Experiments in Ambient Soul [Import]

Dining Rooms | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 2, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Schema
• ASIN: B00080SE2S
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #326,962 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. No Problem

2. Diamonds & Comforts

3. Afrolicious

4. Driving

5. Milano Calibro 9

6. Destination Moon

7. Il Girotondo Dei Grandi

8. Within

9. Forever's Not

10. Experiments in Ambient Soul

11. Thin Ice

12. The World She Made

13. U

Editorial Reviews

The title of this album is wrong in two out of three ways. First of all, there's nothing especially experimental about the Dining Rooms' approach here: the record-buying public has long ago expressed its support for polite funky grooves with hints of jazz (double bass, Fender Rhodes, etc.) thrown in and breakbeats percolating around down below. Nor is there anything particularly ambient about their sound -- some of these tracks are relatively quiet, sure, but most of them assert themselves quite effectively. That leaves the "soul" question, and here they make a stronger case. Stefano Ghittoni and Cesare Malfatti know how to build a hot, funky groove without overloading the mix or pounding you over the head, and they do so particularly well on tracks like "No Problem" and the sultry "Forever's Not." The album's only real problems lie with the many collaborators who Ghittoni and Malfatti enlisted to give their fourth disc a more immediate, organic flavor. Marta Collica is a fine singer, and her vocal contributions on "Forever's Not" and "Thin Ice" are album highlights. Sean Martin, on the other hand, is a derivative singer and a pedestrian lyricist at best (sample couplet: "I don't know what's wrong with me/All I know is that I need someone to set me free"), and Don Freeman's winning falsetto croon isn't enough to redeem the lyrically vapid and melodically barren "Destination Moon." Most of the tracks that feature collaborators would have actually worked much better as soulful (even ambient) instrumentals. So maybe what they meant by "ambient" was "don't listen too closely." If so, follow their advice and you'll find the album perfectly enjoyable. ~ Rick Anderson, Rovi --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Dining Rooms experience., September 13, 2005

By 

Jason B. Smith "diskfailure" (Atlanta GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Experiments in Ambient Soul (Audio CD)

This is a new and smooth sound not found in the states. It is very classy and original sounding. No techno, no computer looped crap. A very soothing beat to relax to. The French and Italian lyrics bring it all together. It is an awesome addition to any chill out house, lounge, or jazz coinsure/collector.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Groovy, Trippy and Sexy. A Five Star Catch!, September 5, 2005

By 

L. F. V. Guimaraes - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Experiments in Ambient Soul (Audio CD)

this mature album shows the group can mix well produced ambient tracks with the finest soul flavor I've seen in a while. Music to be heard tripping or loving, the latest dinning rooms album shows us that there's plenty of "out of pattern" groovy ambient loops being made out there. fine stuff.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Groovy, Trippy and Sexy. A Five Star Catch!, September 6, 2005

By 

L. F. V. Guimaraes - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Experiments in Ambient Soul (Audio CD)

this mature album shows the group can mix well produced ambient tracks with the finest soul flavor I've seen in a while. Music to be heard tripping or loving, the latest dinning rooms album shows us that there's plenty of "out of pattern" groovy ambient loops being made out there. fine stuff.