Buddha Bar Volume 12 (XII) (2010) — Romance, Lounge, and French Chic
Buddha Bar Volume 12, often titled Buddha Bar XII, is the twelfth official installment in the long‑running Buddha Bar compilation series curated by DJ Ravin and released through George V Records. Dropped in 2010, this 2‑CD lounge‑chill compilation takes listeners on a romantic musical journey through “Old Paris”, celebrating la vie en rose with elegance, sensuality, and a fusion of chillout, downtempo, world, and electronic sounds.
The album’s overall vibe is romantic, worldly, and immersive, designed to create a mood that evokes Parisian charm, love, and sunset lounges. It’s one of the Buddha‑Bar series’ most distinctive editions, mixing classic lounge elements with bold and forward‑thinking electronic and ethnic influences.
🎧 Album Overview
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Title: Buddha Bar Volume 12 (XII)
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Released: April 6, 2010 (official store date)
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Label: George V Records
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Format: 2×CD (also digital)
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Duration: ~2 hrs 33 mins (32 tracks)
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Mixed by: DJ Ravin
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Style: Chillout, Lounge, World, Downtempo, Electronic, Ethno‑Ambient
The compilation is presented in two distinct parts:
💗 Disc 1 — “La Vie en Rose”
Focused on softer, sensual, romantic sounds — a playlist revolving around Parisian atmosphere and romance.
💃 Disc 2 — “Pink Me Up”
Picks up with more electronic, upbeat, and eclectic sounds, intertwining danceable vibes with acoustic and ethnic layers.
The contrast between the discs makes the whole album feel like a soundtrack to a night out in Paris — from creamy sunset lounges to midnight grooves.
🎼 Musical Style and Sound
Buddha Bar Volume 12 continues the series’ signature fusion of:
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Lounge & downtempo chillout — smooth beats perfect for lounges, hotels, bars, or relaxed home listening.
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World fusion & ethnic touches — subtle global influences mixed with modern production.
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Electronic and deep grooves — tracks that balance mellow rhythms with rhythmic interest.
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Romantic theme — especially strong on Disc 1, with sensual and ambient textures.
The album blends echoing synth pads, Spanish guitar‑like melodies, downtempo house textures, and world music samples to create a sonic experience ideal for sunset lounges, mid‑evening social settings, and mellow playlists alike.
📀 Track Highlights (Representative)
While the exact tracklist contains 32 total songs, one widely referenced published tracklist is documented in various sources and includes:
💗 Disc 1 – La Vie En Rose (examples)
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Bliss – “Ouverture”
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Goya Project – “Lamento (Sunset Rework)”
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Ambray – “Maya”
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Ida Corr feat. Shaggy – “Under the Sun (Lenny Ibizarre Remix)”
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Caravan Palace – “Ended with the Night”
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Ryukyu Underground – “Umaku Kamade”
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MIDIval Punditz – “Tonic”
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Almadrava – “La Vie en Rose (Chill Out Mix)”
🎶 Disc 2 – Pink Me Up (examples)
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DJ Ravin & Carlos Campos – “I Must Confess”
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Sis N’ Jones feat. Isaac – “Jami”
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Joey Negro pres. The Sunburst Band – “Man of War (Henrik Schwarz Remix)”
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Gönül Yazar – “Özledigim Sevgili”
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Emilio Fernandez – “Let it Go (Vocal Mix)”
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Jason Rivas – “Carnivàle (Club Mix)”
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Matt Darey Presents Urban Astronauts – “See the Sun (Aurosonic Remix)”
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Mandinga – “Calling Trombonika”
These tracks show how the compilation ranges from swaying chill world music to deep, emotional remixes and lush downtempo beats — all seamlessly mixed to feel cohesive and rich in atmosphere.
🌍 Themes and Listening Context
Buddha Bar Volume 12 is ideal for:
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Romantic evenings and dinner playlists
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Lounge bars and cosmopolitan social spaces
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Relaxation and chillout sessions
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After‑work wind‑down playlists
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Travel and night‑out soundtracks
The romantic theme — especially on Disc 1 — was intentionally styled to reflect French passion and charm with sonic colors reminiscent of a stroll through Paris at dusk.
🎉 Fun Facts & Trivia
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Parisian Love Theme: Volume 12 uniquely frames its musical universe around French romance and Parisian flair, making it one of the few Buddha Bar compilations with such a specific emotional theme.
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DJ Ravin’s Curation: As with most Buddha Bar collections, this volume was mixed by DJ Ravin, the longtime curator and key sonic architect behind the series’ identity.
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Two Distinct Moods: The split between “La Vie en Rose” and “Pink Me Up” was a deliberate choice to showcase both sensual and more energetic lounge styles in one release.
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Double CD Format: The compilation sold as a 2×CD package as well as digital download, common for Buddha Bar releases of this decade.
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Genre Crossroads: Tracks on this volume cross genres — lounge, world fusion, deep house, ambient, and even acoustic influences — making it one of the Buddha Bar editions with the broadest stylistic reach.
📈 Commercial & Cultural Impact
Although Buddha Bar Volume 12 was not a mainstream chart smash, it continued the sustained popularity of the Buddha Bar brand among lovers of lounge, world fusion, and downtempo electronic music. Multiple retailers and music stores catalog the double CD as part of a definitive lounge music collection for listeners worldwide.
The album’s unique thematic approach — specifically framing love and Parisian romance — has made it a favorite for those building mood playlists or looking for compilations that double as travel‑like soundtracks.
🗂 Where It Fits in the Series
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Buddha Bar XI (preceding) — continued world/lounge fusion explorations
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Buddha Bar XII (this volume, 2010) — romantic, Paris‑themed
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Buddha Bar XIII (following, 2011) — broadened the world fusion palette
The series overall is known for albums mixed by Ravin, featuring lounge, downtempo electronic, and world music influences — often blending live instruments with modern production.
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