Customer Reviews

Putumayo Presents World Lounge

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Putumayo Music has done it again! This has to be one of my most different, and favorite, CDs I own. World Lounge is an exploration in lounge music, its downtempo beats spreading across the globe. The music on this CD comes from everywhere: France, Italy, India, Japan, Argentina . . .

Without a doubt Blue Asia's "Abyssinean Dub" is the best track. It fuses middle eastern rhythms, asian instruments, and modern beats in one terrific song. I can never play it just once. Another favorite of mine is "Santa Maria", which puts a modern, urban spin on the Argentinian tango. (you may have heard this song in some commercials) Then there's always the quirky "Sympathique" by Pink Martini, which is a throwback to the days of French cabaret.

This is truly an eclectic CD, and it is definitely not for everyone. This is the type of CD where, to be honest, you either love it or you hate it. Listen to the sample tracks; trust me, you'll love it.

I am addicted to Putumayo releases and this is one of my favorites so far. Honestly I didn't think I'd like it nearly as much as I do. It's difficult to describe it's overall appeal, since genre-namedropping doesn't do this music justice. To humor the prospective buyer, however, I'd say it's a nexus of world music, Euro trip-hop/club, and dub with a fun dash of retro-kitsch. Each track is distinctive enough to stand out on its own, which is one of this sampler's strengths. I give it 5 stars because while there's a couple of tracks that don't do it for me, the tracks I enjoy more than make up for the ones I can do without. Having said that, I'd rank Mo' Horizons, Mau Mau, Blue Asia, and Pink Martini as the winners on the bunch, both for the distinctive style and musical appeal of each track, with the Montefiori Cocktail track getting an honorable mention for its delightful kitschiness. I enjoyed some of these tracks so much it motivated me to go out albums by three of these artists, despite the premium import price I had to pay for them all. It's a wonderful album to kick back and chill with, without it getting dull or boring, as well as something to throw on the player at a party that'll definitely make heads turn and intrigue any inquiring minds.

Chill-out music is a global phenomenon and this trendy lounge music compilation by Putomayo is excellent for perfecting the act of lounging idly. Modern downtempo masters like Italian producer Nicola Conte and German DJ Project Jasmon love marrying South American elements with enigmatic middle eastern melodies to create a novel, entrancing aural backdrop for a moodsome lounge session. This eclectic collection with European DJs validates that Parisians have no monopoly over chill-out vibes. So whether you are on a warm rug at your own lounge pad or at a chic Parisian lounge, just lay back on this chill out odyssey. My faves: Mau Mau, a folksy accordion with quirky percussion, punchy bass and subtle electronic remixes and bits of African pop & Blue Asia (Japan) which fuses exotic Indian sitar with oriental trumpets. Classy.
Recommended

This is a great soundtrack for a swanky cocktail party.

Whenever I play it at my parties, my friends always ask where the wonderfully different music is from. I tell them its from all over the world.

Its also a great "springboard" CD. If you like one cut better than another, investigate the artist (Pink Martini has become a new favorite of mine).

If you like this CD, you should also look for the Style series by Electric Lounge.

This CD offers a flawless mix of electronica, jazz, latin, and ethnic styles. I've listened through a lot of other similar compilations, such as Paris Under a Groove, Hotel Costes 5, and Bhudha Bar IV, but this one's the icing on the cake.

This one isn't going to have mass appeal however. The goal of this collection, a "chill-out soundtrack for a global cocktail party," is reached, which means you've got to be young enough (or young enough at heart) to like the rave-techno-trance beat. If you don't know what I mean about trance music, well this would be a really good choice to experience it for the first time, without having to learn the ins and outs of the international trance-techno subculture (or try Kraftwerk, they may have been the first to expose Americans to this Euro-sound). The other Putumayo collections I've heard have been anthologies to feature a geographic-cultural theme. This one features techno-trance artists from all over the world, and thus it's quite post-modern and not at all regional, nor does it feature a specific ethnicity or group of related cultures. I've enjoyed this CD with martinis, and long road trips, though obviously, not at the same time.

This is my favorite from the Putumayo collection. It has a perfect blend of various styles, but yet they go together well. It is great background music for a party, and it is a joy to listen to while you are busy at the computer.

It is a great introduction to world music. Once you start listening, you won't want to stop.

Putumayo's "World Lounge" had only one drawback, as does their other CDs, and that's that it's too short. This CD spans around an hour, with 11 songs, and I think that's way too short for a compililation like this. That aside, this is a great CD, filled with some of the biggest stars and Hits of Europe and Asia. If you're not a fan of HouseBeats or Techno, I don't recommend you purchase this. If, however, you are, then buy away!

Honestly, at first I did NOT like this CD at all, nonetheless, the CD does grow on you after the third listen. I did not intend to purchase this CD but was sold on the rating, boy am I glad I was. This CD is surprisingly modern and global in its gamut of tribal flavor and instruments. I highly recommend this CD to whomever has not experienced this type of eclectic blend of fusion music before. It opens up your ears for sure.

I have had this CD for a while and I really enjoy it. I actually play it quietly in the background when I teach Pilates and the class LOVES it....every time I use it at least one person comments on my "great" music...I always share the title with them. Great music is meant to be shared!!