29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Far from being a flop., August 7, 2002
This review is from: Buddha Bar IV (Unibox) (Audio CD)
I was in fear of getting my hands on this new release, especially since listening to Buddha Bar III. As said by another reviewer here, the whole thing started smelling like "easy money". Nevertheless, I like risky adventures and just went for this one.
After listening to this double cd several times, and sharing new experiences, I must say I am far from disappointed. David Visan (DJ here in charge) does a great job, and his multicultural background (parents from a different culture, he has also traveled a lot) is clear, especially on cd 1. You just flow through 63 minutes of what I call S.I.S. music (Suave, Incisiva y Sexy). The roots are clearly Mediterranean, in the broad sense, taking you from one point to another of that area, with some latin influences, such as the tango-like closing track. The Mediterranean is SOOOOOOOOO wonderful and rich in different cultures and ways of living, and the cd is an attempt to make you feel and discover it. When it is over, you just want....more. And you hit the repeat button, several times if necessary. CD 1 is six stars by itself.
True that cd 2 is a little more average and lacks a bit of punch, especially if it is filed as "drink" (cd 1 is filed as "dinner", even if I would have called it something else). It is more chill out music than an invitation to move your body as you're having drinks with your friends in an upscale bar of cities such as Paris, Tokyo, New York, Roma... Having said this, it has the inevitable (you'll have this on all those French releases) kitsch tracks : number 8 sounds like what the gypsies play in the streets in Madrid to have people throwing them coins from their balconies, number 9 has that silly synthesizer sound that reminds me of the popcorn song (mid seventies). Then, you have a remake of Gloria Gaynor's "I will survive" sung by salsa icon Clia Cruz, that also sounds more like a joke than anything else.
Overall, a great purchase if you don't get upset with the kitsch side and if it wouldn't be for two drawbacks : still a bit pricy and the shortness of the journey (63 and 60 minutes, that's almost half an hour less than what we could get), which is why it gets 4 stars. Other than that, the second best, after volume one... You won't be disappointed if you like cds such as "Real Ibiza", some of the "Cafe del Mar" (only the best ones), or "Flying carpet".
P.S. Just like the rest of the cds from the Buddha bar and associates collection, all tracks are mixed. Just thought you'd like to know.
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
come back Claude, May 27, 2002
This review is from: Buddha Bar IV (Unibox) (Audio CD)
The whole Buddha bar concept seems to be getting a little too prolific: cashing-in suspected here.
As an owner of ALL the Claude Challe compilations including the unavailable Les Bains Douches I have to express disappointment.
It's an OK compilation but smacks more of middle class dinner party than the inovative earlier Claude Challe and Ravin offerings (Buddha Bar 1, 2 & 3)......
If it is to win an award, it should be for the most pretentious sleeve notes around.
If you are looking for real leading edge compilation, then go buy the truly excellent "Arabesque Zoudge 2".
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another spectacular Buddha Bar compilation, May 24, 2003
This review is from: Buddha Bar IV (Unibox) (Audio CD)
I recently got into the Buddha Bar series with the latest installment "Buddha Bar V" but I have been quite familiar with the imprint with "Chillout in Paris vol.2" and "Living Theater vol.1". My only issue with the Buddha Bar series and other compilations on with the Buddha Bar imprint is the exhorbent price. Still the quality is vastly superior than most chill out compilations that I have heard. Much to my luck, I struck gold and found a copy of "Buddha Bar IV" in the used cd bins at my favorite record store so I didn't have to shell out nearly as much money that I would for a new copy. I really wanted this particular cd for some time now. No words could describe my initial reaction when I first heard this gorgeous 2-cd mixed compilation. Although I love the fifth volume to pieces, I have to say that volume four is my personal favorite between the two "Buddha Bar" comps I own. I am sorry to read some negative reviews for "Buddha Bar IV". I thought the Asian influence in the music was terrific and so refreshing compared to the blandness in the "Ultra Chilled" series and the poorly mixing job by Dave Waxman which I am sure they would be much happier listening to. Like on the fifth volume, the two cds are as 'dinner' which has more laid back music to chill to and 'drink' which has more uptempo songs to dance to. I could not find one song on either cd that I did not like. I absolutely loved Celia Cruz's version of the Gloria Gaynor classic "I Will Survive", sung in spanish. I was simply blown away by that particular song. "Nocturne in Paris" by Usual Masters is a beautiful instrumental that fuses classical, trip hop, and world music together. On the dinner disc, I totally flipped over the stunning Asian-influence of Jade Or's "Opium" but all the songs on that cd and the drink cd are marvelous. Dave Visan does a wonderful job of mixing the songs together and allowing the cd to flow well as a whole. "Buddha Bar IV" is a confirmation to me that this series beats out other chill out compilations. Completely different and refreshing with the various types of music Dave chooses. I love this series. For me, the Buddha Bar series is my life soundtrack.
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