Living Theater Vol.1

My latest musical obsession right now is chillout music. So far I have only found one compilation that I do not care for (The Ultimate Chillout 2001 or something close to that title). It took me awhile to love the seventh volume in the Cafe Del Mar series. As commercialized as "Ultra Chilled" and "The Classic Chillout Album" are, I love those two compilations to pieces. The diversity on those albums are first class. Not all chillout music is trip hop. My latest acquisition is "Buddha Bar Presents: Living Theater vol.1". This cd is far different from what I have been exposed to. Now while the music here is excellent to chillout to, I would have to say the music itself is more world than trip hop, with a splattering of jazz. P.Melas' cover of "My Funny Valentine" is a sensual aural pleasure with the jazz-influenced beats and smooth vocals. Probably the sexiest track on this album. I particularly loved Manuel Franjo's "Solo Por Tu Amor" and Balthazar's "Gypsy Tears". "Adams & Evenings" by Bert Joris is a gorgeous instrumental that is both jazz and trip hop influenced. It almost reminds me of Lux's "One Billion Stars" in some strange way. This album is ideal for a lazy Sunday morning with a cup of hot coffee and the Sunday newspaper as it is ideal for an afterhours nightclub to sit back and relax after partying heavily. This is just a superb collection of world, jazz, trip-hop influenced songs that deserves to be heard whether it be in a nightclub or at home.