Den of Thieves

1	Postales / Gabriela Mairu 4:06
2	Language Symbolique / Thievery Corporation 4:18
3	Hommage / Les Hommes 5:05
4	Samba 1000 (Nicola Conte Mix) / Ursula 1000 Nicola Conte Mix 3:56
5	See the Light / Sofa Surfers 4:40
6	Bare Bones / Blue States 4:26
7	Exploration / Karminsky Experience 5:35
8	Welcome Back Cooper / Thunderball Vs. Liftoff 5:08
9	Brooklyn Blues / Desmond Williams 4:58
10	The Panther / Thunderball 6:12
11	El Amor de Este Pueblo / Federico Aubele 3:36
12	Departures / Karminsky Experience 4:17
13	Into the Light / Arkestra One 4:11

Barnes & Noble

The dynamic duo strikes again! Down-tempo kings Thievery Corporation have compiled yet another hour's worth of rhythmic, pan-global toe-tappers that span the breadth of their label's roster and offer a musical depth rare to the genre. The flavors are pungent and varied, from the Karminsky Experience's pulsing, sitar-laced "Exploration" to the laid-back dub of Desmond Williams's "Brooklyn Blues" to the Brazilian jazz of Les Hommes' "Hommage." The greatest strength of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton, however, is in pairing the organic sounds of the past with the freshest beats and electronic techniques. This is what occurs on the Thievery-produced "Postales," a breezy, flamenco-tinged track from Argentinean Federico Aubele, who balances gorgeous acoustic guitar picking and Gabriela Mairu's vocals with a dub-informed bass line and spare synths. Following suit is Thievery's own "Language Symbolique," featuring light-as-a-cream puff vocals from French singer Lou Lou and lots of dub flourishes. Boasting both retro flavors -- in its bouncy samba beat and Barbara De Dominicis's coos -- and a live jazz sound led by flute, Nicola Conte's mix of Ursula 1000's "Samba 1000" will have you catching a cab to the coolest after-hours lounge you can find. With its easygoing vibe and sophisticated palette, Den of Thieves is yet more proof of Thievery Corporation's remarkable sonic interior design. It doesn't get much classier than this. Lydia Vanderloo

All Music Guide

After producing an album for Argentina's Federico Aubele, Thievery Corporation returned to the DJ decks to compile Den of Thieves. Essentially compiling highlights from the 18th Street Lounge catalog, this compilation differs greatly from many on the market today: First, it's a showcase of a much unheralded downtempo label, and second, unlike Back to Mine, Another Late Night, and several other downtempo compilations, this isn't about collecting obscurities and mixing them up in an eclectic fashion. Den of Thieves is a solidly sequenced compilation that moves in a subtle, natural progression through Latin, downtempo, hip-hop, and drum'n'bass genres before resting gently again on Arkestra One's sublime "Into the Light." Perfect listening for the wee hours of the early morning when winding down is the order of business. Rob Theakston