Hommes

Les Hommes | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 20, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Eighteenth Street
• ASIN: B00006FI92
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #207,164 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. In Spring

2. Intraspettro

3. Six and Eight

4. Weegee

5. Pousada Do Amor

6. The Fourth Homme

7. Hommage

8. Vista Do Mar

9. Boogaloogalick

10. The Way Out

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Americans might not be buying jazz en masse, but they are buying jazz cut up, sampled, and rearranged by inventive DJs (Cinematic Orchestra, Koop). Into this mix comes Italian instrumental trio Les Hommes, who explore Brazilian jazz with a nod to the DJ audience. Using organ, drums, and vibraphone, Les Hommes work a clean '60s jazz prototype, adding slick DJ chill to their classic Brazilian thrill. The trinity of Tom Jobim, Luis Bonfa, and Walter Wanderley informs every move, from grinding bossa nova beats to sultry samba rhythms, while Les Hommes' posh Italian flair (and serious musicianship) makes this Muzak super-suave, ultrahip. Even the song titles transport you to unspecified yet exotic locales. "WeeGee" is not about the renowned New York photographer, it's a winking invitation to Brazilian lust. "Boogaloogalick" is a mambo-fired mover complete with a corny singer growling over campy Farfisa organ bubbles. All Les Hommes need is a Frank Sinatra cover and their ring-a-ding-ding would be complete. --Ken Micallef

Product Description

On their self-titled Eighteenth Street Lounge debut, expect to hear cool bossas to cliff-top drives along the Amalfi Coast, full-on Pumping dance floor batucadas, and exotic Moog-meets-organ grooves that tap into images of lost party scenes. Embracing club and DJ culture, but playing instruments rather than records. 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Released in the US - thank Thievery Corporation, August 31, 2002

By 

bordersj2 (Boston) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Hommes (Audio CD)

Wow. Les Hommes have finally arrived on shore and it's thanks to the ESL label, that of Thievery Corporation, who did something similar with "Jet Sounds" by Nicola Conte and "Nothing Changes Under the Sun" with Blue States.

I recommend picking up a compilation of their music before you get this release. Check out Boss-A-Troniq 2, or Break & Bossa Vol 5 to hear samples of what they are like. I only say that because their style is in fact jazzy, but it focuses on keyboards and organs - which may not be everyone's cup of team. I'd label their style in the jazz, lounge sort of area.

Familiar will be Hommage, as heard on Break & Bossa vol 5, and Pousada Do Amor, as heard on Nueva Bossa NOva. you will not find "The Hand of Tenorio", as that is on their EP release Mood Is Modal. That said, this is a good release. Some of the tracks are too short, IMO, but for the most part this is pretty good. The inner booklet contains what are perhaps the inspiration for the tracks - you really do sense that from "Pousada Do Amor".

Oh, and for the Break & Bossa vol 5 fans, the lovely voice is Rosalia De Souza. And... for the Schema label fans - Rosalia De Souza is releasing a feature album with Nicola Conte in November, 2002.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ULTRA COOL GROOVES!!!!!!!!, October 17, 2003

By 

Darrell L. Lee "dlatrell" (Jackson, MS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hommes (Audio CD)

I got hip to this group on Water Music's "Jazz Lounge" with the funky "Intraspettro", next I heard them on Acid Lounge in Space with "In Spring"...Both outstanding tracks--Naturally, I had to get the CD. Of course, I had to order it online, and it took forever to get to me, but the wait was well worth it. Every track on LES HOMMES is a stand-out, ranging from styles of acid jazz to swing to bossa nova to funk and samba. Despite it's minimal duration of 45:17, LES HOMMES is a truly spectacular effort that brings to mind old spy movies, sleazy night clubs and high society cocktail parties. Full of live instrumentations and sultry, haunting female vocals, this one is sure to get several repeat plays with jazz and downtempo enthusiasts alike. Buy it, throw some shades on, jump into your convertible (or whatever you own), pop it in and see if you don't feel like some James Bond/Katherine Hepburn wanna-be!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars de vuelta a los 60's!!, March 31, 2005

By 

A. Urribarri "Alanzoide" (Panama) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hommes (Audio CD)

WOWW! esta produccion es lo maximo que he escuchado en estos nuevos generos de acid jazz-nu bossa nova, simplemente te hace volar la imaginacion y hacerte ver que estas dentro de una cinta de espias con un twist de grooviness de los 60's, el sonido es super clean con cada instrumento, perfectamente acoplado para dar una sensacion unica de jovialidad, yo en lo personal disfruto cada cancion , no hay una sola q sea mala a mi parecer. el instrumento llamado vibraphone le da el toqe retro a las piezas, simplemente hay q comprarlo para poder saber lo que describo. comprenlo!! es simplemente excelente. Gracias a ESL Music por poner en el mercado tan buenos grupos del genero como Les Hommes y por su puesto los grandes de Thievery Corporation entre otros.