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I really enjoy Hotel Costes eatge 3, Hotel Costes 6 and Hello Mademoiselle, that I own, But this Costes 11 is not my fab.It has not the magic of the others albums.
Seeing as how I can't give the whole album a rating of 4.5 stars (which is what I think it really deserves), I'll be generous and give it 5. I like that each track is really unique, and that despite this, everything really fits together nicely. Personally, I could never really get into Hotel Costes 8.But this one is a different story. and #9-"Enzo" by Kraak and Smaak. I actually really enjoy listening to this album. It's interesting to see how each new volume in the series will be either really loved by some and really hated by others. The only two less-than-stellar songs for me are #7-"The Game" by Dublex Inc.
Vol 11 is the last I'll be buying. As I type I am listening to track 7 Dublex Inc 'The Game' and it is so mindlessly boring I can't believe nothing better could be found for a compilation that is only assembled once a year. Unfortunately, I find it hard to say anything good about this lot. Not even the great album cover can rescue this. I have to agree with the reviewers who believe Stephane Pompougnac has completely dropped the ball on this one. The quality of the Hotel Costes series has progressively declined, but there were always some songs on the last few albums to keep me hanging on. To my ear, much of this album sounds like B side pop singles.
However, is it possible to be specific about the tracks in these compilations when each and every one of them is so utterly forgettable, even after multiple listenings. At worst, they are vulgar and obscene (try keeping a straight face while listening to "Sax 4 Sex" from Cafe del Mar). Is it just me, or does it seem that the latest efforts from both Hotel Costes and Cafe del Mar are devoid of anything fresh, exciting, or novel. At best, they are watered down rehashes of old material: a sort of homogenized amalgam of now-cliched House motifs. In our reviews, we are encouraged to be as specific as possible, so as to be as helpful as possible to the readers of our reviews.
While this is groovy and a little silly. I think perhaps some of the other reviewers might prefer a "lighter" and more ostentatious sound. : ) I really, really enjoyed this one. There's a lot going on, but that's what gives it such a great background, swanky hotel bar vibe. Still a great listen with a martini in your hand.
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