Customer Reviews

Carte Blanche 3

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Those who are familiar with Naked Music's "Nude Dimension" series will agree that the "Carte Blanche" compilations make up an entirely different beast. I was already familiar with other releases from the Naked label, but for some reason, I resisted getting this CD. Big mistake. Offering mellow beats and delectable grooves for after hours, the third volume turns out to be an excellent collection that never tires. For me, the CD's high point is the groovilicious "Inside," which is set to a funky bassline and on-point female vocals. The track is guaranteed to make anyone within earshot bob their heads to the beat in approval. Femonemon's "Romeo Avenue" is a percussion-heavy number that gives off a jazzy feel, while Stateless give a retro 70/80's groove in the form of "Fall Into You." Those who have had enough of the same-old chillout compilations can't really go wrong with this one. While it falls a bit short of the magic of Naked Music's "Midnight Snack," it's still good enough to earn its five stars.

I remember searching for a downtempo CD just before departing for vacation to Antigua in the British West Indies in October/2002 and coming across Naked Music's Carte Blanche Volume 3 and wondering what it sounded like. I imagined it to be a nice accompaniment to relaxing on the beach under the hot subtropical sun while tanning and sipping a cool, delicious rum punch. Not knowing any of the selected tunes, I was curious and decided to purchase it.

Boy, am I ever thankful I did.

Each time I listen, I am cast backward in time to a magical place full of friendly people, breathtaking views of the ocean alongside beautiful white-sand beaches, lush tropical landscape and a laidback atmosphere rich in comfort.

Ah, the memories.

Most of the tracks included here - with few exceptions - exude a warm, seductive sound which has become a familiar benchmark synonymous with of every Naked Music release. The CD itself kicks off with 3 blissful instrumentals with Blu Mar Ten's ambient, 2-step number "Trauma" gloriously setting the tone before giving way to Fenomenon's rhodes-soaked nudgings of "Romero Avenue". The gentle strings of Bum Bum's "Light" quickly follows before the disc heads off into more vocal territory with the heartfelt croonings of "Fall Into You" by Stateless and Onda's "Deeper Love" being of particular merit. From there things get deep and heavy with Projections spaced-out cut "Backbone" saddling up nicely to a lovely remix of P'taah's "Hold You Close". Central Living's "Inside" remixed by Metro Area gives the mix an interesting retro twist with its eighties ode to the original. Gaelle's sugar-sweet voice in "Falling" captivates with her soothing delivery after a couple of slightly mediocre dubby cuts seek to take the mix into a different direction. Dave Warrins "ManChild" features a beautiful flute perfect for relaxing just about anywhere before segueing into Weekender's stellar "Thinking About You" with the angelic Azeem on lead vocals. Quant's "Stimulus" adds a perfect exclamation with a helpful offering of filtered vocal samples balanced neatly against a backdrop of broken percussion.

Overall, this CD comes highly-recommended if you enjoy After Hours-style melodies and smooth transitioning between songs and need something to ease the mind a bit while embarking on the usual ritual of household chores. Or, if you're like me, lazing under the sun on a beautiful tropical island...Stephen

The Carte Blanche line has always been Naked's more open-ended and experimental outlet, and volume 3 of the series is no exception to this trend. Here, Naked ventures, even more so than before, well beyond the boundaries of the house and downtempo genres for which they are known and into sounds and concepts that are novel and quite a good bit more sophisticated in many cases. That in itself is inevitably going to put some listeners ill-at-ease - but it shouldn't give them an excuse to bash something just because the sonics are frosty fresh.

The bottom line for me, as a lover of MUSIC first and foremost, is that the tracks on Carte Blanche 3 are of exceptional quality and diversity. In terms of time signatures, rhythms, syncopations, programming, and effects, there is some really remarkable stuff here. The Streetlife Originals tune is almost baroque in its boppy complexity and builds on the group's already incredible musicianship; the P'taah track is wistful and full of unexpected tones and and emotions, showing that Chris Brann is and will always be the next level; and the Quant stimulator exudes a brand of Scandinavian future-disco glamcore that will put a smile on any carnivore's face.

Bottom line, Carte Blanche 3 is exceptional music - full of soul, intelligence, and innovation. The risks pay off in a more mature sound that's just as slammin as ever. It shows us how far things have come in the past few years - new technologies, styles, and labels like Naked that have the courage and vision to put it out there. Take CB3 for a listen - "the rhythm may seem strange, or cause your thinking to be rearranged" - but if you can't find something that moves you in a new way, there's always the bargain vinyl aisle at Tower. I hear DJ Sneak is still doing the occasional remix.

