| |
With Putumayo, you can pretty well know what to expect. While their work isn't always groundbreaking, it's always solid quality, standing above the usual generic world and chill dreck spilling over the tops of discount bins of bad techno. Brazilian Cafe's title also gives you a good clue as to what to expect. Something gentle but lively, suitable for sipping coffee and gazing out a window at Brazilian life walking by - or, for that matter, enjoying some brew in an American joint while letting the music carry you off to another world. Kind of the point of world music, huh? Take some groovy samba and bossa nova styles, take 'em a notch down from the party level of attack, and set 'em free into the listener's ears. Nice mid-level hooks, perkier than downtempo but not caffeine-induced like dance-based party sounds. All-in-all, a pleasant musical encounter. -- review by Kristofer Upjohn
|
