Brazilian Brilliance
Bossa Nova goddess Bebel Gilberto has enjoyed striking success throughout the world with her debut album 'Tanto Tempo' and her eponymous second release, which has now enjoyed a drastic and stunning makeover. It comes at us in the form of this awesome 'Remixed' record.
The songs are dramatically different to the original compositions and the changes made compliment Gilberto's mesmerising and truly talented song-writing skills. It starts off with 'Céu Distante' remixed by DJ Spinna. Found towards the end on the original album, this track, after having received it's special treatment, makes for a great opener, with a new dance-tinged lushness and plush decoration added.
The remix of 'Simplesmente' by Tom Middleton follows, another worthy and beautiful update on an original idea and producer/collaborator Guy Sigsworth's interpretation of 'O Caminho' is fabulous too. But it is in Latin Project's take on 'Aganjú' that the real magic of this record can be found. It's a spellbinding thrill when the keyboard stabs launch the song into full swing. With a little bit of Daft Punk in there and a lot of cool about it, this is THE track for your summer 2005. Latin Project's injection of a new lease of life has brought a wealth of freshness to a song so lovely and wonderful already. A definite winner…
'Winter' has become a song of building beauty thanks to Nuspirit Helsinki's remix, with silky strings and blocky bass bumping away throughout. 'Baby' is now chilled like a soda in the sun, Gilberto's gorgeous voice emphasised to become soul-encapsulating, smothering you in wholesome heart-warmth and mouth-watering mind-cooling. The transformation of Bebel Gilberto's music takes her style from guitar-led, smooth bossa nova, Brazilian night-music to soft and chilled Morcheeba-esque escapism. This record redefines the music, rejuvenates the vocals and realises alternative potential in Gilberto's songs, whilst all the while recognising, respecting and recapturing the pure spiritual essence and eminent beauty of Bebel's soul-filled musical sensibilities.
'All Around' is carried off with a fine finesse by Telefon Tel Aviv, with its slow-beat intro and dreamy backing to the luscious voice of this brilliant vocalist. Thievery Corporation's remix of 'Cada Beijo' utilises the awesome flute sounds of the original and frames them in soft horn swells and cooled-down percussion.
'Jabuticaba' -also a standout Gilberto track- is again re-emphasised with some lovely echoing keyboard and rearrangement, ethereal like the soundtrack to a good dream. Then there's another remix of the aforementioned 'Aganjú', totally different from Latin Project's; Spiritual South make it more bouncy and dancy, a bit of Mr. Oizo-style acid in there, good, but ultimately it's not as swish as Latin Project's.
Last track on 'Bebel Gilberto', 'Next To You' has been transformed here by Steve Hillier into a vibrant ebbing mini-masterpiece that lulls and caresses the ears. Monoaural have introduced especial drums and extra-smooth stylings into 'Everyday You've Been Away' and created a chilled, spine-tingling sensation, and Grant Nelson has messed with 'River Song', bringing real Brazilian spirit into the mix with the congas and bongos on the percussion track and movement-provoking piano and horn stabs finishing off the album in style (as it began, and as it maintained throughout…)
Bebel Gilberto is just gorgeous, her music is rich with true sentiment, a great developed musical clarity and unrestricted aural vision. 'Tanto Tempo' was an indicator of an absolute talent emerging onto the global music scene. The second album was a reinforcement that here is where it's at; that miss Gilberto is here to stay as the creator of stunning compositions impossible to resist, and this latest record, 'Remixed', is another pure example of how much is in, and goes into her music. Unfamiliar with the name Bebel Gilberto? Familiarise yourself!