Elements of Life

"Little" Louie Vega | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 9, 2004)
• Original Release Date: March 17, 2008
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Vega Records
• ASIN: B00018D48G
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,897 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Journey's Prelude - Spoken Word by Ursula Rucker

2. Jungle Fever

3. Brand New Day featuring Blaze

4. Cerca De Mi featuring Raúl Midón

5. Africa/Brasil

6. Nos Vida featuring Anané

7. A Better Day featuring Raúl Midón

8. Ma Mi Mama featuring Anané

9. Tu Y Yo

10. Summer Night In Spanish Harlem

11. Quimbombo featuring Domingo Quiñones

12. Canto Para Chango

13. Sunshine

14. Elements of Life featuring Blaze

15. Mon Amour featuring Anané

16. Mozalounge

Editorial Reviews

Famous for his many contributions to the global dance community both as a solo artist and as one half of legendary duo Masters at Work, Louie Vega's newest full-length piece is further evidence of his boundary-breaking musical genius. Exploring, dissecting and fusing musical genres like Bossanova/Samba, African Jazz, Salsa and Soca, and languages like English, Spanish, Cape Verdian, Yoruban and French, Elements of Life creates a gorgeous musical collage.

Elements of Life's uplifting message is most notable on the single, "Brand New Day" - created with pioneering underground music duo Blaze (Kevin Hedge and Josh Milan). The featured artists on the album are seasoned singer/songwriter/guitarist Raúl Midón and rising superstar, Anané. . On this album, Anané expresses herself in her native Cape Verdian language, English, and French on bossa-flavored cuts "Nos Vida (Our Life)" and "Ma Mi Mama (With My Mommy)", as well as in the sexy spoken word collaboration with Dimitri From Paris on "Mon Amour (My Love)." and Ursula Rucker on "Journey’s Prelude".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Elements of M.A.W., March 9, 2004

By 

Brooklyn's Finest "I, Storm" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elements of Life (Audio CD)

For the most part, this rekkid is quite mellow & very laid back
The production, although very slick and well-done, is very "safe". In my opinion, it's a little too reserved... very much like the overall vibe of NYC's Music Scene.

Unfortunately, the "fire" is dying out here. Our current and former Mayors have done a great job of ruining the city's nightlife. Bloomberg vows to pull the plug on "the city that never sleeps".

When I listen to Louie's latest release, I'm reassured that he is a very talented producer/dj who isn't being challenged very much by his surroundings. My friend/fellow dj tells me that Louie tears it up every time he hears the "Master" at work (Louie still spins around town) but I'd love to hear him produce some music that's more aggressive and cutting edge.

This release is too "smoove" for any of the gigs that I spin.
So I'll simply have to listen to it at home.

*Most of the tracks mix from one to the next (in tempo)
Here's how I rated each track:

1. Journey's Prelude/Jungle Fever feat. Ursula Rucker
The poetry here is more like a mantra... Ursula sounds fine, yet not nearly as seductive or nasty as the chick on the original recording; The Chakachas released "Jungle Fever" in the '70's. This is merely an enhanced audio version with some minimal instrumental substitutions. Sounds fake and boring! 1 star out of 5

2. Brand New Day feat. Blaze
(Uptempo) Deep Jazzy House w/ great latin percussion
Nice keyboards/synth, decent drum loops, mediocre vocals
2 stars/5

3. Cerca De Mi feat. Raúl Midón
This has a brazilian feel, yet still deep jazzy house.
Track is mixed right into (same bpm) preceding track.
Not bad -- 3 stars/5

4. Africa/Brasil
Dope - The title says it all!
Djembes, afro guitar riffs, etc.
4.5 stars/5

5. Nos Vida feat. Anané
Nice vibe! Brasilian groove/Samba House
Panderos, cuicas, tambourines, etc.
4 stars/5

6. A Better Day feat. Raúl Midón

Brasilian Bliss -- very nicely done!
Great flute! Nice chord progression. Redundant lyrics, though.
3.5 stars/5

7. Ma Mi Mama feat. Anané
Cape Verdean/Brasilian -- Pretty nice vibe but very redundant. Boring chord progression :-(
2.5 stars/5

