The Continental Funplex
Amaranth | Northern California | 04/17/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Putumayo's "Euro Groove" is a refreshing, accessible introduction to Continental club hits. It's perfect background music for a glass of wine, coq au vin, and a night with one's honey. The songs are enchanting, a sonic journey through European's cosmopolitan diversity.
The opening track, Toufic Farroukh feat. Jeanne Added, "Destins et Desirs" blends French chanson with Arabic grooves. It's like being in a hip Algerian night club in Paris. Jazzamor's "Nuit Magique" is true to its title;it's German smooth jazz (and yes,it does exist) Fiamma Fumana's "Check in" pokes fun at their constant life of touring. !DelaDap's "Le Shin" is groovy Nu-Roma (gypsy) music. Unfortunately, !DelaDap doesn't have the fame&exposure of Balkan Beat Box, Taraf de Haidouks, and Gogol Bordello. Martial's "Cette Fille" is glorious Celtic/French rap. It gives a beat to Celtic music... and it's not Michael Flatley! "Superwhirly" and "Madchen Mit Plan" are fit for the dancefloor. "Jacob's Ladder" is a powerful anti-war ballad that grooves with a Celtic beat. Mystic Diversions' "E Pa Pa" is sensuous and mystical. The closing song, Mouss et Hakim's "Mina",is a powerful Arabic/French groove about women and religious fundamentalist oppression. These songs have messages (most are love songs),without being dreadfully heavy-handed.
"Euro Groove" shows off the latest cool grooves on the Continent, and artists worth exploring. Pour a glass of Italian Barbera, make some Spanish tapas and French crepes, and give "Euro Groove" a spin!"
FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO GROOVE!
peter christian | los angeles | 03/22/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"AS THE SAYING GOES - GOOD THINGS ARE WORTH WAITING FOR.
PUTUMAYO'S NEWEST COMPILATION "EURO GROOVE" HAS BEEN
WELL WORTH THE WAIT - OF THEIR MANY PREVIOUS WORLD
MUSIC RELEASES THIS IS BY FAR THEIR BEST.
NOT A BAD CUT OUT OF THE TEN TRACKS OFFERED - MODERN,
REFRESHING AND DEFINITELY A CD THAT WILL REMAIN ON
YOUR PLAY LIST FOR A LONG TIME.
THANKFULLY THIS IS NOT A DANCE FUSION GROOVE NOR IS IT
TAINTED WITH SOME EURO BANDS RENDITION OF STATESIDE
HIP,TRIP OR FLIP HOP
BEST TRACKS - LEBANESE TOUFIC FAROUKH'S "DESTINS ET DESIRS'
CZECH !DELADAP'S "LE SHIN"-GERMANY'S 2RAUMWOHNUNG'S
"MADCHEN MIT PLAN" - ITALYS MYSTIC DIVERSIONS "E PA PA" -
AND FRANCES MOUS ET HAKIM'S " MINA".
POSSIBLY IS ONE OF THE BEST RELEASES OF 2008 SO FAR.
THIS IS NOT A BUDDHA BAR/HOTEL COSTE CLONE,IT'S BETTER
AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO GROOVE WE SALUTE YOU
PUTUMAYO.
MY ONLY COMPLAINT - ENOUGH ALLREADY WITH THE NAIVE
SLEEVE ART WORK - A CD LIKE THIS DESERVES BETTER.
BUY IT OR FLY IT ?? - BUY IT TODAY - FIVE BIG STARS - PC LA."