Bebel Gilberto, daughter of Bossa Nova originator Joao Gilberto, delivered her long-awaited debut LP, Tanto Tempo, back in 2001. It was a genuinely beautiful album, full of delicately crafted songs, that paid dues to the traditional Bossa style while at the same time pulling them gently into the 21st century with subtle experimentation and electronic flourishes. Now, Crammed have come up with the clever idea of reissuing the LP alongside a set of remixes by a range of electronic luminaries, who translate Bebel’s songs for the dancefloor massive. The likes of Phillipe soul survivor King Britt, Brazilian drum & base dons Marky and Patife, UK innovators 4 Hero, Mancunian beatmongers Rae and Christian and the ever-delightful Faze Action all turn in considered and largely faithful reworkings of Bebel’s music, adding plenty of rhythmic fuel, extra walls of sound and enough club vibes to breathe new life into the originals. –Paul Sullivan
The original version of Tanto Tempo is now a fully-fledged international bestseller (sales in excess of 700,000 copies outside the UK) has made it one of the most globally successful albums of Brazilian music… ever. With acclaim heaped upon from all corners: ‘outstanding’ said the Sunday Times, while Mojo declared it to be the ‘epitome of cool’.
As is increasingly becoming the norm, the original opus has been repackaged as a Special Edition featuring a bonus disc of alternative reworkings. The assortment of remixers plying their post-production skills including Derrick Carter, 4hero, Rae & Christian, Layo & Bushwacka! and King Britt. The net result is still a fluent collection of blissed-out Balearic sunset moments and lounge beats for the ever expanding bar culture.
In the former catalogue comes Peter Kruders’ languid shuffling title track, and 4hero’s soul-drenched reading of the 60s bossa nova flavoured “Samba da Benção”. While Rae & Christian add a rolling Soul II Soul-inspired loop to Bebel’s rendition of Gilberto Gil’s “Bananeira” featuring the legendary João Donato on keyboards.
The tempo rises on the chunkier releases “Close Your Eyes” (the Brazilian’s stunning new single scheduled for March 31) as Gallic funksters Buffalo Bunch add the prerequisite spice to create a delicious Samba party. Already winning upfront support from Pete Tong on Radio 1, Faze Action deliver an equally palatable percussive mix too.
“So Nice”, a former Cool Cuts chart topper, appears in a trio of versions each uniquely different and far from just fillers. Layo & Bushwacka! go deep-house, DJ Marky pins his interpretation to a drum ‘n’ bass backdrop, and Derrick Carter applies his trademarked tripped-out beats.
If you’re not already familiar with the original album, now’s the chance to see what all the fuss is about. You never know, you too might fall in love with this beautiful marriage of bossa nova rhythms and soulfully delivered lyrics. –Lewis Dene
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