Customer Reviews

Buddha-Bar, Vol. 8

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have been a long time admirer of the Buddha Bar series for the last few years. Unfortunately I was mildly disappointed in the last two volumes. The last two volumes had taken a more Indian influence courtesy of DJ Ravin. I had preferred the work of Dave Visan (the son of Raymond Visan, founder of the club/bar Buddha Bar) and Claude Challe who mixed the first three Buddha Bar cds. I was a bit hesitant to buy volume eight because of my mild disappointment but when I found a used but in excellent condition copy, I decided to give the series another shot. I'm glad I did. Sam Popat, the dj at NYC's Buddha Bar, did not fail me. The music re-captures the magic that made me fall in love with the series. Sam Popat breathes in new life into the series with his mix of Asian and modern dance music. I absolutely loved both discs and usually I prefer the more laid back disc over the more dance orientated disc.

Buddha-Bar music has become a genre, not just a restaurant-bar. DJ Popat took this genre to its next level; a total chill-out experience. It goes well with dinner, wine, good company, the loving, or just when you want to be alone with yourself enjoying life for what it is, an experience. I thought the Little Buddha Cafe CD was at the top, but this Volume VIII raised the bar for all those chill seekers outhere. Lets see what V IX brings. Can't wait...

This actually came as a surprise to me regarding how good this is. I was enjoying a 3 and 1/2 hour layover at IAH (GB Intercontinental Airport, Houston) and perused through a music store. I came across Buddha Bar 8 at a listening station, put on the headphones and before I knew it I was swaying to the music. I think I was putting on quite a show bobbing my head and tapping my fingers and foot. The music will put you in a good mood. My favorite is probably the first track, which begins gently but crescendos into a soaring and upbeat melody. The vocalist is also very expressive, although no distinct words are sung, almost like a vocalise.

I advise you to try this, your heart will soar and your feet will dance!

I have all eight Buddha Bar albums with Vols. III and VI being my favorites so far. Now as I listen to Vol. VIII now for the second time, I must say... it's a good one! esp. "Disc 2 - New York." The sound is mostly South Asian-based and that makes for a very consistent listening experience. Although I liked discovering new world artists by listening to the previous Buddha Bars, I find some of their CDs rather disjointed because of the wide range of musical cultures represented. But not this one...

I've enjoyed all seven discs from the Buddha Bar, both Siddharta's and two of the Chill Out in Paris CD's. Sam Popat DJ's volume VIII and let's pray George V Records never let's him do another one. This volume is very one dimensional. If you buy volume VIII, you'd better like a heavy dose of Hindu chanting/whaling. There's nothing wrong with the Hindu music and the Hindu music that's been on the other discs. However, the songs he chooses are bad and can't hold a candle to the other Hindu songs on previous discs. It's primarily all Hindu! There are no songs from France, Spain, The Mideast, Africa, Turkey, Eastern Europe or Asia near as I can tell. I've always enjoyed the diversity of the other discs. There was never too much flavor of one country. It has always been the best songs from many countries. From the sound of it, Sam has never left India/Pakistan or he recently found a new religion. Either way, save yourself the disappointment. I am sad to say it will be at least another year for another good Buddha Bar disc. Let's hope George V Records invites David Visan, Claude Challe or better yet Ravin to mix it. Sam is not even close to being in their league!

Like many of the underground following of the Buddha Bar, I have most of the Buddha Bar cd's. After your first Buddha Bar purchase, it becomes a beautiful addiction that compels you to complete the collection each time a new Buddha Bar album comes out. However, I was a bit apprehensive about making the purchase after reading some of the initial reviews. I made the purchase and just received it today, and I must say that I am not disappointed at all. Some Buddha Bar enthusiasts like myself may wonder how well the next album will be to top the previous albums...after all this is album no. VIII. But then again, it is Buddha Bar, and each album brings with it its own funky spirit that makes it so much more appealing to the ears, mind, soul...or whichever way you want to listen, take it in and absorb it.

If you are a fan of Buddha Bar series or any similar groovy neo-ethno-eletronica sounds, you owe it to yourself to get this (2) CD volume immediately. Sam Popat, one of the resident DJ's in Buddha Bar Paris is in charge this time. He serves a delicious mix of electic and exotic sounds which is out of this world just like his own background - Born in Madagascar, from Indian parents and grown up in Paris. The tempo on both CD's starts nice and mellow with a rare combination of exotic vocals and instrumentation interlaced with his own distinctive and relentless background beats. It starts to get faster slowly as it progresses to the end and finishes up in a frenzy of powerful beats with an array of melodic sonic and vocal textures in between. His mixing and transition between songs is absolutely astonishing. The instrumentation covers almost every posssible and imaginable combination of familiar and exotic musical instruments from around the world you can think of. Mix that with a great variety of vocals in different languages and you are ready for a voyage to aural nirvana.

The best in the Buddha Bar series so far - Period!

smooth recording, awesome for yoga, evening listening, on long flights and background music at home or while working... love it

The Tiger Popat is unvelievably creative. Les operatic and vocal than Visan; less of Oriental battucada than Ravin (one of my favorite DJ's) and less loungy than Challe. Which means Popat is different and great in his own style. The Tiger controlls the beat masterfully and bulids the diversity of music through instrumentation around the beat.

Good job Sam. I'll definitively go and visit you in NY!!!!!

Wow.....Sam Popat must have been hurt a lot in life, because his selection of music is so personal and painful, yet exquisite and beautiful....thank you, thank you Sam for once again breathing life back in to this collection, this is so much like the first three releases of the series, and if I daresay...TOPS THEM!

if you want music that is intimate personal and you can chill to, do not pass this up!