Hotel Costes, Vol. 7: Sept
As this is the 7th release in theHotel Costesseries, you might think you know what to expect from DJ Stephane Pompougnac's turntables. But 2003'sHotel Costes 6provided a dose of the dark and unexpected, a trend which happily continues onCostes 7. The usual oh-so-classy, jazz-tinged dance fare, driven into the ground by a thousand downtempo DJs, hasn't been totally expunged. But grittier tracks and a deeper commitment to a thumping beat make for a sound that's not so easy to ignore. Minor chords and heavy basslines from songs like Dolphin Boy's "Don't Stop (Dublex Inc Remix)" along with memorable contributions fromMark RaeandMo' Horizonsensure this record won't fade into the background like another layer of cocktail party décor. The further Pompougnac gets from the swanky, but sterile hotel lobby, the better it is for listeners who prefer dancing over lounging. --Matthew Cooke