Easy Listening Review: Rendezvouz Lounge II

By Leandra Cameron

Ahhh, there it is: first view of dawn; Look at that peaking daybreak with its myriad of colors. Nice would be an understatement, its more like breathtaking. Listen: the flow of compiled noise, blended together to form perfection or imperfection. Lazybatusu is anything but lazy with the introductory piece, Endless Road. On Endless Road, by Lazybatusu, the listener is taken far far away to nothingness, that is, bliss. Keyboards, programming, trumpets, and beats are mixed together to create an inexpressible momentthe proposal, a baby coming into the world, or simply crying because youre happy. An objective take on this music? Never. Nu-jazz or ambient music, also known as muzak, is what is referred to as atmospheric as the listener is, arguably, emotionally or mentally taken somewhere else outside of their present state. Within this genre are your traditional instrumentation and producing methods as well as programming and experimental techniques byway of computer software. Rendezvous Lounge 2 is the second successful compilation album attempt by DJ Mark Gorbulew. This compilation includes the likes of DJs, artists and groups such as Praful, Lazybatusu, Shine, and the DJ himself. Gorbulew is an esteemed artist with regards to his craft. He hails from New York byway of France and is self described as a creator, producer, and programmer of eclectic music. Technics outta the way, this brand of music is for the music aficionado as well as the casual music listener. If youre out for a Sunday drive, pop it in and if youre in your living room yearning for a Sunday drive, pop it in! Plainly, this music is indescribable, but Ill make an attempt. On the piece Drivin by Tassel & Naturel (featuring DJ Cam) we are moved from the tremendous bombarding of feeling present in Endless Road to lightheartedness by, what else, a drive. The song moves in slowly with calmness and placidity on keyboards, and then a sharp horn gradually induces the movement of the piece as if awaking the listener from a deep sleep, contradictorily, not to alarm, but to sharpen the ears. All devices work in unison as we pass through the tolls while at the same time hearing pins drop from a neighboring bowling game. After a soothing and long drive, Dutch guitarist Camiel uses his accustomed instrument, flute, piano, and saxophone to create El Alba. Nothing but softness here, edginess and suaveness are gone as we can hear rain drops fall and taste lemon drops melting in our mouths. One can feel the wet pavement underfoot and smell the tar.

With Manhattan Groove by none other than the compiler himself, Mr. Gorbulew, that edge is presented once more, like an enjoyable recurring nightmare. Guitar, keyboards, and programming are all of course at play here, but theres more. It feels simultaneously 80s, but also cool and hip; yeah, Im removing the shoulder pads right now. (continued) The piece Can You Feel It by Marc Antoine perfectly encompasses the consensus reached by all who listen to the entire CD and undoubtedly do, Feel it! Note that there is no question mark for the title, for there is no question! This piece is comprised of bass, saxophone, guitars, keyboards, and synthesized vocals. Here, Im in the south of France. This writer is biased, but how could she not be! In listening to this music, I am put in an automatic state of relaxation. Its completely de-stressing while also exciting. It just tells the listener to be. It would seem that this varied mix would lend itself to confusion, but on the contrary, it offers even more cohesiveness than would the album of a singer, duo, band, or group. Distraction, uncaring, freedom, an endless stream of beauty, while beauty is subjective, there is no question here. Its the soft light in a room, pause, up-tempo and down-tempo, more than a state of being, the radiant sun, being everywhere and nowhere, more than existence, sharp horns, bass, drums, synchronized swimming, light and heavy, strings enter, and moving sincerity. Its sheer bliss, or the closest thing to it while on earth.