Customer Reviews

Bongos Bleeps & Basslines

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If ever there were truth in advertising on album titles, Zero dB's debut, BONGOS, BLEEPS & BASSLINES would be front and center. Because, you know, "A Pomba Girou" is a crazed bongo frenzy, followed with a thick, buzzy bass, and a energetic Brazilian vocal to boot. The title track takes this is another level, going for the deep vibe with a nice heavy overlay of both jazz and noise. It's rather brilliant, in its way. They also play around with spoken word and rap with "Conga Madness" and "Know What I'm Sayin'," respectively. (The spoken word returns on the sleazy listening of "Anything's Possible.") But none of those, honestly, is as exciting as the Brazilian chanting on "Coisa de Gringo," where Zero dB seems most comfortable, slowly building the beats on "Te Quiero." They go crazy even with the more straightforward jazz of "On the 1 & 3" or the downtempo mellowness of "Sunshine Lazy." Nice!

If there ever was an album that qualifies as "close enough" for jazz, this is it. Itunes may classify it as Electronica/Dance, and that may be right for tracks 1, 2, 7, and 8. On the other hand, Conga Madness (tk 3) has some seriously groovy Herbie Hancock-esque samples while Know What I'm Say'n (tk 4) is a bit more in your face with some decent (read: indecent) hip-hop. Coisa de Gringo (tk 5) and On The 1 & 3 (tk 8) change it up again, sounding like hyped up Brazilian lounge music. I like the laidback guitar and organ riffs of Anything's Possible (tk 6) fit with some smooth MCing and the equally laidback, sultry female vocals and trumpet solos on Sunshine Lazy (tk 9). A strong LP debut from this DJing duo.