Customer Reviews

Gran Hotel Buenos Aires

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Federico Aubele's album on ESL comes as a refreshing twist in the downtempo/international music scene. Taking guitar-rich songs from his native Argentina, packing them onto the thievery-built sonic cruiser and stopping off in Kingston to drench it all in dub.

There are plenty of dub records out there, and plenty more from Argentina, but this may be worth your time if you dig mellow, haunting downtempo songs with both live and sampled vocals. Good music for chillin'.

The one drawback, I guess, is that this music can seem too-much like wallpaper or fashion music. But taken as part of a deep collection of music or for inclusion in mixes - I'd say this record rates as a classic of its genre. B+

One night, in a lounge usually blanketed with generic background electronica, the sneaky dub reggae base of the track "Ante Tus Ojos", at once latin/folky/ambient with sexy Spanish vocals, got my hips swaying and had me bubbling over with excitement! Soon after, I received a copy of Federico Aubele's "Gran Hotel Buenos Aires". If the rest of the album were as good as the opening track, I'd give it a 5. However, they are duller cousins of the first - with the same blend of guitar, female vocals, and ethereal vibe. Not an insult in the least, given the stellar quality of #1 (Esta Noche being second best) The Spanish vocals add even more mystery and sensuality to the already surreal layers. Now if only I could get someone to translate... This album introduced me to the world of Thievery Corp (I also bought their Mirror Conspiracy, Outernationalist, and Babylon Rewind cds). Gran Hotel is a definitely a spawn of a much larger body of work, but with Aubele's Argentinean influence - is a product of its own. I agree that this album does not fall into a specific genre... its not categorically ambient, nor folk, nor lounge. Gran Hotel can be played anywhere: lounge, car, bedroom... as long as you are in the mood to be carried away in a sexy transcendental ride.

It's hard to believe that such a terrific album was the artist's freshman effort - if you're a fan of downbeat/downtempo/lounge/dub music, you honestly won't find a better CD on the market today than Hotel Buenos Aires

Those of you who are fans of Thievery Corporation, K&D, Hi-Fi Dub sessions, Cafe del Mar, or Morcheeba should probably turn on Amazon's One-Click ordering and get this CD right now. You'll be ecstatic as you listen to Aubelle blend South American style with reggae-infused beats and absolutely terrific Spanish vocals.

I bought this CD a little over a year ago, and it's still one of the staples that comes on the stereo everytime I have a BBQ or a pre/after-hours party. Truly an awesome purchase...pick up this disc and keep it in your changer until his next album comes out - you won't be disappointed.

This album does what many others don't: it falls into a non-category zone. If you expecting something you have already heard (chill-out, lounge, house) you will get disappointed, and I think that's the biggest achievement of Federico. It is soothing, wonderful, powerful...beautifully crafted yet original. The lyrics just caress your senses, dance inside your head and definitely stay for a long time. When you get it just make sure you pick up your favorite vino tinto, sit back and crank up the volume. Then you will get the point. By the way he's even better live, another great achievement.

There is nothing out there that sounds anything like this album. not many artists can integrate so many styles and make it flow the way this album does. The sultry vocals, spanish guitars, and groovy beats will keep u listenin to Gran hotel Buenos Aires for a long time...A definate recommendation for fans of thievery corporation or international music...This album is impressive

Not a big of latin music or even latin singers, but of late I've developed an affinity for both, especially this new one from Federico Aubele who stems from the beautiful country of Argentina and is doin' his thang on the ESL record label (Thievery Corporation, Blue States, Desmond Williams, Les Hommes). Aubele shines on his debut "Gran Hotel Buenos Aires" with some very familiar, yet unique downtempo. It's unique because the handsome, young artist utilizes styles of dub, folk, ambient and triphop, and pulls it all together with his wonderful Latin guitar. And the vocals are wonderful even if I don't understand what's being sung--but at least are provided the lyrics to be deciphered by your Spanish speaking friends--that is if you have any. At any rate, If you're into Thievery Corporation, Santana, Suba or even Bebel Giberto, check out Federico Aubele! The guy's pretty dawg-gone BIEN!

Because the sleeve says 'Buenos Aires' most people expect something like Gotan Project, Narcotango, Tanghetto. Modern music with strong tango influences. Even my local cd-shop filed it under 'tango'. But non of that on this CD. It's great music, well produced, but most traditional influences are the wellknown monotonous latin, salsa, rhumba, brazil kind.

I came across this artist as it was recommended by those who liked Thievery Corp, which I have just recently (in the past year) have really started to like. So, when I read (and heard) that this was a fusion of their sound with the sultry tango/Argentinian music, I found it very intriguing. I really enjoy this album namely because of the vocals and of course the guitar is very romantic. Very nice mood music, but it also sounds great when I blast it in my car...that's what I call immersion :-)
The women on this album convey great passion in their voice even though these are not what most would consider "strong" singing voices.

My husband loved it so much the first time I played it that he had me make a copy for him (he wouldn't normally pick up an album like this).

Altogether, I give it a 4 if only for the fact that a couple of the songs sound a lot like some of the others. Overall, a great find. I must have played it 30 times in my car and at home since I bought it on Sunday (4 days ago).

Beautiful laid back latin dub. I'm currently playing this album to death. It hasn't out of my CD player for the last week. everyone that I played this album for, loves it.

I think that this album goes so well in a mutli CD player (on random play) with other dub or dubish musicians such as Sly and Robbie, King Tubby and Thievery Corpoaration.

La musica de Federico Aubele no tiene madre, de una gran creatividad, la influencia de T.C. puede escucharse por todas partes sin perder su estilo unico e hipnotico.