This latest installment in the Café del Mar series, designed to defray the effects of Ibizan-type madness (or usher some in), sees the del Mar folks weaving together their most mature, confident, and well-placed aural massage yet. Sometimes it rolls across the ears like a slow, steamy, romantic rubdown, as on Digby Jones's "Piña Colada (Jazz Mix)," and at other times it evokes deep sunrise spiritualism, as on Mari Boine's superb "Gula Gula (Chillumanti...   Show More

This latest installment in the Café del Mar series, designed to defray the effects of Ibizan-type madness (or usher some in), sees the del Mar folks weaving together their most mature, confident, and well-placed aural massage yet. Sometimes it rolls across the ears like a slow, steamy, romantic rubdown, as on Digby Jones's "Piña Colada (Jazz Mix)," and at other times it evokes deep sunrise spiritualism, as on Mari Boine's superb "Gula Gula (Chillumanti Mix)." There are even some poignant and melancholic pressure points, such as Hollywood fave Thomas Newman's haunting "Any Other Name" (last heard on the American Beauty soundtrack). Also seemingly bound for soundtrack inclusion is Dido's "Worthless," which overflows with piano-tinged, jazzy trip-hop flavor. Whether used as a chill-out album, a warm-up collection, a record to dine with, or a romantic backdrop, Café del Mar, Vol. 8 will find good use in most contemporary lifestyles. --Steffan Chirazi   Show Less