Volumes 1-6 reviewed
| Brazilian
Beats - Classic Samba Sauce Mr Bongo’s incredible eight-pack Brazilian Beats Boxset is a song-filled fest, a musical glutton’s crapulent dream. Once the pack of eight arrives, get ready to spent the next few months listening to the sublime samba sounds of some of Mr Bongo’s favourites. Brazilian Beats (the very first album) kicks off with a samba flavour with Ney de Castro’s frenetic whistles, cowbells and drums given the mix treatment. In fact, “Batacuda” is an oddly frenzied start to an album with a classic twang. Brazilian colossus Arita Moreira’s “Celebration Suite” bangs and rolls and highlights with a fine ending moving wonderfully into the soft voice of Liliana Chachian singing to the stomping “Brazilian Beat” of Masters at Work. The smells of Brazil start to waft in the air. A glorious change of pace with Tenorio Junior’s piano is more typical of the album’s classic feel. “Nebulosa” is followed up by the jazz-filled piano of “Sam Blues” and then the legendary Dom Salvador with his wonderfully-titled “Barumba” which whirls and glides into the Boogaloo-feel of “Hot Pants Road”. Check out the flute and Hammond! The feel-good factor keeps strutting along with the delightful Anna Mazzotti – Brazil at its best. Brazilian Beats becomes Brazilian Beast with the album getting hot, deep and dirty with the funk-laden “Deus Me Faca Funky” and its dripping sensuality. Orlandivo then takes the helm and continues in fine form. Legends Jorge Ben and Toquinho join forces for the breathtaking “Carolina Carol Bela” – one of the real gems here. The beauty of this album is the variety of music presented and the next track is no exception. “Ye Mele” fuses Afro-funk and the very finest of Brazilian music and is a rip-roaring delight. Cometh the moment, cometh the Banana! Milton Banana’s Bossa nova piano moves the album in another direction providing a sweet introduction to Trio Mocoto’s vibrant samba stomp. Once again, the album strikes at the heart and Nino Gomez’s “La Lupita” (sampled and regurgitated in the 90s) takes us to a new high. Ed Lincoln’s “Cochise” is reminiscent of exotica whereas “Cala Boca Menino” is a slow burner which keeps us on our seats for the Mangue Bit finale of the simply-titled “Bob”. If this is just the start then the very idea of slapping more on the hotplate gets the musical taste buds blazing. Bring on the juice! |
| Brazilian
Beats 2 - Love and Happiness The album kicks off with a whirling fest of drums and hypnotic percussion. River Ocean’s remixed “Love and Happiness” is a modern classic, a party stomper that sums up the feel of the whole album. With more like this, expect a rip-roaring joy of an album. Drums, drums and yet more incredible drums! Masters of Work take up the reins with the pounding “Brazilian Beat” that is laced with sexy vocals. The great thing about the Brazilian Beats collection is its ability to surprise with sudden changes of pace and tone. Djavan who is a master of bringing together traditional Brazilian sounds and modern samba does it again with “Serrado”. Smooth vocals and a zesty guitar make for a lively track. There is a pleasurably joy to the ‘60s, easy listening feel of “Atoa, Atoa” with its subtle vocals and simple instruments. The Love and Happiness motif of this album continues unabated with Wando’s hands-in-the-air “Nega De Obluae”. Another simple tune that makes great use of a smooth male lead and great backing vocals. Toquinho is a legend precisely because he’s able to produce this kind of track. “Zana” is no doubt one of the highlights of the album. Sublime strumming, brilliant bongos and delightful vocals keep the song moving and building, rising to a magnificent crescendo. Playing it once is not enough. The Bongo re-edit of Mandrake’s “Berimbau” is every percussion-master’s dream. This is surely set to become a sampler’s dream. Francisco de Assis França aka Chico Science is not regarded as the father of Mangue Beat for nothing. Once again, Mr Bongo does it again with his choice of Chico’s “Coco Dub” which is quite simply a bubbling, orgasmic, Afro-funk stomp that just keeps you on a glorious edge throughout. More feel-good sounds from Wando again. “No Baixa Do Sapateira” gives us smiling backing vocals and a wonderful flute. Brazilian Beats at its best here with a change of feel. Jazz meets Samba with Orlann Divo giving us some strong vocals in his succinctly-titled “E Samba”. Both Cesar Camargo Mariano and his Som Tres are true marks of quality on the Brazilian and South American