Bare Essentials: Volume Two [Regular Edition]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 10, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B00007L9OS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,989 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This second volume of New York label Naked Music's Bare Essentials series continues where Volume 1 left off, showcasing the soft-edged house and blue-mood electronic music of artists like Aquanote, Blue 6, and Miguel Migs. Like other Ibiza-flavored downtempo compilations that have been released in the midst of the style's popularity, Essentials is dance music for beautiful, stylish hipsters who prefer a more bourgeois thump than club music usually provides. Songs like Andy Caldwell's "All I Need" (CJ One Remix) are awash in warm keyboards and an atmosphere of relaxed elegance, transporting even the most landlocked listeners to the imaginary tropical paradise of their choice. Volume 2 also provides a nice mix of old and new, putting tracks like Blue 6's "All I Need" (Jimpster Remix) alongside previously unreleased material, including a blissful track from Weekender ("Weekenderstyle") and two from rising stars Central Living. It's a compilation that appeals to our collective happy place, a land where the nights are warm, everyone is beautiful, and the daiquiris flow freely. --Matthew Cooke

Product Description

The second volume in Naked Music's 'best-of' series featuring rare mixes and unreleased songs from the label's best-known artists including Aquanote, Blue Six, Miguel Migs, Lisa Shaw and more. Slipcase. Astralwerks. 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, not essential deep house, March 16, 2003

By 

Richard Diaz - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bare Essentials: Volume Two [Regular Edition] (Audio CD)

Bare Essentials Volume 2 follows up the initial 1999 release from Naked Music, home of delectable deep house and stylishly nude slip covers. With more artists in tow this time, BE2 offers a much broader mix of previously unreleased material and new tunes to tantalize, if a bit lacking in breakout hits.

Surprisingly, the bigger names folks are familiar with (Blue Six, Miguel Migs) supply auto-pilot efforts that belies their talent, while soulful staple Lisa Shaw hits ("Visions") and misses ("Let It Ride"). The standouts are Aquanote's "Nowhere," a mellowed Heatwave Mix pushing the guitar backed Zoe Ellis line "I can tell that our love is going nowhere without you" to somber near-classic status. Likewise, Arvid featuring Ernestos livens with jazz drums for a beautifully realized song, and Kaskade/Quant's festive "Brighter Day," breathy vocals by Josyln, add pep and beach house atmosphere. A stripped down Petappusher (Miguel Migs) offers a serene closer, with flute, on "Reply on Me."

Some Minor misses pop up, primarily Central Living's simplistic lyrics and uneasy (as in, what where they thinking) bass to the batch on "Inside." A shame too, that just one instrumental made the cut (Weekender).

Regardless, the efforts here are impeccably produced; this crew knows their way around a studio. Bare Essentials 2 spins a bit too smooth to gain your attention; call it enjoyable then, just not essential. 3/5

NOTE: Exclusive to Amazon.com is an eight track 45-minute bonus CD packaged in a cardboard sleeve. Dropping the mellow vibes for a welcome return to the dance floor, this mixed offering combines a few exclusives, material from other Naked comps, and older tracks given an umpteenth remix to spruce them up a bit. Far more than just a tossed-in freebie, this is a bopping lil' set in it's own right; Satin Soul adds sprightly keyboard with punchy drums on a welcome revisit to "Music & Wine," a tasty set-up to Kaskade/Quant's festive "Brighter Day," breathy vocals by Josyln. Add quality work from Gaelle via Bugs in the Attic, and energetic beats by Project 4 (a catchy gem that peaks the hour), for a disc that heartily upstages its companion. How's that for essential? 4/5

5.0 out of 5 stars Mature House at its best, May 21, 2007

By 

K. L. Young - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bare Essentials: Volume Two [Regular Edition] (Audio CD)

This collection takes you to the club. Downtempo, Deep House, Uplifting, relaxing, Mellow Vocals (Lisa Shaw ect.) These are words that best describes this CD. If Calgon takes you away, this is the Soundtrack.

5.0 out of 5 stars Just GOOD Music..., February 16, 2007

By 

Emil D. Foster - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bare Essentials: Volume Two [Regular Edition] (Audio CD)

Yo, they mixed the hell out of this mix. Something told me to visit this used/new store in the mall tonight and LOW AND BEHOLD I find Bare Essentials 2. Something that's been sitting in my saved cart for a year. It didn't let me down either, Every song flows nicely into the next and the remixes and mixes are really grooveable.. Pick this up for a nice moonlight drive on the highway or through any city. Just that feel good after 12 CD right here!