VA - Destination Lounge - New York City & Las Vegas (2005)

The whole concept of geographically themed dance music collections may be kind of gratuitous (quick, close your eyes and try to hear the difference between the New York collection and the San Francisco one), but the Destination Lounge compilations have all maintained a pretty high standard of techno-lounge quality. This one is no exception, bringing together top-notch material by Kaskade ("Everything"), Mambana (the lovely "Felicidad"), and Blaze (the powerfully gospel-flavored "Most Precious Love," featuring Barbara Tucker), among many others. The finest tracks are those that feature guests from outside the lounge mainstream: "New York City (DJ Strobe Brooklyn Vibe Mix)" is credited to the Peter Malick Group but built around a sweet, smoky vocal by Norah Jones; the song loses its edge when the mediocre rap section starts, but up until that point it's brilliant. Rae & Christian apply their trademark decorous Brit-funk to Echo's "Sparks from a Wheel," and turn it into another album highlight. Recommended overall.

Destination Lounge Las Vegas, a 2xCD, provides an exclusive and rare vignette into the soul of Las Vegas through Hip Lounges -House Electro Beats - Cosmopolitan Hotels - Strip Culture - All Night Parties... Destination: Las Vegas - Sin City, The Entertainment Capital of the World, 24/7 Boozin', The Strip, Paradise, Vegas...and Remember What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas(tm)