Search - Fez File :: Vol. 1-Fez File

Pina Colada for the ear

Sander Kessels | amsterdam, nh Netherlands | 05/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beware. If you listen to this complation-masterpiece you might lose the urge to buy another cd. For me, it was this cd that got me on the track of the current Bossa Nova-revival and the cd is still among my personal top 5. (And I've got a huge collection) The Fez file is released by the Italian Schema-label, an extremely hot label if you dig Latin flavoured dancemusic. They also released the excellent Break 'n Bossa series and got italian bossa stars like Nicola Conte and Soulstance. The strenght of this cd is the consistancy in the atmosphere the tracks create which is quite unique for a compilation cd. It's like you are listening to a cd of Nicola Conte (which is a bit true, it's his idea) Nevertheless, every track is a unique remixed or original bossa-nova tune with a modern twist. Wanna bet you want to drink some Pina Colada when you listen to this?"

Good Un-Known Schema Soundtrack

bordersj2 | Boston | 11/02/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I picked this up in early 2002, recognizing a few tracks in my craze to collect anything Schema and recognizing "Fez" - which I think is a Nicola Conte pseudonym. This was released jointly on Schema and Fez studios and the title to this is "The Fez File Volume Uno - a Kaleidoscope of Modern Sounds".



Admittedly I didn't dig this so much when it first came out. However over time I really started to dig the grooves in this one and appreciated the intricacies in the tunes. This is more like a soundtrack - sort of spy theme/late 60's/70's lounge inspired. You have some fantastic artists and tunes included - especially the big band orchestrated "The Hip Sheik" by The Karminsky Experience, a cut with horns that'll take you on a missino through the Middle East and India. Ursula 1000 comes on with the cheeky "Funky Bikini", doing lounge like he does best. You have the original Stereo Action Unlimited version of "Hi Fi Trumpet", complete with guitar rifts and and a latin swing. But the fun doesn't stop there... Boozoo Bajou chip in with "Under My Sensi" - a cut that's tailer made to slinkin'. Then Les Hommes (totally different group than Les Gammas) come on with an easy lounge track. Speaking of Les Gammas, the Compost Records outfit has a cool, sophisticated tune featured here titled "Whenever". The CD winds down with, of course, Nicola Conte himself with the opening track to his wildly successful soundtrack/bossa cd from 1999-2000, "Arabesque".



Although I enjoy this cd, I know that it might not be up the alley of quite a few. Again, this has a real 'spy theme' to it and this cd is a bit llder now, being released in 2000. But... it is a Conte compilation and I dig the tracks. And what more can you say about the musicians? Besides those I mentioned, you've got Cinematic Orchestra, Thievery Corporation, Bobby Hughes Experience and more... almost all of the artists here have had very successful albums. If you do pick this and like it, be sure to check out some of Thievery Corporation's label, ESL, releases. Especially "Den of Thieves" and "Modular Systems"... and of course there's "Covert Operations" and "Soundtrack" too. No surprise that Nicola Conte's "Jet Sounds" was released in the USA on the ESL label and retitled "Bossa Per Due", and Ursula 1000, Les Hommes and Karminsky Experience also released their albums in the USA under the ESL label too."