“ The new album reflects the years
I have spent working and travelling since Tanto Tempo,” explains
Bebel. “While I tried to recapture the magical feeling
of Tanto Tempo, I had to move to a more grown up stage.” She
and de Vries decided on predominantly acoustic instrumentation.
Understated flourishes help provide a framework for her oh-so
intimate voice. The opening track, ‘Simplesmente’,
sets the standard; ‘Aganjú’ - written
by Carlinhos Brown and featuring Bebel’s mother, Miúcha,
on backing vocals - keeps it. There’s the gorgeous ‘All
Around’, a slow, sad bossa nova performed with guitarist
Masaharu Shimizu.
The Portuguese-language ‘Cada Beijo’, co-written
with Sigsworth, is all the more dramatic for its stark simplicity.
Then there is ‘Baby’, a track by Caetano Veloso
with tongue-in-cheek English lyrics provided by Os Mutantes.
On thepathos-filled ‘Céu Distante’, Bebel
teams up with Pascal Gabriel. ‘Every Day You’ve
Been Away’, written especially for Bebel by two musicians
with similarly impressive pedigrees: Daniel Jobim and Pedro
Baby Gomes. Both insisted that Bebel, and only Bebel, should
sing it. Bebel originally wrote ‘ O Caminho’ for
Cesaria Evora, a track whose poignancy is augmented by exquisite
piano from yet another legend, João Donato. Described
by In Style as, ‘Brazilian music’s hottest star,’ and
by The Times as, ‘The new queen of bossa,’ Bebel
Gilberto is ‘The new girl from Ipanema,’ according
to Vogue, Blues & Soul’s ‘Ultimate summer
delight,’ and ‘A class above the rest’ in
DJ’s eyes. As the daughter of João Gilberto,
the creator of bossa nova, Bebel was always going to have
to work hard at forging a solo career.
Her mother, Miúcha, is a well known singer. Her uncle
Chico Buarque is one of Brazil’s first pop stars. Brazilians
expected great things of Bebel, who made her recording debut
at the age of seven on one of her mother’s records,
and appeared live at New York’s Carnegie Hall (alongside
Miúcha and jazz legend Stan Getz) at the age of nine.
In 1991 she left Rio for her birthplace, New York. She fine-tuned
her musical vision, worked with the likes of David Byrne,
Thievery Corporation and Deee-Lite’s Towa Tei, brought
the bossa nova sound to the metropolis’ dance floors,
and created Tanto Tempo with the late lamented production
genius Suba. Critical acclaim for Tanto Tempo was both widespread
and ecstatic. ‘ The epitome of cool,’ proclaimed
MOJO. ‘Tanto Tempo already has the unmistakable aura
of a classic,’ wrote the Sunday Times. The Daily Mail
praised it for mixing ‘Bossa nova and smooth electronics
in a fresh and fascinating way,’ while Q rated it ‘Excellent’.
Tracklisting:
1. Simplesmente
2. Aganjú
3. All Around
4. River Song
5. Every Day You’ve Been Away
6. Cada Beijo
7. O Caminho
8. Baby
9. Céu distante
10. Winter
11. Jabuticaba
12. Next To You
http://www.bebelgilberto.com
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