VARIOUS ARTISTS – RED HOT + RIO 2

This is the belated sequel to 1996’s massively successful charity release of the same name, and it sees some of contemporary music’s most innovative artists (a la Aloe Blacc, Beck, Jose Gonzales, David Byrne, Madlib) team up with members of the old and new guard of the Brazilian scene to effectively spearhead the  renaissance of Brazil’s gloriously funky tropicalia movement of the late 60s and early 70s. As can be expected with a 33 track collection, not every tune is stunning, and some (John Legend’s rendition of Love I’ve Never Known, for instance) are mildly irritating. But there is at least one regular album’s worth of original recordings here that more than honour the first two words of the compilation’s title. An Indian raga-inspired piece, Terra, by Caetano Veloso and Prefuse 73 stands out, as does David Byrne’s collaboration with Veloso on Dreamworld: Marco de Canaveses. Brooklyn’s Phenomenal Handclap Band team up with one of Brazil’s original fusion pioneers, Marcos Valle, playing the Milton Nascimento classic Tudo O Que Voce Podia Ser and a promising discovery comes in the form of Danish duo Quadron whose lush, staggered take on Valle’s Samba de Verão is simply beautiful. It’s easy to see, from the thoroughness with which the international artists dedicate themselves to the language and spirit of Brazil, just how influential the unique music of the country has been on many of our cherished pop idols, and with proceeds going to fighting AIDS, what better way to celebrate that?

***1/2