Customer Reviews

Gran Riserva

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

You would have to sort through a lot of junk to find a gem like Gran Riserva. It's beyond smooth and is above and beyond the best deep acid, jaz-funk, kitch, downtempo, groove lizard disc I've ever heard. It's difficult to categorize this disc, it slides all over the map but it's so well done that the transitions are seamless and flow beautifully. "Where's Johnny Sabatino" is film noire groove, complete with the sexy and manic voice over. "Airport" takes a one-way ticket to beat heaven, 'Basmati' moves things along nicely and eases you into the goodness to come. 'Drophere' (featuring Ma Dita) take it to ethereal depths with haunting vocals and a fabulously sexy rythm. "Thrill" takes you down memory lane, in this trippy and addictive riff. From the first time I spun this disc, it became a Sunday Afternoon favorite. Friends who hear this will agree, it's a *must* have.

The genre is typically bland and uninspired whereas Gran Riserva tucks itself nicely into your background or can easily rouse the neighbors. dZihan & Kamien blend sophisticated beats with some very provocative themes, all without pretense. The whole disc is multifaceted enough to suit any occasion and can move you or soothe you. I especially love the cover, it's absolutely deadpan - I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it features their respective fathers, musicians in their own right. This disc became an immediate, personal favorite.

The whole disc from start to finish is a very rare treat. Raise the bar and ease into exceptionally well-done and sophisticated lounge. dZihan & Kamien' Gran Riserva won't let you down. Best served chilled, no lizard's collection should be without this.

I'd also recommend Zero 7's "Simple Things".

Subtle, yet in your face, classy, yet raw, vintage-laden, teched-out, scratched-up, plain sick acid-jazz/disco/funk miscellania and minutia like you have not heard before.

This CD is so hot and raw that you can't help but squint and grin when you hear it... only if you're down with the REAL cheesecake, that is (that would be this album, of course).

'Basmati' and 'Sliding' are by FAR the two standout cuts on this album. 'Airport' would be my next pick of the choicest cuts, albeit, if not in the same category as the latter two. I won't waste any time describing these tracks 'cause words won't do them justice, imho.

As a part-time funk musician/composer (piano and keyboards), i must admit that, in general, the only credibility I lend to any piece of music is that earned by its 'groove,' if you will. Some people may use the terms 'drive' or 'beat' instead. With this kind of music, lyrics only matter to serve the groove; it doesn't really matter what exactly they are saying, long as it sounds good with the music; that's why the best lyrics in funk are often just plain scatting or pure nonsense.

This CD is only for people who 'get' what good acid-jazz is; if you don't know the difference, then this album will sound no different to you than the other 50,000 or what not garbage wannabe acid-jazz compilations that pollute the shelves of the 'Dance/DJ' section of your local record store or the virtual ones of Amazon. Perhaps if more people knew the difference, we'd have less garbage to sort through to find albums like this.

I've only listened to the disc twice, and I am
very satisfied. After listening to refreaked,
Dzihan and Kamiens remix cd (remixes of Freaks
and Icons by various artists IE AtJazz, etc.),
I was instantly interested in D&K (ironic). So
when Gran Riserva came out 3 days ago I got it.

It's very smooth and chill, yet fun and energetic.
A nice blend of synthetic production and live
instrumentation make for a rich listen. D&K have
production skills, and it is evident in their
sound and tracks. Quality.

I was worried that the CD would drift into ambiguous
toms and percussion, but the tracks maintained a
solid flow, and nothing really lulled too much. There
is minimal filler, although on first listen the first
1/2 of the disc seems more solid. Percussive beats,
funky basslines and chilled out melody abound. This
is a quality cd.

--Nick--

These guys never seem to amaze me. I bought their first album because it was suggested by the salesman who is a DJ and music afficionado like myself. I asked him, "what is good, chill, and ....," before I could finish he gave me the CD and told me to buy it no questions asked. I haven't looked back since. Now with Gran Riserva, words can't express the feelings and visualizations one gets while listening. Just like the title says. Like an expensive liquor only a chosen few get to truly experience. Where those who don't understand the love put into such a bottle or Album would quickly dismiss it as electronica or someother misnomer. This is art at its best.

