DJ Ravin takes the wheel behind Buddha Bar III, the namesake compilation from Paris's answer to Studio 54. Ravin forgoes the Dinner/Party division that Claude Challe opted for on previous installments of the series, and instead casts Dream versus Joy on this two-disc set. Dream, leaning on the traditional (syrupy Greek strings, Japanese bamboo flutes, Persian harmonists) and New Age Enigma/Deep Forest side of things (Oliver Shanti & Friends, Vangelis engineer Frederick Rousseau) is frankly too restless to be truly dreamy. The frenzied run through so many styles, seemingly solely for the sake of diversity alone, ultimately feels about as sincerely global as a mad dash through Disney's Epcot Center. The second CD in the set, Joy, pays a tad more attention to a general vibe, resulting in a much better overall effect…
3CD set. To finish the year with style, Buddha-Bar launches a collection full of promises. The deep house and downtempo music has evolved a lot these last months and years and it makes our ears feels better. Intense basses, hypnotizing and shamanic beats dotted with traditional Armenian, Russian or Moroccan instruments… this new deep scene seduces the new generations of clubbers and takes over EDM. A booming phenomenon, a desire to live free, far from the tumult and stress imposed by the present society… an ideocracy that grows and takes all it's meaning during one of the most incredible festival: Burning Man. Who better than Buddha-Bar, the precursor of this musical philosophy to embrace this new culture and help it grow…