It says a lot about the expansive nature of the Russian music world that Cafe Del Mar albums are so popular here. Located on the island of Majorca, Cafe Del Mar is a cult hangout for bohemians, intellectuals and cultural characters who value the finer things in life. Like Mediterranean sunsets. The cafe is famous for playing, mellow, jazzy tunes – tunes that have found their way onto special compilation albums produced in the U.K. The first recordings went out on cassette, but production has taken off and world sales of new volumes are now in the millions.

"Volumen Ocho" (Volume Eight), the latest offering, follows the trend of its predecessors: a flowing melody of 11 tracks from various performers linked by a common thread of tranquility. The first couple of hits are even slower than usual, giving this album an exceptionally gentle opening. Goldfrapp's "Utopia" is a brief, especially delicate introduction.

The next track, Thomas Newman's "Any Other Name," barely a beat up, will be recognizable from the movie "American Beauty." It is followed by Afterlife's "Sunrise," the first track with lyrics, which is real Cafe Del Mar: angelic voices backed with smooth, jazzy beats.

Having started so quietly, the album then moves though a phase of jazzy tunes and up into classic, relaxed lounge beats. It's a subtle emotional peak before things quieten down once more. Lamb closes the show with the smoothly voiced "Gabriel," which leaves you contented, relaxed and ready to go again.

A sunset dinner with close friends and good wine, a lazy morning when there's no rush to rise, Cafe Del Mar is a feast for any fan of mellow music.