Bebel Gilberto Remixed [Bonus Disc]
Bebel Gilberto

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With its blend of elegant, languid melodies and subtle, bubbly beats, Bebel Gilberto's Tanto Tempo gently pushed Brazilian pop into the new millennium; it sounded at once familiar -- with classic bossa novas that would make her father, Brazilian legend João Gilberto, proud -- and modern, due to the chilled-out electronics burbling in the background. For the most part, 2004's Bebel Gilberto eschewed contemporary beats in favor of wispy, acoustic ballads, favoring tradition over innovation. That's why Bebel Gilberto Remixed is such a joy: While the original album is lovely and seductive in its own right, these new mixes amplify the ecstasy. Most of the remixers wisely leave Gilberto's vocals to float in the ether above the imaginatively reinvented arrangements while still stretching the songs in new directions. As remixed by Spiritual South, "Aganju" rides on a stuttering, heavily syncopated thump, but it swells with clouds of orchestral keyboards to buoy Gilberto's swooning voice. At the other end of the spectrum, Steve Hillier turns "Next to You" into a slightly spooky, atmospheric ballad that recalls Julee Cruise's Twin Peaks work. Bebel Gilberto Remixed offers plenty of fodder for the dance floor, whether that floor's in a loud, crowded club or a quiet, intimate home, but most of all, it's another irresistible showcase for Gilberto's beautiful, oh-so-sexy singing. Steve Klinge