Caipirissima: Batucada Electronica

Caipirissima: Batucada Electronica

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Batucada is Brazil's heartbeat--the vibrant Carnivale drums that drive dancing hordes into São Paolo's streets, fuel Rio's decadent nights, and unite scattered cities under a banner of rhythmic solidarity and revolution. Caipirissima proposes the emergence of a "batucada eletrônica" among Brazilian producers swept up by the tide of the global electronic music revolution. The basement "guerrillas" profiled here surmount limited access to gear with an extra ounce of ingenuity and inspiration. Most popular shades of contemporary production mischief are represented--dub effects (João Parahyba, Ramilson Maia), careening dark-step breaks (Anvil FX, DJ Dolores), sampladelic vocal damage (Apollo 9), instrumental drop-ins (BiD), elegant drum and bass (I.N. Project), and the thwack of bass-bottomed hip-hop beats. "Zumbi," cYz's joyous clash of folksong lilt and sensually charged breakbeat, and the astonishing blends of batucada, glitch-riddled digitalia, and pure electro adrenaline delivered by Chelpa Ferro and Suba vs M.A.U. are particular triumphs of Caipirissima's traditional-meets-new sensibility. Meanwhile, though a world removed from the homeland, Brazilian expatriates Arto Lindsay, Amon Tobin, and DJ Soul Slinger maintain a vital psychic umbilical cord via the rhythms of batucada, even as they define the frontiers of modern pop and dance music. --Gil Gershman

Tracks:

Central Do Brasil - Joao Parahyba
Monica No Samba (She Loves Drum N' Cavaco) - DJ Dolores
Batuk De Amor - Bid
Whirlwind - Arto Lindsay
Sub Tropic - Amon Tobin
Pupila Dilatada - Suba Vs. M.A.U.
Masterplan - DJ Soul Slinger
Nao Fique Ai - Apollo 9
1000 - Anvil FX
Zumbi - cYz
Santa Teresa - I.N. Project
Bahia Sou - Ramilson Maia
Miniatura Chelpa - Chelpa Ferro

Amazon.com

Batucada is Brazil's heartbeat--the vibrant Carnivale drums that drive dancing hordes into São Paolo's streets, fuel Rio's decadent nights, and unite scattered cities under a banner of rhythmic solidarity and revolution. Caipirissima proposes the emergence of a "batucada eletrônica" among Brazilian producers swept up by the tide of the global electronic music revolution. The basement "guerrillas" profiled here surmount limited access to gear with an extra ounce of ingenuity and inspiration. Most popular shades of contemporary production mischief are represented--dub effects (João Parahyba, Ramilson Maia), careening dark-step breaks (Anvil FX, DJ Dolores), sampladelic vocal damage (Apollo 9), instrumental drop-ins (BiD), elegant drum and bass (I.N. Project), and the thwack of bass-bottomed hip-hop beats. "Zumbi," cYz's joyous clash of folksong lilt and sensually charged breakbeat, and the astonishing blends of batucada, glitch-riddled digitalia, and pure electro adrenaline delivered by Chelpa Ferro and Suba vs M.A.U. are particular triumphs of Caipirissima's traditional-meets-new sensibility. Meanwhile, though a world removed from the homeland, Brazilian expatriates Arto Lindsay, Amon Tobin, and DJ Soul Slinger maintain a vital psychic umbilical cord via the rhythms of batucada, even as they define the frontiers of modern pop and dance music. --Gil Gershman

Customer Reviews:

Experimental Samba Electronica.......2004-10-04

If you've missed Suba, the artist that passed away late in 1999, you may want to get your hands on this compilation. Released in 2000, Caipirissima featured a few acts and artists that perhaps weren't as main stream as they are now plying their trade in the Brazil and global undergound.

This CD breaks down the boundaries, intensifies the beats and says "anything goes - including you". You can feel the freedom in this cd as nothing is really ruled too radical, no beat too hard. Starting out with Joao Parahyba (Trio Mocoto)'s "Central Do Brasil", you know you're going on a journey through Brazil... not Germany or Holland trying to re-invent the sound. That track will remind you of Sao Paulo Confessions - and it should given the time frame and that Parahyba and Suba were very very close. DJ Dolores is next with "Monica No Samba", a slower beat with touches of guitar. Arto Lindsay comes in with "Whirlwind", a song that evokes a misty atmosphere over the sea. And what's an electric Samba cd without perhaps the biggest and best - Ninja-Tune's Amon Tobim. He comes in with "Sub Tropic", a track loaded with eerie effects that'll remind you of an old record player that somehow comes to life in the middle of an Amazon excursion. Tobim always knew how to add that touch of live instruments to give the music another life, in this case a faded out sax deep in the background. Suba does feature in a track featuring M.A.U. - neat effects, fast paced, intense. But perhaps one of my favorite tracks on the cd is well known & respected DJ Apollo 9 with "Nao Fique Ai". It's extremely raw! But the way the track starts out... imagine Maracana on a rainy day, Vasco vs Flamengo. Dark, you know something will happen, and then that voice in the background that haunts the track - it's Andrea Marquee. It's got a sort of soul in the beat, hip-movin' track and weird flute touch.

I definitely recommend this cd but be forewarned that this will NOT be for everyone. It's not like the Italian bossa or cheery, cheesy tracks you might hear on the Sister Bossa comps. It's nothing like what you might hear on Brazilectros or the other comps either. This is a unique cd and I can't emphasis enough - it's very raw, and that's actually what draws you into the music. There have been other albums out long since this that may be more someone's speed - check out another compilation titled' "A Rough Guide to Brazilian Electronica" for starters. But even then, the feel isn't the same as this one. And if you do dig this, you MUST get work by Suba, DJ Dolores, Ramiro Musotto & check Amon Tobim's "Permutation".

Electronique at its greatest.......2001-06-05

This album features a nice mix of downtempo, drum and bass, and other eletronic styles all with a salsa, latin vibe. A great mix of the present state of batucada. Not to be missed.

It's Fonky.......2000-08-17

Like this a lot...in fact, it hasn't been out of the changer since I picked it up. Being a fan of all Brazilian music, I have to say that this is pretty compelling. Arto Lindsay I have been listening to for 10 years now, and his song "Whirlwind" is one of the mellower tracks here, and probably the most conventional in terms of following songform--but the other stuff is great, open-ended. Funky. Makes a great companion disc to Lindsay's "Hyper Civilizado," which I like quite a bit as well.

Not Samba + Electronica...Better.......2000-07-14

More than just the fusion of Brazilian and club beats, batucada electronica is in fact its own style and scene. As noted in previous reviews, drum 'n' bass is prevalent as a source, as is breakbeat in the broader sense. Beyond that however, the Brazilian-ness of the music goes beyond carnival to include more experimental inspirations like Hermeto Pascoal. The result is a truly Brazilian form of electronic dance music, and listening to this disc offers the mix of excitement and mental challenge that one gets seeing a form of music emerge from the underground. "Caipirissima" is not a party disc: It is challenging and rewarding (and still decidedly groove-ful) look at how Brazilian artists have adapted electronic music to their own ends.

nice summer album, though not necessarily for relaxing.......2000-06-10

This is a very interesting CD, though if you're looking for gentle bossa breezes, it might disappoint you. It features quite a bit of drum n bass, and some wonderful experimental tracks, though, and it maintains high musical standards throughout. I must say that it's grown on me with subsequent listening, as it's much more dimensional than simply a "dance" album. "Whirlwind" is a beautiful song.

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