Ziriguiboom: The Now Sound of Brazil, Vol. 2

Personnel: Zuco 103 (vocals, Fender Rhodes piano, drums); Lilian Vieira, Apollo Nove (vocals); César Franck (programming).
Audio Mixers: Andy Bradfield; Toni Economides; Yann Arnaud.
Audio Remixers: Thievery Corporation; Tom Middleton; Apollo Nove.
Photographer: Roberto "Beco" Dranoff.
Arranger: Celso Fonseca.
Meet the Now Sound of Brazil, quite a bit like the Then Sound of Brazil: jazzy and warm; insinuatingly soft; funky in a gently swinging sort of way; and very, very sexy. What separates the Now Sound from the Then Sound in most cases is, unsurprisingly, technology. It's an occasional waft of jungly breakbeats here and a sudden shift of equalization there, and every once in a while it's a compulsively funky fusion of swaying samba and butt-rattling hip-hop. But not on this compilation. This one focuses on warm suggestion rather than blatant booty-shaking: the wonderful Bebel Gilberto is, wisely, used twice, on the sweet and sultry "Simplemente [Tom Middleton Balearic Remix]" and the simply lovely "Cada Beijo," presented here in a suitably chilled-out mix by Thievery Corporation. Zuco 103 and Celso Fonseca each makes two appearances as well, and their tracks are highlights as well -- in fact, if Zuco 103's gently spectacular "Love Is Queen Omega" (prominently featuring the celebrated reggae madman Lee "Scratch" Perry) doesn't convince you to buy this album, then you may be impervious to the modern Brazilian muse, to your great misfortune. Also noteworthy are the lovely trombone playing on DJ Dolores' "Trancelim de Marfim" and Cibelle's largely acoustic "Esplendor." Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson