Various Artists Batucada: The Sound of the Favelas (Mr Bongo/Fusion III)
The Chemical Brothers Dig Your Own Hole (Virgin)Tom and Ed claim that Hole is full of "things you don't normally associate with electronics-like emotions." Some might not associate this album much with electronics, though. More like programmed rawk: beautifully done, with too many layers, too much dirt, sirens, sitars, broken bass slaps, cutting and drills, all ending up in some nouveau turntable/Stratocaster aesthetic. I never knew bongos could scratch. "Who is this doing this synthetic outdated alpha beta psychedelic funkin'?" asks track #3. The answer is obvious. Quite obvious. But enthralling. A noisy testament to closing gaps. 8/10 (Mireille Silcott) The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Let's Face It (Mercury)Boston's godfathers of skacore seem to be doing penance for their previous excesses. Barring a couple of tracks, the guitar is free of metallist crunch and the bite is gone from Dicky Barrett's bark. The Bosstones have always cranked out boss tunes, and that quality survives the transition to classier trad ska. 8/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
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Most of the Brazilian music that we up here in el Norte have been exposed to over the last few decades has been on the easy-listening side of the fence, focusing on sad, reserved melodies. But there's precious little melody to be found in batucada music. Long a secret resource for house and techno DJs, batucada is the thundering, percussive offshoot of samba that has its roots on the mean streets of Rio de Janiero's slums. Sifting through the banging and crashing of these percussion orchestras--hundreds of drummers strong--reveals a precise and complicated language in the rhythmic patterns. Overall, a ferocious and ecstatic kick in the seat of the pants. Check Par Ney de Castro's "BA-TU-CA-DA" for proof. 9/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
Pat & Thick Sometimes I'm Happy (514/Select)