Hands down, Coco de Mer is the most engaging and sensual chill-out/lounge album of 2002. From the AMI/Rasa label, producer/musician/arranger Adam Plack (with the help of some talented vocalists and string arrangements) marries classical opera with hip-hop to create an engaging and musically rewarding experience. Famous opera arias melded with chilled-out beats include Delibesa’s famous fem-duet from Lekme, “Habanera” from Bizet’s Carmen, Massenet’s Cherubin, and Puccini’s “Vissi D’Arte” from Tosca and “Un Bel di” from Madame Butterfly. The cover and photography alone is worth the effort of getting your hands on this CD. If you’re wondering what exactly you’re looking at on the cover. The CoCo de Mer (native to India), also known as the “tantric coconut,” and is worshipped and revered as the emblem of the vulva of the Goddess. Opera has never been so sexy and certainly has never sounded this cool. –PM
Instrumentation: vocals, keyboards, strings, sampling.