Songs From the Tin

Da Lata | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Palm Pictures (Audio
• ASIN: B00004UCF3
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,494 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Chris Franck, the multi-instrumentalist behind Smoke City, and DJ Patrick Forge are the brains behind Da Lata, who really became known in 1998 with the single "Pra Manha," which made a big impact in dance clubs. Building on that success, the artists created a wild album whose textures reflect the light, subtle beats and accents of Brazil rather than the four-on-the-floor of dance music. Dierdre Dubois of Ekova helps out with vocals on the opening "Binti," but most of the singing comes from the smoky-voiced Lilliana Chachian. Strings and touches of brass help the arrangements soar, especially on "Rain Song" and the closer "The Tin Within." Like the late Suba, Da Lata came to Brazilian music from the outside without the restrictions of tradition, and they both impose their own ideas on the bossa nova and samba, letting the groove slide sexily around and allowing the hips to do the talking. Close to perfect. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful CD, August 14, 2000

By 

"nfdavis" (San Francisco, CA U.S.A) - See all my reviews

Not being able to speak Portuguese is no barrier to enjoying this CD. The underlying samba precussion and evocative vocals need no translation.

I got turned onto this CD as Pra Manha (track 5) has previously been released on a compilation (Glucklich III). This is some of the best that MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) has to offer. On the strength of this, I ordered the CD and am not at all unhappy with the other tracks.

The first cut, Binti, sounds almost Middle Eastern in origin but as soon as the Samba drums kick the "Brazilliance" comes through. Some tracks (Rain Song/Borbaleta) have wonderful acoustic guitar woven through and Rio Vida is built around on some creative "African influenced" harmonies.

In recent Brazilian culture Da Lata (of the tin) has been added to the popular vernacular to mean very good. Apparently a ship had several thousands of tins of baby milk on board which contained the extract of a certain plant in addition to the formula. When the customs authorities tried to board the crew dumped all the cans into the water. The cans later floated into Rio's harbor and I'm told some pretty incredible parties resulted. This ranks as one of the top ten of the 70 or so Brazlian CDs I have. Well worth buying

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good CD - Great Musical Connections!, June 29, 2003

By 

bordersj2 (Boston) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Songs From the Tin (Audio CD)

Liliana Chachian is the voice in most of the songs on this CD, while Christian Franck of Smoke City is the guitarist and renown DJ Patrick Forge mixes. What you have is a very interesting sounding cd that captures different musical styles but with a twist. What really makes this CD work to me is that Liliana Chachian's voice is so powerful and traditional - you see Brazil when she sings. The downside to the CD - sometimes the "Brazil" is forced by the musicians. (see Binti + Rain Song).

Having said that, the CD starts out great with Binti and glides through in a sort of traditional feel through the first five cuts. Then you get more into the percussion and samba of Brazil before having a light song in the end "Rio Vida" followed by the acoustic "The Tin Within".

Disclaimers: There is a famous underground Brazilian singer named Fernanda Abreu who's album Da Lata is often confused with this. They are not the same - by ANY means! However you can hear one of her songs AND Smoke City's on the Brasil 2Mil compilation. I like her singing and her "Raio X" cd is pretty good.

Finally, I think what's most interesting is the musical connections of this group. Smoke City's Nina Miranda features in Rain Song. Marc Brown of Smoke City has another group, KV:5, who has a cut featured on Da Lata's remix album! Patrick Forge works closely with both groups and has a few good "Trust the DJ" releases. And finally Christian Franck has been featured on so many albums over time (take Batu for example) that I lost count. And of course there's much more. Bottom line, if you like Smoke City, you should pick this up. WHile I liked Smoke City's "Flying Away" better than this (more original), you can't help but be curious about the crossover.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent modern foray into Brazillian music, June 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Songs From the Tin (Audio CD)

This is something worth getting your ears into. It is an absolutely amazing album and like Mr. Hermano's Free as the Morning Sun which was released this year this is another British band giving us Brazillian flavours with a contemporary feel. Patrick Forge, the DJ and contemporary of Gilles Peterson lends his hand to this production as well as a song writing credit on Inae.

I have had this sitting in my desk at work for a little while now and finally got around to playing it throughout and this will be in my Cd player for some time. My favourite track is Indo but there is an excellent selection here, the likes of Pra Manha having already appeared on compilation albums and Rio Vida.

This is music to chill to, to dance to, to sing along to (so long as you can pick up the Portugese) and just generally enjoy. Now when is the next album out?