, I didn't allow fickle-fan reviews from keeping me from getting this album! Not many of Farina's ilk can compose songs that sound as sharp, funky and reek of dance-floor readiness as the songs that can be heard on "Air Farina"! DJ Mark Farina has taylor made his own songs (finally) with interesting segues that keep the album's concept entertaining, as if the music doesn't do that alone. Songs of note definitely are the throbbin' "Betcha Do," the super-funky "Dropped in the Water," and the electro-poppish "Dream Machine." Of course, all the songs here make you wanna move something, that's why it's hard for me to believe what the Amazon reviewers have been saying about this CD...But to each his own!

I just bought Mark Farina's new album. For the most part, the album is great (there's a couple tracks near the end that are just ok)....but, I think I have found my favourite song of the year!

Dream Machine is absolutely amazing! You've got to hear this song. Play it in your car, and everyone will be bobbing their heads, even old people that you drive by!