8. Tu Y Yo
This is very similar to last two tracks.
Not much difference in percussion patterns --
Acts more as a finale. Total track time 1:27
2 stars/5

9. Summer Night In Spanish Harlem
Awesome Rumba! Live percussion ensemble jam at about 145 bpm... Hot! 4.5 stars/5

10. Quimbombo feat. Domingo Quiñones
I saw Domingo star in the Off-B'Way musical of Hector Lavoe's life story... He was really great! Not my first choice for soñeros by far, but he has good pitch. The rhythm section (drum loops incl.) create a serious pocket!
4 stars/5

11. Canto Para Chango
With vocal...This eventually segues into the next track.
If I'm not mistaken, the clave is not being executed correctly.
2 stars/5

12. Sunshine

Yup, the rhythm section is playing in 2/3 clave but the percussionist is playing CLAVE in the 2/3 cuban-style which is not in synch. Sounds minor, but this is actually a big deal for many people. It still grooves though - Nice Vocals! 3 stars/5

13. Elements of Life feat. Blaze
More Deep Jazzy House (uptempo)
Nice bass, live percussion, nicely balanced.
Corny lyrics, decent vocals.
4 stars/5

14. Mon Amour feat. Anané and Dimitri of Paris
Half time, pseudo-bossa nova beat. Nice guitar, very nice bandoneón -- French language 4 stars/5

15. Mozalounge
Nice horns, piano, percussion...
Another fusion of Latin American styles.
SAFE -- but it works! At least in my living room or some SOHO lounge :-)
4 stars/5

P.S.
Why doesn't this CD include the names of ALL the great musicians who contributed? In my opinion, the best efforts were not by the (mediocre) smooth jazzy singers... the rhythm section, horns and percussionists featured here should be complimented for a great job.

DAVE MASUCCI

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Smashingly Good Set of Latin Disco from Louie Vega., March 24, 2004

By 

The Groove (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elements of Life (Audio CD)

For the last decade and a half, Louie Vega (along with MAW partner Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez) has been gracing dance floors with some innovative and irresistible house rhythms. Admittedly, his style requires some getting used to. Some folks complain that his approach is too mellow, but if you are able to accept Vega on his own terms, then you'll most likely appreciate "Elements of Life." This disc is a classy hodgepodge of chilled house, spicy Latin/African rhythms, and crisp beats that are perfect for that Saturday evening get-together or for just mellowing out at home. Favorites are the percussion-heavy "Brand New Day," the Brazilian swagger of "Nos Vida" and "Ma Mi Mama," the killer interlude "Summer Night in Spanish Harlem" (some nice work on the congas and percussion, here), and the breezy closer "Mozalounge." Truthfully, there isn't anything here you haven't already heard before, and the typical Vega fan can more or less predict the direction of the album. But it's nice to see Louie fuse Brazilian/African rhythms, disco, and electronica on record so seamlessly as he does here.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GENIUS AT WORK...!, August 9, 2005

By 

Rafael Cova "Kid X" (Caracas, Venezuela) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elements of Life (Audio CD)

A rich mix of his unbeatable garage songs, South American enriched house and real latin flavours, it collects previous 12" only classics such as "Brand New Day" and the title track, much of Louie's Vega Records output and loads of new music. The album features an unrivaled group of friends, from New Jersey garage supremos Blaze, singer / guitarist Raul Midon and Louie's wife Anane plus a host of players.
Another great and beautiful record, if you feel connected with Latin House music, there is a perfect example here, Elements of Life, keeps the dancefloor in mind, but moves far beyond it. He created with a nine-piece band and vocalists, including Ursula Rucker, Anane, Blaze with his fantastic "Elements of Life" in original 12" extended version, Jose Luis Pardo from "Los Amigos Invisibles" (Caracas FOREVER!!!), Raul Midon and salsa sensation Domingo Quinones (who sings a tribute to Vega's late uncle, former salsa star Hector Lavoe). The song Elements of Life was created years ago and then he created a whole album out of that sound. This album is a little deeper, that reflects more spiritualism, unifying cultures and basically celebrates life. Precious, really wonderful.