BossaCucaNova Brasilidade CD

The Brazilian trio Bossacucanova has been taking the smooth, jazzy sound of bossa nova and muscling it up with breakbeats, turntablism, and electronica since they first hit the international dance music scene in 1999. Their third album isn't really a departure from their previous work (album title notwithstanding, the beats are pretty much the same), but it does represent a continued refinement of their approach. Bass player Márcio Menescal brings his father, the legendary producer and guitarist Roberto Menescal, on board yet again to lend his delicious licks and slinky filigrees to the proceedings, and other guests include singer Marcos Valle and Bossacucanova's labelmates Zuco 103, whose contribution on "Samba da Minha Terra" is one of the album's highlights. But the real star of the show is Brazilian-American singer Cris Delanno, whose interpretations of "Onde Anda Meu Amor" and the Antonio Carlos Jobim song "Aguas de Março" have a special, bittersweet appeal. Really, though, there isn't a weak track on this wonderful record. Very highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson

For '90s artists ranging from Japanese loungesters Pizzicato 5 to techno producer Ian Pooley, the fluid, effortless music of Brazil has acted as both an influence and a spur for their own music-making. The Bossacucanova trio not only retranslates its native Brazilian music back into a contemporary setting with programming and mixing, but adds bossa nova pioneer Roberto Menescal to the lineup in order to hark back to the glory days. (No coincidence, then, that his son Marcio is in the band.) The opener cruises along with a crisp woodwind section that smacks of '50s space age pop, some brisk percussion/programming along the lines of drum'n'bass, and Menescal Sr.'s nimble guitar work and vocals over the top. Some of the covers, however, don't turn out quite as well; Bossacucanova can't quite conjure the emotion necessary for standards like "Agua de Beber" or "Garota de Ipanema" ("The Girl From Ipanema"), though the versions are curios of a sort. ~ John Bush

Additional personnel includes: Ed Motta, Cris Delanno (vocals); Pascoal Perrota's Company (strings); Rodrigo Sha (flute); Leo Gandelman (saxophone); Altayr Martins (trumpet); Adriano Giffone (acoustic bass); Ali-Z, (drums); Dado Brother (tambora); Raymundo Bittencourt (bongos); Reginaldo Vargas, Laudyr De Oliveira (percussion).

From Rio De Janiero;Electronic Bossa Nova

Recorded at Estudio Fibra, Ed Motta, Rio Mix, Barquinho Studios, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Includes liner notes by Roberto Menescal.

Personnel: Roberto Menescal (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Alexandre Moreira (keyboards, programming); DJ Marcelinho da Lua (programming).

BossaCucaNova includes: Roberto Menescal (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); Alexandre Moreira (keyboards, programming); Marcio Menescal (bass, programming); Marcelinho Dalva (programming, scratches).

CMJ (4/9/01, p.25) - "...Although the tunes are uniformly wreathed in elecronica, the relaxed, insouciant sexiness that was a trademark of the style is wisely left intact..."