Search - Cafe Del Mar :: Café del Mar, Volumen Doce (Import)

An Improvement for the series

Leonardo Rodriguez | 06/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought the lates in the series, called doze, spanish meaning twelve, and if you thought its predecessor was too barren, or instrumental for your taste, you are going to love the latest reincarnation of Cafe del Mar.



I bought this as soon as it came out. Cafe del Mar, in my humble opinion, is one of the best chillout compilations out in the market, and one of the longest in the series compiling now 12 releases. The production values on these newer tracks are a mayor improvement, consisting of softer melodies and less on atmosphere which the series has depended on the latter disks, such as Vol. 11. However, having said that, it still atmospheric, but it embodies a heavenly blend of spanish flavor, and ethnic electronic that is ambient, rich in vocals & mystical mixes. The sounds here, as usual in any Cafe del Mar, are trendy, relaxed, and the recordings of these female/male voices will inspire many listenings.



'Bunbury' first track, sacame de aqui(DAB remix) will set the tone for the rest of this 2-disk set. Yes, for the first time, Cafe del Mar features 28-tracks, and volume here is not filler material, but quality throughout, 'ON BOTH DISKS!' Doze offers here variety, and more vocals on most of the tracks here, which gives the songs body, character, and emotion. Cafe del Mar Vol. 12 is the best of the series I believe, and that's not an understatement folks. The music selection here is of high-quality, and the mesmerizing melodies is something to behold whenever these artists are singing for the children of the new age. If you like Vol. 4,5,6,7, then 12 is your cup of tea. Enjoy!"

It all depends on what you expect from these 2 CDs

Lim Jingshun | Singapore | 04/24/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you're expecting to find more of those dynamic rythyms and beats from volumes 1-7, you will be sorely disappointed, as I was.



However, after listening to the tracks together with my own playlist songs, it starts to grow on you! After I took about a week to forget about the disappointment in the noticeable shift in the flavour of the Cafe Del Mar series, Volume 12 slowly began to stand out in its own merits. Like the earlier volumes, it is a chill out CD, but far more mellow and relaxing. With tracknames like "Lazy Lounging", you can't really expect tunes as catchy as ones earlier in the series.



In fact, the music from this collection is so relaxing, that you just can't help but laze around to them. Its so difficult to get to work (like preparing for my college exams). If I'm working on my stuff and songs from this volume plays, I'll start to sit back and daydream. But that might just be me.



The high quality of tracks is consistent throughout the 2 CDs, and it is difficult to single out good ones without naming half the tracks from the entire volume. I would recommend at least these few tracks, which are what I find captures the essence of the Volume 12 spirit.

05 - Another Day

06 - Antologia Cafe Del Mar

14 - Bailando Va



I can't help but paint a picture of the imaginary dreamlike place this 2 CDs always seem to whisk me away to.



If Cafe Del Mar Vol.12 is like your weekend away to a nice relaxing mediterranean beach resort, then CD1 would represent your arrival at the beach, and once you unpack, you lazily lounge away the entire day away, relaxing and watching the sunset sipping endless cocktails with tiny paper umbrellas on them.



CD2 would represent the 2nd day of your mini holiday, bringing slightly more upbeat tunes more suitable for a day filled with parties and games by the beach, while still retaining the relaxing chill-out mellowness characteristic of this volume.



The last few tracks of CD2 are a little more solemn though, suitably wrapping up the dreamy episode.



I admit that I seemed to be describing an experience, than writing a 'review' of this compilation. But an experience is exactly what the Cafe Del Mar series has always brought to its listeners. Well, a tad more mellow this time.



Just remember, like what a few previous reviews have mentioned, if you're expecting music from the single-digit volumes, stay clear of this "tiki-torch party" muzak. If you'd like something different for a change (like when you first bought your Cafe Del Mar CD), this volume would grow on you fast. Having said that, I'd still wish for the series to return to its previous style of the earlier volumes (eg. 6th, 7th)."

BEST ONE YET

Brian Stewart | Vancouver BC | 10/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've got most of the series plus another 100 or so chill/lounge albums. This 1 is in my top 5. Every track is a winner."