music scene and there’s no exception here. “Jungle” is a big-band, James-Bondesque whirler complete with a glorious sea of horns. Luciano Perrone’s “Samba No.2 Andamento 1.33” starts with a whistle: the fun begins here. This tribal stomp will have you dancing the moment it starts. A change of pace but what a change of pace! Rosinha Da Valença gives us a lesson in musical excellence. “Summertime” is the jewel in the BB2 crown, the glorious peak of this album. Divine guitar work comes together with solid drumming and a groove so hard it’ll put a hole in your record. Luiz Carlos Vinhas gives us a chance to wipe off the sweat, calm down and cool off with the atmospheric chill of “Tanganica”. |
| Brazilian
Beats 3 - Don’t
forget the Caipirinha If you’ve listened to the first two albums of the BB boxset, Brazilian Beats 3 will be a very different experience for you. The sounds of this record are more warmer, more rounded and there’s an easier feel to them. The sun is setting, there’s a warm, red glow hovering over the sea, and evening is becoming night. Find a comfortable spot on the beach, dig your toes into the sand and pour yourself a glass… The album begins with the dreamy vocals of Ive Mendes given the Sao Benitez treatment. His mix isn’t called “Lush” for nothing. One mix follows another. “Para Ti” by Malena is more energised but the smooth sound continues with some beautiful flute and more dreamy vocals. The hypnotic sound of Bazeada’s “Maria” is minimalist in every positive sense of the word: Brazilian dance simplicity. The legendary Trio Mocotó serve up one of their very best in “Nao Adianta”. The samba soul combo are famous for creating sweeping pieces. This melancholic orchestral number will conjure up a thousand and one images. Jairzinho Oliveira gives us a more modern samba feel straight from his native São Paulo scene. Check out the rap in the middle. Another modern samba star Seu Jorge gives us a more traditional tune with his “Chega No Suingue” which gets back to basics with a simple samba rhythm, smooth lead vocal and elegant backing female singers. One of the world’s most creative percussionists Guem, an African musician, makes his cameo on Brazilian Beats with “Riacho” which fuses the best of Brazilian sounds and African rhythms. Candela’s “Saudacao A Toco Preto” continues in the African vein with a Afro-funk-filled cracker – splendid horns and tribal backing vocals. You can hear the African influences and the baião sound of Jackson Do Pandeiro. This tune will get you smiling and dancing. Check out the zakumba and, again, the brilliant backing singers. The only predictable element in all the BB albums is the fact that they’re unpredictable. A change in style and a move to the samba rock of Clube Do Balanca keeps the energy going (with the deep and funky bass) but slow things down and get into the groove. The sultry songstress Paula Lima steps up blending together Brazilian soul, bossa and funk with smooth and sexy vocals. Another change comes with the atmospheric “Como Um Sol”. This modern electronic samba track bubbles to a mellow froth before you slow down right down to Jairzinha Oliveira’s ambient spoken “Musica E”. The Edu K Mix of “Bob” concludes the album as the last rays of the sun disappear, twilight becomes evening and the stars come out. Another glass of caipirinha? |
| Brazilian
Beats 4 - Make
it Funky The fourth Brazilian Beats album in Mr Bongo’s fine collection is a high-tempo BB fest. Album number four kicks off with the live funktastic outpouring of “Baile Funk Melody” by Ivo Meirelles & Funk N Lata which even has a short hats-off to James Brown’s “Sex Machine” mid-song. Full marks to Mr Bongo for the way the drum ‘n’ bass mix of the ‘Brazilian Sade-dubbed’, sultry-smooth Ive Mendes’ “Nao Vou Fugur” elegantly dovetails into the back of “Baile Funk Melody”. Smooth but highly energetic. The modern feel of Brazilian Beats Four continues unabated with the Jungle-stomping intro to Gil Felix vs. Infrared’s “Capoeira”. The tune brings together the best of modern jungle sounds with a wonderful guitar and hypnotic vocals. Most definitely a classic. Heavyweights Banda Black Rio (known to have influenced Jamiroquai and the Brand New Heavies) dive onto the scene with a slick reworking in the guise of the “Faze Action Horny Mix” of “Magia”. The song is simplicity at its Brazilian Beats best. House meets samba. The highlight of the album is most certainly Beatfanatic’s “Jogando Capoeira”. The master of blend takes a rip-roaring piano riff together