Customer Reviews

Vol. 14-Cafe Del Mar

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

 

 

I'm writing this review for folks who are interested in buying this compilation. Vol. 14 in the Cafe del Mar series is solid, and lets get this first and foremost. As to the reviewer who rated this product a one star, I think this was too harsh, as even the more water-down instrumentals in this comp. are still excellent, although a little repetitious. Vol. 14 retains the same feel as Vol. 12, and 13th, with a very heavy acoustic guitar feel, and deep, melancholic tunes. I found this Vol. a little more 'darker', more chilled, and less cheery when compared to its previous brother, Vol. 13. This is chilled latin, featuring lots of guitar riffs, female voices echoing into oblivion, and once again, like any Cafe del Mar series, it features a collection of styles with elements of lounge, nu-beats, balearic electronica, blissout soulful jazz, and more importantly, that Cafe del Mar touch that restores that sense of well-being. These tracks are new, fresh, and worth the money for this double CD-set. The packaging is again, excellent, and the mixing well contrived. Where Vol. 14 falls short is in the selected instrumentals, which sometimes feels a little too familiar from one another, and the lack of originality when compared to Vol. 13. These tracks are little more watered down in originality, and thus this Vol. takes a slight hit, even though it is still one of the best compilations out this year. Personaly I own the entire series, and I have heard this series grow, mature, and offered some of the best cocktail compilations that money can buy. To fans of the series, or to those who love sophisticated music in general, Vol. 14 is a wise investment overall. Cheers!

I must say that the guys at Cafe del Mar have really lost it. I almost lost my faith in the Cafe del Mar series after vol. 12 and 13, which were sad examples of the lack of innovation, imagination, taste, and passion needed to compile an ambitious chill-out CD or set of CDs, but I wanted to give them one more chance. I should not have done it, as this vol. 14 is even worse. One just cannot hastily pull together a number of tracks that are far and away from the ambitious masterpieces compiled by Bruno or Jose Padilla in the not-so-distant past, and are more of a reminder of cheap "beach gigolo" kind of music. The guys at Cafe del Mar must do much far better than this, invite Bruno, Jose Padilla, Phil Mison or even Afterlife to compile the next set of CDs, or stop producing these the worst not-even-close-to-so-called-kitch-heartbreaking music for teenage kids altogether!!!

I'm afraid that Del Mar series is experiencing a lack of creativity and, to make matters worse, is forgetting the authentic and original "balearic sound" which masters like Jose Padilla and Bruno created in last years of last century. The series quality has evolved downwards since 2-CD box were introduced in Vol.12. It seems that threshold standards to appear in Del Mar had relaxed in order to get more songs. In Vol.14, we can listen sounds more close to other succesful series like Buddha Bar or even groove compilations. Please, don't get me wrong: I also love Buddha Bar and many others. But when I buy another Cafe del Mar disc, I'm looking for this unique style offered in Cafe del Mar, at least the style Cafe del Mar used to offer until vol. 11

Are you looking for the old Jose Padilla Magic? Then go get Bella Musica 1 and 2, Cafe Solo 1 and 2, and Man Ray 4. This current installment of the Cafe Del Mar Series doesnt capture the magic of all those memorable Cafe Del Mar albums compiled by Jose Padilla and Bruno. We all fell in love with those albums because they were eclectic, relaxing but still able to make our heads bob or sway, and they contained memorable tracks that would make us push those repeat button again and again. Cafe Del Mar XIV doesnt come close and is sadly a monotonous collection of guitar riffs and vocal-laden tracks. This album may be relaxing but it isnt eclectic and there arent any memorable tracks. I hope they dont make this same mistake again with the coming Cafe Del Mar XV. Thank you Cafe Del Mar for continuing this series and fostering chillout music BUT this series needs to correct its course. And yes I would rather have one CD of carefully selected excellent chillout music than 2 CDs of monotony.

I have almost all CDM and this is a big let down. Some of the tracks are downright awful. You'd have been better off purchasing Dreams Vol 4--it's much better. This series will be over if it continues down this path.

I own 1-14 of the series and this is by far the worst to date, they have really stopped trying! All tracks were very similar, bland mix of easy listening and was cheesy in places, Don't Bother!

Hey guys, after 14 albums we all know what to expect from Cafe del Mar. So of course this is more of the same. If you like this genre and want more, you'll like this album.
If you've had enough, well don't buy it. But those reviewers who gave this album one star basically because they seem tired of this style of music - well, its pretty pointless complaining about Cafe del Mar doing what Cafe del Mar does, because that's what Cafe del Mar does. And does it well.

I love this CD. It sets such a wonderful moon. A perfect CD to pop in when entertaining or spending the time alone with your significant other.

Maybe not the best of the best, but many of the tracks are what I've come to expect from Cafe del Mar; which is really good music! If you're a fan, then I would recommend buying it. If you're always looking for better and better - then maybe look elswhere! I love talent in all forms and it's much easier to be critical than to be able to appreciate the creativeness and hard work it takes to produce the works of these fine artists.

I've got *every* one of the albums, along with several of the Dreams. I have noticed degradation of the quality of the last few compilations, but this one is WAY off the mark. The absolute worst. Insulting to their loyal following. Somebody's gotta put a stop to this! Except for the first track, the album is uninspiring, uninteresting, soul-less muzak. I'm done with subsidizing Cafe del Mar -- this was my last purchase.