Customer Reviews

Tre

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Dining Rooms are THE luvvy outfit par excellence. Cool and Chic Islington cafe lounges wouldn't be the same without them. "Their music is a language of boundless parameters" (the press release's word, not mine) but to me its real classic chill out stuff. Forget all those tawdry package "The Greatest Chill Out Album Ever Volume 7" if you want the real deal this is it. "Tre" is a set of 13 cool cuts from real musicians with roots in house, jazz, soul and Africanism. Its been marshalled in Italy by Stefano Ghittoni and Cesare Malfetti and the whole thing flows beautifully with maybe the dreamy "Dreamy Smiles" best summing up the sound. But listen up to the strings on "La Cita Nuda" and the gentle groove of "You"-two real delights. The set comes complete with two videos "Tunnel" and the aforementioned "Dreamy Smiles", where the images are as enigmatic as the music. Not everyone's frappe but at the right time in the

To me "Tre" is beautiful and intriguing, from the first track through the last. Although I have listened to this album dozens of times there is still still something about it which continues to appeal to me. "Tre" has a timeless quality and the more I have listened to it the more I've grown to enjoy it. Stefano Ghittoni and Cesare Malfatti are without a doubt masters or their craft and have produced an album worth listening to time and time again.

With their latest release Tre, Milano-based downbeat outfit The Dining Rooms (aka Stefano Ghittoni and Cesare Malfatti) are intent on proving they are no one trick ponies. Following the success of their 2001 sophomore release Numero Deux, the duo returns with an elegantly crafted "chill-out" set that embraces an array of musical styles from twilight jazz and swing to atmospheric deep house, Afro-Latin rhythms and sultry Mediterranean-inflected downtempo. Once again the pair teams up with resident Tosca siren Anna Clementi, along with newcomer Sean Martin, to unveil a simmering summer opus that is seductive and infectious. Thankfully, the album offers enough surprising twists and turns to steer clear of much of the mediocre adult contemporary / trite cosmopolitan chic panache that has plagued similar releases within this genre. Fans of Thievery Corporation, Herbert and Saint Germain will undoubtedly gravitate towards this inviting collection. Highlights include: "La Citta Nuda," the nostalgic and orchestral "Fluxus," the sensorial "Dreamy Smiles" and "You," cosmic slow-burner "Astro Black" and the pulsating Afro-Latin jazz-tinged "Prigioneri Del Deserto."

Despite possessing one of the worst band names in music, Italian house fusionists The Dining Room are clearly wizards in the kitchen, whipping up a smorgasbord of delicious musical flavours on their new and third album Tre (Italian for three). Featuring downtempo Balearic ballads alongside jazz tinged uptempo dance numbers, what distinguishes the album is the sheer quality of its song-writing, providing warm and immediately accessible musical foundations for vocals from singers including Tosca collaborator Anna Clement and Sean Martin. Martin's voice, in fact, is one of the standout distinguishing characteristics of the album, transforming opening track Tunnel into an atmospheric almost Massive Attack style balled dripping in emotion and mood. Laidback, luxurious and easily listenable, Tre is an album that will grace coffee tables, lazy sunny afternoons and anywhere else in

The Dining Rooms' third album, Tre, follows closely in the footsteps for their other two: trip-hop rhythms, cinematic soundscapes, and moody melodies. But, the rhythms are a bit livelier (check out the near-house of "Fluxus" or the full-on house of "Prigionieri Del Deserto"), and there's more emphasis on vocals (the plaintative male on "Fightin' 4 Rebirth" or the dreamy female on "Astro Black") and jazziness ("Existentialism (Milano Dub Mix)"). But the real reason to listen comes on the very first track: "Tunnel" is a tremendously beautiful track, full of longing and want and pain. It's what heartbreak sounds like, and it stands head-and-shoulders above ever other track. It alone is worth the price of the album.

Following on the heels of the critically acclaimed "Numero Deux", Milano based downbeat maestros, the Dining Rooms, return with their truly accomplished third album "Tre". Expanding their musical horizons, producers Stefano Ghittoni and Cesare Malfatti enlist the services of a host of talented musicians, including Compost Recordings' artists Michael "Soul Patrol" Rutten and Max Schneider, to turn out an elegantly crafted album of sublime post-modern electronic soundscapes. Embracing an impressive range of musical styles, tastes, and tempos, the Dining Rooms deliver a well rounded program of nostalgic nu-jazz swing beats, sultry Mediterranean trip hop vibes and vintage deep house atmospherics which are brought to life by the bluesy, animated vocal stylings of resident Tosca siren, Anna Clementi and talented new comer, Sean Martin. While undoubtedly the Dining Rooms most musically ambitious offering to date, "Tre" retains all of the orchestral film score chic and infectious finger snapping beats that made fans fall in love with them in the first place.

I am late to the Dining Rooms party, and apparently haven't been missing much despite the 5-star reviews on Amazon. There is a difference between chilled (which I love) and comatose, which except for a couple of tracks toward the end of this disc would certainly be an apt description. There is no there there.

Look, the same person wrote all of the reviews above this one. Believe me - it's worth having, but don't scream and shout like it's the end of history. Pleasing and funky and maybe good for sex.

Rating: Fourteen cigarette cases The skinny: Italians proffer up some beboppy-cool jazzy (sans Jeff) beats over '50s lounge singing. It's the perfect background noise for your next upscale dinner party. This time, let the mint julep Jell-O shots congeal for at least 15 extra minutes, unless you want them to be consumed runny. If you liked this album, you'd like: James Bond soundtracks, dressing down in your Armani, the occasional Quaalude with dinner. Who else likes this album? People unaware of K-Mart, Arby's and single dollar bills. What does your high school music teacher think? Armani? More like "our money!" HA! Was that my first joke? No? Damn it! Did we listen to this? We would have if Men's Wearhouse hadn't denied us a damn tuxedo rental. Tantalizing tidbits: We really hope the song title "Prigionieri del Deserto" translates to "I have eaten so many deserts, I appear to be pregnant."

Honestly, this CD is very sensual and intoxicating. If you have wondered what music goes well with sex, try this. The music itself is very soft and flows well, and the occasional vocal does enough to spice up the sound. 5 stars no doubt