Man Ray III
The third entry in DJ Nat Rahav’s series of chilled hits prances along behind its forerunners, sashaying down the runway with the same beautiful, yet vapid flourish. Named after a series of restaurants in Paris and New York, Rahav keys on an urbane, casually fabulous vibe that aggressively hits the assigned demographic. It’s all very pretty, and though it moves through the usual chill compilation staples with decadent flair, Rahav’s collection is unable to escape a powerful sense of déjà vu. For every somewhat fresh track (Mich Gerber’s "Zumurud," for instance), there is one fromFila Brazillia("DNA") orFaze Action("Samba") that’s been heard way too often on other compilations. Still, with a clove cigarette and/or a stiff cocktail in your hand, most everything here is worth listening to, even if you’ve already heard it once or twice (OK, maybe a dozen times, tops!).--Matthew Cooke