If so, you need this CD as part of your arsenal. It's undoubtedly one of the strongest full CD's I've heard from artists who might be embraced by the martini set. Their synthesis of samples and live instruments is silky smooth. The set gets off to an impeccable start with "Stiff Jazz," which of course is anything but. This is one of those songs that would go well with those Mitsubishi car commercials, but of course we don't want that to happen, do we? Elsewhere, the songs range from downtempo beauties like "Drophere" to D & K's penchant for booty-shaking bass lines on "Sliding," the song that would be playing when you arrived at your hip club. Elsewhere, there are plenty of inventive songs to help you wind down the night with that special someone and cap off that perfect evening. Actually, all of this going around town sounds like a lot of work. I'll just stay home with my Diet Dr. Pepper and watch Spongebob with my son. But at least I have the soundtrack for that imaginary evening, which is the most important piece of the puzzle!!!

I love this album alot. It's a bit different than Freaks & Icons in a sense that it's alot more jazzy than usual compared with their typical Middle Eastern and Turkish samples and compositions. That's not to say that I don't like this album because I really do love it. It's awesome! The album kicks into high gear with the excellent track Stiff Jazz a jazzy, midtempo tune perfect for a lounge setting or jazz club setting or your living room/dining room. Then the track Basmati is a more mellow, downtempo jazz tune. It gives you a more laidback relaxed club feel. RIght after that we have Ford Transit. This is where we get the Middle Eastern samples. It's a fine downtempo, chill track. Sliding starts out fairly slow then gets really uptempo. Full of Jamaican singing and faint Middle Eastern chanting set to the perfect dance beat. The next 2 tracks are more mellow and chill with Drophere having vocals and Where's Johnny Sabatine being all instrumental chill. Right after that we have the fine midtempo track Deep Kitch. Then we are off to my favorite cut on the disc Airport. This is an excellent downtempo/chill track. It's just one masterpiece - perfect for a laidback lounge bar or background music for a party where you want the music to not overpower the mood of the party. It's flawless! The last three tracks are similar to the previous tracks in the sense that we have the jazz, and downtempo and chill genre at its perfection. With Dundadeova and Gutenmorgenduft being instrumentals and Thrill having vocals. Go check out this album it's excellent!!

SJ
www.bestplaylists.com

It's been a long time since a cd gave goosebumps song after song.....I put this cd on my car and went for a drive, it was an exquisite experience, from song 1 till the end, it was beatiful, danceable, smooth, every song was better than the one before...
After this you have to stop calling them the next K&D, and start calling some new comers "the next Dzihan & Kamien"...all ready a personal all time favorite...just listen to Airport and you'll know what I mean.....enjoy...

Seriously, these guys, most popular for their song "After", have really hit it with this album. I bought it last night and listened to the whole thing. I never hit the skip forward button on the cd! Honestly, every track was worth listening too. How rare is that? Especially on a cd that's mostly instrumental. To sum up the sound of this cd - it's like a cocktail party with chilled drinks, cool people, and the casual flirtation leaving you with endless possibilities for the evening....for those of you who understand something like that, you'll highly appreciate this album. Buy it now!

I stood gazing at this album. I am gonna get laughed at for owning an album with two old guys on the front. However, that doesn't matter anymore because the music on this album is really fantastic.

I bought this album on the 17th of October 2002 in France and I have fallen in love with it. I had previously heard of dZihan & Kamien from a radio station (Groove Salad 24K) and from a remix of a Billie Holiday song.

The tracks on this album are phenomenal. At first I wasn't sure of the album, however when I properly listened to every track I was hooked. The tracks have amazing bass (I should know I play the bass guitar) and have excellent noizes (as d&k say). I must admit I wasn't sure if the tracks would be unique. I must say I was wrong. The percussion is another great thing in this album. It is continuous but it doesn't stand out as being boring.

I like to class dZihan & Kamien as being Electronica Ambient because their tracks relax and are great when with the company of someone you love. However this album also has you tapping your feet and banging your head!!

A must buy for anyone who knows of dZihan & Kamien, and who likes what hey have heard!

This album is so well conceived, so well played, so well produced, it will knock your socks off whether you're a jaded old musician, a jaded young DJ, or just a keen listener. The real drums and real bass playing on most (if not all) tracks is stellar. The variety of sounds is playful and tasteful. I haven't been so excited about an album since Moe's Kitchen's debut.