Sure, there have been others, Trip Do Brasil, Break n' Bossa, to name just two, but this is one is a real standout. What make it special is the execution and production values. These artists and DJs splice the true elemental foundation of Samba, Bossa Nova, Forro for example, with downtempo, acid Jazz, chill-out, ambient, drum n' bass, giving each track that special Brasilian flair. Sometimes it's the soft female lead vocals or the percussive force of the batucada as it drives the rhythm.
Encompassing such a wide range electronic styles, this compilation could have been a very eclectic package with no direction. But the focus has always been clear, starting with BraziLounge 1 to BraziLounge 3, head to the dance floor with disc 1 (urban) and chill-out to the warm sounds of disc 2 (leisure). For reasons still unclear, BraziLounge 4, was issued as a single CD.
Several cutting edge dance/electronica artists, DJs and producers from Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Pernambuco and Salvador da Bahia are featured throughout, including Edson X, DJ Delores and Funk Como le Gusta. Its fascinating to listen to the compositions from the larger states to hear the world influences while those from smaller ones place their emphasis on traditional or local styles. BraziLounge 3 was unique because it featured some of the best know remixes from the soundtrack of the hit movie Cidade de Deus (City of God).
These fresh compositions keep me listening to my favorite tracks. Whether the music is blaring through my Harmon/Kardon Soundsticks II speakers attached to my iMac or through the headphones of my iPod, in each repeated listening I hear some new rhythm I didn't notice before. Sometimes its more clarity to the layered African/Latin rhythms, the light and airy synthesizer horn lines used for affect, or the beauty of the Portuguese language used as a backdrop to a tender melody of saudade.
BraziLounge 2 - disc 2 - (leisure), Renata Gebara's Meditaco - starts with a funk intro yet changes up quickly and glides into a midtempo mellow groove. Renata's vocal are so on, mellow yet expressive, this woman sings effortlessly. If you listen with a good pair of headphones you'll pick up the bossa nova guitar licks and hear the subtle waves of the Copacabana beach.
BraziLounge 2 - disc 1 - (urban), Metro's - Mensagen De Amor (Message of Love) uses an electronica groove reminiscent of Suba's great accompaniment to Bebel Gilberto's breakthrough CD Tanto Tempo. They're never overpowering, just bubbling beneath the melody line. Another nice subtle touch in this groove is the whispered conversation of love between couples in varies languages.
BraziLounge 4, Marco Andre's Funcao Das Coisas, is a swinging samba groove with irie atmospheric electronics but it works well, its offset by the familiar Olodum style batucada. I love to play this one loud but to appreciate the midrange harmonies, use headphones. What a funny move using the rhythm of an outboard motor to begin the groove.
BraziLounge 3 - disc 1 - (leisure), Maracutaia's Tristeza Camará, is an easy samba groove where the melody begins with the guitar, is handed off to a clarinet, then a bass clarinet, flutes and back to the guitar. The cuica (a hollow drum that's rubbed from the inside to produce a squeaky sound) adds that Brazilian spice to the track, but just after three minutes into the jam the splattered percussion rolls add an emotional depth making for a powerful ending . It makes a dramatic impact, but doesn't over power at all.
BraziLounge 3 - disc 1 - (urban), I just love Stolen Beat's Going South (Glamor), this cool lounge track has all the best downtempo elements. The melody is carried by the Fender Rhodes, alternating hazy synthesizer lines against spoken Portuguese in a female voice. You can't get much more chilled out than that.
Other BraziLounge highlights are Aleh's funk style, Dona Da Banca. Also worth checking out is his 2004 CD Mpbsoulsambagroove, a nice mixture of Samba, Soul, R&B. Then there's Forro funk from Beto Brito on Pandeiro Sideral; or DJ Dolores on No Future Mix, a hypnotic drum and bass with a sassy hook. There's so much inventive material here is hard to select just a few.
Several cutting edge dance/electronica artists, DJs and producers from Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Pernambuco and Salvador da Bahia are featured throughout, including Edson X, DJ Delores and Funk Como le Gusta. Its fascinating to listen to the compositions from the larger states to hear the world influences while those from smaller ones place their emphasis on traditional or local styles. BraziLounge 3 was unique because it featured some of the best know remixes from the soundtrack of the hit movie Cidade de Deus (City of God).
These fresh compositions keep me listening to my favorite tracks. Whether the music is blaring through my Harmon/Kardon Soundsticks II speakers attached to my iMac or through the headphones of my iPod, in each repeated listening I hear some new rhythm I didn't notice before. Sometimes its more clarity to the layered African/Latin rhythms, the light and airy synthesizer horn lines used for affect, or the beauty of the Portuguese language used as a backdrop to a tender melody of saudade.
BraziLounge 2 - disc 2 - (leisure), Renata Gebara's Meditaco - starts with a funk intro yet changes up quickly and glides into a midtempo mellow groove. Renata's vocal are so on, mellow yet expressive, this woman sings effortlessly. If you listen with a good pair of headphones you'll pick up the bossa nova guitar licks and hear the subtle waves of the Copacabana beach. BraziLounge 2 - disc 1 - (urban), Metro's - Mensagen De Amor (Message of Love) uses an electronica groove reminiscent of Suba's great accompaniment to Bebel Gilberto's breakthrough CD Tanto Tempo. They're never overpowering, just bubbling beneath the melody line. Another nice subtle touch in this groove is the whispered conversation of love between couples in varies languages.
BraziLounge 4, Marco Andre's Funcao Das Coisas, is a swinging samba groove with irie atmospheric electronics but it works well, its offset by the familiar Olodum style batucada. I love to play this one loud but to appreciate the midrange harmonies, use headphones. What a funny move using the rhythm of an outboard motor to begin the groove. 
BraziLounge 3 - disc 1 - (leisure), Maracutaia's Tristeza Camará, is an easy samba groove where the melody begins with the guitar, is handed off to a clarinet, then a bass clarinet, flutes and back to the guitar. The cuica (a hollow drum that's rubbed from the inside to produce a squeaky sound) adds that Brazilian spice to the track, but just after three minutes into the jam the splattered percussion rolls add an emotional depth making for a powerful ending . It makes a dramatic impact, but doesn't over power at all. BraziLounge 3 - disc 1 - (urban), I just love Stolen Beat's Going South (Glamor), this cool lounge track has all the best downtempo elements. The melody is carried by the Fender Rhodes, alternating hazy synthesizer lines against spoken Portuguese in a female voice. You can't get much more chilled out than that.
Other BraziLounge highlights are Aleh's funk style, Dona Da Banca. Also worth checking out is his 2004 CD Mpbsoulsambagroove, a nice mixture of Samba, Soul, R&B. Then there's Forro funk from Beto Brito on Pandeiro Sideral; or DJ Dolores on No Future Mix, a hypnotic drum and bass with a sassy hook. There's so much inventive material here is hard to select just a few.
For those interested in a more authentic sound, don't be too put off by the heavy use of electronics here. There are several tracks on the BraziLounge series from producers just as inventive but prefer to reply of Northeastern traditions of call and response and native instrumentation. This is a highly recommended CD compilation series.