with a chocolate smooth female vocal mashing it with downtempo beats to give us a tune that is up there among the greats of Nu Jazz. “Carolina” seems to be a favourite name amongst our BB artists. This time Seu Jorge takes up the mantle and serves up a modern masterpiece. The “City of God” star brings together rock and traditional South American sounds. Samba-rock with funky horns and slick backing singers. In typical Brazilian Beats fashion, in comes a sudden musical change, a subtle shift in direction. “Paz E Arroz” by Clube Balanco is given the modern “rubdown” and becomes a high-tempo, Acid-Jazz-tinted stomper. A steaming battle of vocals and aggressive horns. This next change in tempo not only takes you by surprise but blows you off your feet. If “Jogando Capoeira” was the highlight of the album then Jurandyr Czaczkes’ “Take Me Back to Piaui” is to “Joganda Capoeira” what Mount Everest is to K2. This big band rocker combines one of the best male vocals heard on a BB album with sexy backing singers and glorious orchestrations. The smooth vocals of Gil Felix come next in “Que Alegria” with a more downtempo House tune. Elegant guitars and subtle piano make for an easy-going track than moves smoothly into the jazz-filled piano and creamy scatting vocals of “Casa Forte” by Sonia Rosa & Yuji Ohno which bring this high-energy album to an frenetic yet downtempo end. |
| Brazilian
Beats 5 - Freestyle
Brazil Brazilian Beats Five begins as it means to carry on, with an explosion of Dance Hall rhythm and vocals with a sprinkling of South America influence with “Follow Me Follow Me” by Tejo, Black Alien & Speed. Beginnings do not come stronger than this. The smooth vocals of Stereo Maracana fuse modern Brazilian Hip Hop, funky bass with exquisite South American guitars in “Freestyle Love”. The modern mould of BB5 is well and truly broken with the Atomic force of the next track. Brazilian legend Jorge Ben hits you like an Exocet missile right between with the eyes with one of his finest, the much covered “Take it Easy My Brother Charlie” which is Ben at his outstanding best – light-hearted vocals, glorious guitar and a melody to die for. Edson Frederico’s “Bobeira” is more downbeat. The much-famed omnipresent musical director cum composer gives us classical Brazil here with delightful female vocals, guitars, whistles and the real taste of South America. Marku Ribas’ “Zamba Ben” picks up the tempo and cranks it up. What stands out here are the striking male vocals on the backdrop of a samba rock grinder. The next two tracks come courtesy of Brazilian Hip Hop hero Marcelo D2. “Maldica Do Samba” takes downbeat Brazilian sounds, excellent horns and tops it off with Hip Hop vocals. “Pilotando O Bonde Da Excursao” is more upbeat giving us a modern funk feel with rapping at the forefront backed up with a glorious bassline and tight melody. Charismatic colossus Jackson do Pandeiro, one of the most influential figures in Brazilian music, takes us off in another direction with this wonderful reworking of “Eu Balanco” by another (modern) guru “Beatfanatic”. “Eu Balanco” is simply a classic, combining delightful vocals, a superb melody, all the essentials to any great song. The tune is given that extra bit of “Beatfanatic” glitter with some subtle additions of horns and riffs. Next comes O Riheta’s “Pra Mateuz Pader Dancar”. And what a tune! Brazil meets Africa funk with a slice of Acid Jazz to boot. The African rhythms, funky horns and raw vocals make for a high-powered BB track. Body percussionists Barbatuques come to the plate next to bring us the fantastically-named (hats off to Moomins’ fans) “Barbappapa’s Groove”. They pop, clap and click their way, Brazilian style, all the way through this highly original tune. Instrumentalists Bossa Tres give us the fine jazz number of “Imprevisto” (English: unexpected) whose piano twists and turns unexpectedly around a central theme. The jazz sequence continues with the energetic piano of “Candomble” by Mario Castro-Neves & Samba S.A. together with some great jazz vocals. Elis Regina, the “pimentinha” (English: little pepper) gives us one of BB’s best in “Ye Mele” – South American rhythms and supreme vocals in what can only be described as a Brazilian call-and-response classic. Fafá De Belém’s “Emorio” takes off elegantly from where “Ye Mele” finishes with a subtle piano intro combined with vocals that are both delicate and powerful. BB simplicity at its best. Hold down your hats – here comes Jorge Ben again! The father of Brazilian soul gives us his whirlwind “Xica Da Silva” which is a lesson in magnificent vocals. Jorge Ben plays off his sexy female backing vocalists in an aural feast. “Nao Me Deixe So” shows us that all we really need for a good song to work is rhythm and vocals. The song begins with a simple guitar after which we’re enveloped in the ebullient dreaminess of Vanessa De Mata’s creamy vocals. Sasso’s “Tudo Bem” is a downtempo tune that fuses Nu Jazz with Brazilian beats to give us a highly original modern Jazz number. Rather than slowing down, Mr. Bongo ends with a bang. Mamelo Sound System give us an ingenious urban dub sound fuelled by classic Brazilian sounds and samples. “Inudub” tops off the album making us wish for more. |
| Brazilian Beats 6 - Dive into
Brazil BB6 will take you to Brazil. You’ll taste the air, feel the sun and hear the sounds. Close your eyes and imagine you’re in a sprawling São Paulo or a rousing Rio de Janeiro. Siri’s “No Tranco” starts with a clapped-out car chugging its way through the streets of Brazil. The car coughs and splutters its way through the packed streets honking its horn at the traffic. The coughs and splutters slowly meld into drums and the hooter becomes a horn section. We’re in Brazil. We dive straight into deep waters with Arakatuba’s Batucada-infused “Riva” given a modern feel courtesy of the Gringo Jo 'Casa de samba' mix. BB6 has kicked off! Modern fuses with classic Brazilian sounds with the Buzzina remix of “Cotidiano” which brings together heavyweights Marcelinho da Lua and Seu Jorge in a high-tempo fest. Samba meets drum ‘n’ bass. Brazil is a mix of different rhythms, genres and trends and BB6 follows suit offering us all manner of musical styles. Heavy Joker’s instrumental “Leaving for Cala Bassa” is a typical offering, this time of rock laden with Brazilian percussion and jazz-tinted keyboards. This one starts slowly but ends like a fireball. A re-worked Brazilian Beats classic. Mr Bongo takes Jurandyr Czaczkes’ “Take Me Back to Piaui” and gives it the remix treatment covering this big band rocker with a superb modern veneer of dub. This is followed up by the Brazilian rock of EletroSamba who certainly live up to their name. “Um Dia Inteiro” stands out thanks to its superb vocals and easy feel. Bebeto’s “Flamengao” gives us more great vocals. You’ll feel the sun on your face and start smiling with this feel-good number which brings together some wonderfully positive male and female vocals. We’ve got used to the way Brazilian Beats offers up a range of different styles. Next up is Trio Mocotó with “O Xamego de Ina” which sees these samba rockers serve up funk percussion, samba vocals and a hint of acid jazz. Yet another twist in style takes us onto “Se voce quiser mas sem bronquear” by the Golden Boys – a guitar-strumming blast from the past with harmonies and a host of South American rhythms. The delicate samba folk of “Moreno De Angola” follows with vocals by the gorgeous Clara Nunes. The legendary Som Tres come next with a superb downbeat sleazy jazz version of Jorge Ben’s “Take It Easy My Brother Charlie”. A high-tempo instrumental is offered up to us by Oliveira E Sus Black Boys. “Dang Dang” is a wonderful whirl of handclaps, saxophone, xylophones and delightful guitar work – classic Brazilian jazz. Orquestra America Romantica’s take over with their tongue-in-cheek orchestral masterpiece “Tequila” which has since become a jazz and big-band classic. The horns are simply spectacular. Acid Jazz follows Jazz with Brazilian heroes Super Som T.A. serving up the funk-filled “Agora Chega” replete with gorgeous vocals, fuzz guitar and James Brown-like horns. BB6 then switches genres again with Hip Hop veteran Black Alien offering up two tracks. First comes “Babylon by Gus” beginning with a classical piano riff, understated rapping which then slowly builds. The track flows back and forth with alternate layers being added and taken away to give us an incredibly strong track. “Como eu te quero” is a lighter track with a tinge of South American-style guitar and a hint of reggae influence. We continue in a Hip Hop style with Marcelo D2’s light-hearted “Lodeando” which combines alternate adult and child rapping. Another light-hearted number with body percussionists Barbatuques “Num Deu Pra Credita” gives us an oriental-style up-tempo body orchestration. Our final track is “Orientação” by Tuze De Abreu which is a majestic number with glorious classical guitar and powerful vocals and harmonies. A fitting, sweeping end to Brazilian Beats Six. |