This album to me is the epitome of having drinks on the roof at 8 pm on a warm Saturday with good friends, or coming in the house at 4:30 am the next morning and listening to some quiet music in the dark before going to sleep. I am very stingy with my five stars, but this album easily gets 4 to 4.5.
Standout tracks are Stateless's "Fall Into You" and Gaelle's "Falling", with P'taah's "Hold You Close" and Onda's "Deeper Love" getting an honorable mention. I can't think of any songs I don't like though, and the album is very well blended, each track easily going into the next without drastic tempo changes or jarring blends. No complaints about this one, it's a keeper.

As mentioned before Naked does it again! A little disappointed that Aquanote a.k.a. Gabriel Rene from "Soulstice" didn't compile this one, but nevertheless it's still bangin!! Favorite track has got to be "Falling" by Gaelle! Don't get me wrong other standouts are "Fall Into You" and "Essential Things." Like other submissions before mine I own all Naked CD compilations and this is just another gem to add to the collection. If you love good chill-out, deep house, and down tempo add this to your collection.

If any of you out there have only one of these cd's (Carte Blanche 1,2, or 3) and you enjoyed it, please get the other two. They just get better and better each time you hear them. I've had this cd for 4 years now and everytime I listen I hear somethign different. It just gets better ever time. Hey, Naked Music, were waiting desperately for number 4.

This album certainly encapsulates a style. It was a time in music and a niche thats well worth owning on CD. Soul fronts funked disco jazz and chilled house but its better heard than read or written. Ive always witnessed its positive moving effect on people, myself included, the music journeys deep easily and its an unpretentious clean experience. All in all its the complete selection and mix of changing moods and beats that makes this album excellent rather than its individual talents, isnt that how it was meant to be? Its up there in my alltime top ten.

You know Naked Music. The guys who pride themselves on making music that's "accessible to all with an open mind and the desire to stir the soul and shake that ass." They kick it with vibes that are deep, soulful, and oh-so-sexy. Respect.

Perhaps my music selections from Naked Music are progressively mellowing with each purchase. I started with the sexy house beats from the Nude Dimension series, moved on for a swim in the soulful deep end with Blue Six, and most recently I picked up volume 3 from the mid-tempo Carte Blanche collection. While some of the most recognized end-of-the-night music is from Zero 7 and Air, aren't you ready to try something different besides the spaceship bleeps, swooshes, and horns combined with the Mr. Roboto voice? I was. Don't insult Carte Blanche by calling it downtempo. Although it's a slower, more mellow, and a laid back state of Nakedness, this album is filled with bites of abstract rhythms, along with a flavor of nu-soul-jazz and deep house. It became a fair selection for winding down at the end of the day. Highlights include "Fall Into You" by Stateless; that late-70s Stevie Wonder-like soul is oh-so-yummy-get-in-my-tummy good. Onda's "Deeper Love" is a nice turn on. My favorite, "Inside (Metro Area Remix)" from Central Living is 'poppin' with its 1984 electro-flash feel including the artificial hand claps and conga drums. This is the lynchpin of the entire album and will be sure to get some extended playing time.

Unfortunately, there aren't many other high quality peaks. The other songs don't match the same vibe despite appearances from other Naked artists such as Gaelle and Andy Caldwell. Be prepared to encounter some transitional mixing from song to song due to the varied vibes featured on the album, but don't let that get in your way of enjoying some of the main course. Total time: almost 73 minutes. Carte Blanche 3 doesn't break any ground and the result is just above ordinary. The chefs at Naked have previously set a new standard and I think we are seeing the realization on their end that it's not only hard - it's down right difficult for them to continuously serve up a musical dish that is sure to "stir the soul". I hope they're up more of the challenge since Carte Blanche 3 is only a decent attempt. Respect. -Daz

Really nice + fresh. The keys are all sort of the same, kinda that rhodes-y synth style... They sound good but they're always there, throughout the entire album. But the beats on a lot of these are AWESOME! My favorite track is either Fall Into You by Stateless or Inside by Central Living.
A couple tracks are forgettable, just cuz they dont have drums high in the mix, which is what I am all about. Also, without vocals (besides the interspersed 'ooh yea' or something) to anchor the tunes, many of them sound like the other, without too much of a difference between either one. But that is the case in only a very MILD sense. There is plenty of variety on the cd.
But this is good for chillin out and ESPECIALLY good for falling asleep.

I own all three of the Carte Blanche cd's that have been released along with a couple of other cd's in the naked music collection. Carte Blanche vol. 3 is by far my favorite. Vol 1 follows closely in second place.. Vol. 1 offers a more Jazzy feel to it, vol. 2 offers a more funkdified, soulful mix and vol. 3, offers a cooler, smoother sound blending the jazz and soul from the first two releases. My favorite track is Deeper Love by Onda.. The first time I heard it I knew I had to have it..