You will be knocked every which way by this release. This side of the spirit world, this will be one of the smoothest, sexiest and smokiest piece of audio you will ever be able to lay your hands on. Put it on, get drunk. Sway like a madman
With such a smooth and slinked-up intro from Pauline Croze, sounding like an even sexier and lounge equivalent of Fiona Apple, the male listener (or indeed any listener attracted to the female sex, for let’s not be bigots here) may have to run to the cold shower and flail themselves with rusty barbed wired in an attempt to return to the clean world. Somehow, this isn’t an exaggeration…
Second track in – Vinicio Capossela with ‘Si ?© Spent oil Sole’ – and you have been kicked out of Pauline Croze’s resident light and airy lounge bar for being drunk, disorderly and trying to take a peek up her skirt. You are now alone with the bottle of expensive Red you sneaked out under your stained raincoat. The sun is beating down, all the shops you left on your way in have upped and moved and your mouth is unnaturally dry. Reach for a Marlboro. Smile a wonky smile. Cough… This eccentric-yet-cool track is full of dusty highroads, Gretch guitars and cheap smokes. You’re in Mexico without a ride.
By the fourth song offered by Jorge Fernando, the wine analogy becomes as crystal clear as the thin-stemmed glass your partner is raising in a toast to good health. What is it about these songs? They do seem to carry the spirit of, err, wine! With deeply warm acoustic classic guitars that Django could weep over and sweet accordions that joyfully hop over the intro, this song is reflective and slightly melancholic but above all, sunny.
Later tracks mull over the similar sort of sensations produced earlier on, but are by no means in the shadows of the previous material. If you’re in the right mood for drinking, this will be your drinking music and it shall be good company.
With a balance of sex and happiness flowing out of every pore, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more slinky release. It’s worth mentioning again, but whether it be a stupidly deep and almost poetical observance to make, whether it be cognitive, psychological or just a clever prescription of meaning that is implied by the title of the release, the culmination of songs will make you think of what the compilation set out to do. It will make you think of hazy afternoons stretched out in the expanses of a villa; of hot nights and freedom and the sparkle of a curvaceous glass filled with rich reds or peachy whites. Take each song and ponder over them, linger over what associations they give to you and you shall find that each has been ideally picked and will be more appreciated if you pour another glass.
This is the calm drinking session after the Fiesta or street party in Paris. But don’t worry. Even the hangover will be beautiful. And there are more bottles in the cellar once you’ve recovered.
