Whilst their tracks have featured on over 40 compilations, Lounge Selection is Mettle Music’s debut compilation album of: “Latin-influenced downtempo nu-jazz and deep house tracks”.

Nine of the 15 tracks have previously not been released which is cool in itself and the opener is one of those, ‘Light 4 Lines’ by Azul Chill (wonder if this is are one of Azul’s alter egos?). And downtempo Ibiza chill it is with lovely trumpet musings.

You think the next track is going down the same route but the ‘Theme From Mondomo’ by Mondomo, gets a bit vocoderish before getting samba’d up (one of the stand-out tracks).

It’s all top quality stuff and even if some of it is a little too sugary sweet. Certainly the first half contains some very relaxing sounds, even soporific (which I suppose is the aim). ‘Hombres’ by Mancunian Marcus Tavia is particularly cool with the Fender Rhodes; in a Bob James goes sambaing mode? Marcus’s dad is from Madrid and features on Trombone.

But hang on, Deep Solution’s ‘Made For You’ (one of the previously unreleased tracks) and Rio Orchestra’s ‘Salsa del Rios’ both pick up the tempo and feel slightly funky. Hey, we’re dancing in the lounge now and I’m feelin’ far more comfortable.

And just to break off for a moment, what made me dash back to the CD was a cheeky 4 track 12” which contains the aforementioned ‘Hombres’, a Mettle Club Mix of ‘Salsa del Rios’ by Mettle Music’s production team of Nic Conef and Mark Wadsworth and a Sunlight Mix of the same track which is a broken-Latin shuffler on the piano vibe (just the feel for the summer). ‘Coconut Lounge’ by Shawn Ward finishes off the 12” in a flamenco guitar house way.

Back to the CD Favela 5’s ‘Gypsy’ is upbeat salsa with flute, Mettle Music’s ‘El Mar’ is on the house side and The Halftones’ ‘Boogaloo’ is a fine example of a funky sax and trumpet outing. Unsurprisingly, a Da Lata remix is a stand out, here with a redo of Reel People’s ‘Second Guess’.

The CD finishes off with a trio that I don’t really get, being ‘Monk Among Us’ by Gecko Turner is ‘Mambo No. 5’ stylee (as below, Radio 1’s Blue Room Boys), a downtempo ‘Fireside’ by Aquarius Lounge Life and that last track by Tetris called ‘Ritmo De Miami’ which is too ‘electronic’ for me.

Having said that, whilst this CD got mixed up in the May release madness, overall it’s sounding much the better now. Good job I got the 12”. Future themes planned are the enticingly entitled Jazz Vibes, Funk Vibes and Disco Vibes. Sounding better already.

Reviewed:
Latin Vibes Vinyl Selection: Part One (Mettle Music) Cat. No. MMCDLV1 May 2005
Latin Vibes - Part One (Mettle Music) 12” Cat. No. MM005

Quotes:
“Oozes quality” (Rainer Truby)
“Good tracks .. a radio groover” (Patrick Forge)
“Really works on the Groove Sanctuary dancefloor” (Raw Deal)
“Good groove, great horns - my kind of record” (Ben Mitchell - Sao Benetiz / Mr Hermano)
“Canadian producer Shawn Ward drops in on track three with ‘Coconut Lounge’ — a true Miami beach party tune if there ever was one” (Darren Nugent)

Links”
Available in 22 track double CD format from July 18th 2005
Mettle Music - www.mettlemusic.co.uk
Azul - ‘Beautiful People’ (Voyager1)
Radio 1’s BLUE ROOM TUNES - MARCH 2005 Gecko Turner - ‘Monk Among Us’ (Lovemonk)