VA - V.I.P Lounge (2001)

The V.I.P. Lounge series is an interesting concept album having an Electro side (disc 1) and a World side (disc 2)...Unfortunatlely disc one is a tad bit lackluster, providing the listener with stuff that he's probably already heard a hundred gazillion times on other comp CDs (e.g. "M. Dupont"-The Dining Rooms, "Trainer Shuffle"-Blue States, "Fooling Myself"-King Kooba, "Salt Water Sound"-Zero 7, "Breathing Light"-Nitin Sawhney and "End"-Llorca). Still, this set manages to keep your attention long enough to actually enjoy it with songs from virtual unknowns as Boozoo Bajou, Sidewinder, Alex Cortiz, Taxi, Akotcha and the Underwolves. Disc 2 is a much better sounding and creative effort than the first supplying you with enough world music and ethnic rhythms to make you feel like you've actually been around the world. Check out songs from Cheikha Rimitti, Gotan Project and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan...sure stand-outs. Of course Volume 2 of the V.I.P. Lounge series makes this one sound like chopped liver--if that's even an appropriate comparison--but it's a really great find for when you're trying to add a little variety and "world" flavor to your music collection.