Masterful collection.
consumer123 | Los Angeles, CA | 12/27/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"More Serge Gainsbourg than Derrick Mays, Japan's Towa Tei skirts conventional wisdom about musical definitions with a healthy sense of humor uncommon in the oft-strictly segregated world of electronic dance music, where drum `n bass is drum `n bass and is not to be confused with the disparate genre of house. On "Towa Tei / Best / Korea," juxtaposition has never been more comfortable or delightful.A Korea-only compilation of Towa Tei's more popular songs selected personally by Towa Tei himself for the Korean audience, "Best" is a titillating and heady freefall through a cosmopolitan of music styles. It features female singers from all over the world including vocalists Japan's UA, Australia's Kylie Minogue, and Brazil's Bebel Gilberto, surrounded in Tei's aural pastels painted in bossanova, house, and even funk. A sexy but chic master of the cool uptempo, Tei's finesse shines on hits like "Luv Connection" and "Happy," while "Obrigado" and "A Ring" glimmer with the warmth of a João Gilberto love song.To finish off the irresistibly delicious assortment of songs culled from Tei's discography that make up this collection, is the classic dance club hit "Groove Is In The Heart," which, with Deee-Lite's Lady Miss Kier and A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip on vocals, launched Deee-Lite and Towa Tei into the stratosphere. Without a doubt, a near-impeccable compilation of a truly inspired producer's best, "Best" is a must-have for any fan of electronic dance music with an interest in thinking outside the box and above the clouds."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1