In 1857 a French poet named Charles Beaudelaire published a book of his poetry called Les Fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil). The themes dealt with decadence and eroticism. Within a month of its publishing the poet and publisher were brought before the French court on charges of "outrage aux bonnes moeurs" (an insult to public decency). You might be wondering what this collection of 15 soulful, jazzy downtempo songs has in common, besides the title. Well, though the eroticism is a matter of perspective, honey sweet sensuality is poured on heavy, decadently even.

1. Tok Tok Tok "Walk On The Wild Side"
2. [re:jazz] "All I Need"
3. Fertile Ground "Take Me Higher"
4. Cocosuma "The Servant"
5. Quintessence "Sticks And Stones"
6. Hi Perspective "Whatever (feat. Andrej)"
7. Rich Medina "Music"
8. Middle Child "Woman Enough (The Apology)"
9. Directions "Busted Trees (Middlefield remix)"
10. Teddy Rok Seven "Feel (feat. Okou)"
11. Franck Biyong & Melissa James "We Shall Overcome"
12. Astor Piazzolla "El Tango (feat. Lady Gatica)(Hi Perspective mix)"
13. Fat Freddys Drop "Roady"
14. Plantlife "Luv 4 The World"
15. Dena Deadly & Jack Splash "Wonderful Make Believe Story"

This is the fourth edition in the St. Badrutt's Palace Hotel "St. Moritz Vibes" series. It starts off with Tok Tok Tok's cover of Lou Reed's "Walk On The Wild Side", and they did an amazing job with it. The beats are dropped strictly beatbox while the vocals are beautifully laid back female tones. [Re:Jazz] follow up with a marvellously soulful number called "All I Need". It's breathy female vocals and slow, double bass groove has a nicely jazzy vibe.

Fertile Ground delivers one of the most striking tracks. It's a deep soul groove entitled "Take Me Higher". This song has incredible vocal melodies. Rich Medina throws down some nice broken soul in the vein of Mark de Clive-Lowe that's titled "Music". More great tracks come from Cocosuma, Quintessence, Middle Child, Directions, Teddy Rok Seven featuring Okou (who has also sung with Nuspirit Helsinki and Five Corners Quintet), Franck Biyong & Melissa James. Hi Perspective puts together a nice remix of Astor Piazzolla's "El Tango" and Fat Freddy's Drop show up with their super nice skank rhythm "Roady". Plantlife come across strong with "Luv 4 The World", a track you may recognize from a Fabric mix done up by Diplo where he mashes this song together with Nina Sky singing "Turnin' Me On". It's hard to hear this track outside the mash, I mean Diplo blows Sky's original version away, but Plantlife lays down a jumping b-boy soul vibe that is just deep! Dena Deadly and Jack Splash close out Les Fleurs du Mal with a bit of dreamy soul called "Wonderful Make Believe Story".

Compiled by DJ Julien Lebrun, St. Moritz Vibes Vol. 4 "Les Fleurs du mal" is a perfect blend of soul, laid back grooves, and honey sweet vibes...flowery, and not evil.

Add a Comment