Happiness - by Claude Challe

  • Published
    Jun 8, 2004
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  • Released
    May 04
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  • Sounding more like something a psychiatrist would hand out with a prescription of Valium Happiness "For you Soul and Body" is another release from Claude Challe whom is well recognised from previous successes with his compilations such as Buddha Bar 1, Nirvana Lounge 1, 2 and 3, and Les Bains Douches. Following up his previous releases sees Claude stick to his path of enlightenment with this one, if the word "eclectic" has ever been justified the tracklisting alone gives you no such insight for what's install. With an intro taken straight from a relaxation tank, the deep voice telling you to clear your mind and relax, right before your about to hear the first track on the album from none other than Billy Idol on Adam in Chains a soft ballad of Billy's trademark brooding vocals with the 80's style electro fill cruising through the backdrop. Drawn out piano and long chords of synth lead you into Remembering Satie a painfully slow track that doesn't really have much to it. The next track worthy of a mention would be Sentimeientos a piano accordion initial and more subtle sort of flailing hip hop beat, the strings come in to make for a darker sort of track not really belonging on a "Happiness" CD but a nice tune unto itself. The Middle eastern feel of Crying Angels takes root back to the more brooding side of things and with a name like that why is this "Happiness" again ?. Sliding into refresh things is Come a livelier attempt at a lounge oriented track with pleasant French female vocals and little guitar riffs placed evenly throughout. A nice addition is Summertime a faster house beat with soulful vocals from Earl T and some layed back blues roots guitar over the moving beat. As Earl's summertime ends the well known Felix da Housecat's remix of Sinnerman lift's up the CD putting things back on track with Felix's trademark looping samples and travelling beat. Alone in the Dark picks up the ball from where sinnerman left of turning out a nice disco house tune a saving grace from the start. Adding in some trumpet stabs and filtering beats, towards the end of the album follows the trend. One of the more well known tracks of the "90's" Delerium's silence is a welcome addition to any compilation with it's mainstream success and beautiful vocals, once heard immediately a recognisable anthem. Mashing up these tracks together not much can be said about this CD apart from each individual track is its own. Nothing to bad but not all that good.
RA