Claude Challe Presents: Near Eastern Lounge

Claude Challe Presents: Near Eastern Lounge

Claude Challe Presents: Near Eastern Lounge

ASIN: B000083EIY

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Lebanese disco? Well, stranger things have been hits. Certainly, the three Beirut DJs behind the eponymous R.E.G. Project--Ralph Khoury, Elie Barbar, and Guy Manoukian--couldn't get a better introduction onto the international scene than at the hands of Paris DJ-cum-haberdasher-cum-restaurateur-cum-record-mogul Claude Challe. Challe's hipster cred will doubtless boost R.E.G.'s chances of success in Europe. R.E.G. Project's frenzied sound--a plainly hedonistic mix of Arabic swirls and wind instruments and thumping, percussive beats--arrives at the intersection where East meets West: indebted to both but faithful to neither. But things don't start out that way. Opening tracks "Free At Last" and "Lost Love" unfurl slowly and ambiently, as if reserving energy for the metered cacophony yet to come. By the first version of "Harem" (it appears twice) we're on a dance floor halfway between North Africa and the Middle East. Whether consciously or not, the R.E.G. Project conjures the ghost of Germany's phenomenal pan-African combo Dissidenten who, like the best fusionists, also follow the map of the heart, not the head. --Kim Hughes

Claude Challe Presents: Near Eastern Lounge,Claude Challe,Narada,Dance,Ethnic Fusion,Pop,Rock
Claude Challe Presents: Near Eastern Lounge
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Ok, but much of the same.
  • Must be heard to be appreciated
  • Piece of heaven
  • This has won me over
  • Techno nightmare
 Claude Challe Presents: Near Eastern Lounge
Claude Challe
Manufacturer: Narada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Emmanuelle: The Private Collection
  2. Je Nous Aime
  3. Happiness: Mixed by Claude Challe
  4. Flying Carpet: Mixed by Claude Challe
  5. Khamsa: Presented by Claude Challe

ASIN: B000083EIY
Release Date: 2003-01-28

Tracks:

  1. Free At Last
  2. Lost Love
  3. Harem
  4. Peace
  5. Sayat Nova
  6. Casa Del Sol
  7. Zay Al Hawa
  8. Batwannis Beek
  9. Piece Of Heaven
  10. Harem
  11. Passion

Amazon.com

Lebanese disco? Well, stranger things have been hits. Certainly, the three Beirut DJs behind the eponymous R.E.G. Project--Ralph Khoury, Elie Barbar, and Guy Manoukian--couldn't get a better introduction onto the international scene than at the hands of Paris DJ-cum-haberdasher-cum-restaurateur-cum-record-mogul Claude Challe. Challe's hipster cred will doubtless boost R.E.G.'s chances of success in Europe. R.E.G. Project's frenzied sound--a plainly hedonistic mix of Arabic swirls and wind instruments and thumping, percussive beats--arrives at the intersection where East meets West: indebted to both but faithful to neither. But things don't start out that way. Opening tracks "Free At Last" and "Lost Love" unfurl slowly and ambiently, as if reserving energy for the metered cacophony yet to come. By the first version of "Harem" (it appears twice) we're on a dance floor halfway between North Africa and the Middle East. Whether consciously or not, the R.E.G. Project conjures the ghost of Germany's phenomenal pan-African combo Dissidenten who, like the best fusionists, also follow the map of the heart, not the head. --Kim Hughes

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Ok, but much of the same........2007-03-12

My husband & I are both fans of Claud Challe's and have most of his albums. However, we find that some of the albums tend to be repetitive, and its almost like the tracks are just reworked, but essentially the same. If you are new to Claude Challe, then this is a good compilation to have.

4 out of 5 stars Must be heard to be appreciated.......2005-11-21

you first must be able to appreciate all knids of music
Then u have to understand that world music is a collection of all special types of genres in one from the relaxing to the funky
all types including oriental asian egyptian african etc.........
so when u listen to any world music compilation keep an open mind
u will be amazed this is a very good CD
buy it.............
World music Connoisseur
World music lounge owner (BUDDHA lounge)
Entertainment Consultant
KOE.

5 out of 5 stars Piece of heaven.......2004-06-13

Most people familiar with my reviews knows that I am an enormous fan of the downtempo music, especially of the Buddha Bar series. Claude's work with the Buddha Bar series is impressive to say the very least. I first came across his name when I first saw this particular cd at my local Borders' bookstore. I listened to a sample of the cd and loved what I heard. I love Middle Eastern-influenced dance music. Today I struck gold when I found a used copy of "Near Eastern Lounge" in the used cd bins. I immediately bought it (along with the new DJ Tiesto cd, and the latest by Fountains of Wayne).

I didn't realize until I read the cd booklet that R.E.G Project is three Lebanese djs and that this incredible cd is a sample of their work. Claude Challe was smart to take these three guys under his wing and to expose the rest of the world with their incredible work as djs. The music is an amazing blend of traditional Middle Eastern music and modern house music. The results is a pure joy to listen to. The thunderous epic "Piece of Heaven" is evidence that the R.E.G Project is a force to reckon with. I loved how the beginning of the cd starts off very mellow and eventually picks up the pace after the third or fourth track. I loved all the songs. There wasn't one song on this cd that I didn't like or felt that it was out of place on the cd. Hopefully the future will be bright for these three talented men, as well as for legendary dj Claude Challe. I felt like I hit nirvana when I listened to "Near Eastern Lounge".

5 out of 5 stars This has won me over.......2003-05-13

I first reviewed it, And I was to quick to judge . I began to love it and listen all the time. The clincher was hearing it in Morocco. I began to feel what Claude was introducing us to. This is not Claude but three other guys putting out some really interesting music.If they continue I see only room for improvement and look forward to it. Check out "spirit of Buddha Bar" by DJ Ravin it is fantastic as I have ever heard him spin in Paris.

2 out of 5 stars Techno nightmare.......2003-03-18

I love this D.J. But this album has me wondering what he was thinkging. It has great intro's and background fusion but then there is this (Rabbit thumpin, spaz arobics, Techno beat) mixed in that ruins 80% of the songs. It is horrible like the way Techno used to sound when it first came out bad bad bad!. I tried to love this CD because everything else I have by this artist I love. I think he made this as a joke, it just has to be a joke it's that bad. I threw it out my car window after trying to like it five plays later, I dont know how much caffine he must have had before creating this but I am surprised it did not kill him.
I hope anything after this CD that this artist makes is absolutley not like "Near Eastern Lounge" There is nothing "LOUNGE" about it. I only gave it two stars because He is an amazing artist with the sad exception of this one CD, This CD sould not even be rated.

Album Review:

  1. Collision
  2. Come from Heaven
  3. Come with Us
  4. Communicate
  5. Das Testament [Original recording remastered] [Import]
  6. Defected in the House: Bob Sinclair [Import]
  7. Do Ya Wanna Funk
  8. Drums of Death
  9. Eiffel 65 (Special Edition) [Import] [Limited Edition]
  10. Erotic Lounge [Import]

Album Review

Album Review