About

— The Analog Vault // Essential Listening —

With its inspired marriage of bossa nova and cool electronics, Bebel Gilberto’s acclaimed debut album has perfectly captured the mood of the times. Originally released in 2000, Tanto Tempo had become an international best seller, making it one of the most globally successful albums of Brazilian music ever. Produced by Suba (the São Paulo-based Serbian producer who tragically passed away just before the release of the album), and featuring collaborations with Amon Tobin, Mario Caldato, Chris Franck & Nina Miranda, and the Thievery Corporation.

From the original press release:

The album features guest appearances by prestigious musicians such as veteran pianist/arranger João Donato, guitarists Celso Fonseca and Luis do Monte, percussionists João Parahyba and Carlinhos Brown, drummer Robertinho Silva, and a couple of horn sections who play in a genuine 70's sambasoulfunk style.

Tanto Tempo's modernist angle is supplied by Suba's typical arrangements and production, as well as by contributions from young electro-brazilophiles such as Smoke City, Thievery Corporation, Beastie Boys producer Mario Caldato Jr and NinjaTune artist Amon Tobin.

Out of the album's eleven songs, seven are original compositions (including a new, acoustic version of Sem Contenção, Bebel's acclaimed contribution to the Brasil2mil compilation) while the remaining four are reinterpretations of classic songs by Chico Buarque, Marcos Valle, Vinicius de Moraes/Baden Powell, and Gilberto Gil/João Donato (Bananeira, which was specially re-arranged for the occasion by the latter of its co-writers).

Enter the world of Bebel Gilberto : never has bossa nova sounded simultaneously as familiar and as new, as emotional and as dreamy... there's little chance that you won't badly fall under Bebel's exquisite spell. — (via Label)

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After working with artists like Caetano Veloso, David Byrne, and Towa Tei, Bebel Gilberto made her solo recording debut in the U.S. with Tanto Tempo. It's an album of stylish, cool, contemporary bossa nova, with Gilberto's vocals a bit more assured and polished than Astrud Gilberto's classic and similar recordings of the '60s. The tone is restrained and subdued, simmering over the low heat of quiet passion; the instrumentation is mostly acoustic, although there are some unobtrusively electronic dance-club sounds as well. Overall, Tanto Tempo is a terrific, promising way for Gilberto to make her first impression as a solo artist. — (via AllMusic)

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Some musical genres change violently in sudden lurches. Others sway and shimmy forwards, evolving so gracefully so you hardly notice. When the impeccably laid back Brazilian bossa nova decides to embrace modern technology there's no surprise it should do so ever so gently.

Bebel Gilberto has a pretty daunting musical heritage to live up to. Her father is João Gilberto, the man who invented bossa nova, and her mother is the singer Miúcha. Bebel's first public appearance was a concert at Carnegie Hall with her mother and Stan Getz when she was nine years old. So it's not surprising that shes taken a while to record this debut album. After a debut EP in 1986 shes been working and singing on other peoples records for over ten years before taking the plunge. And this album shows she was wise to wait - it's a quiet triumph, a very modern marriage of classic styles and new technology. No clattering drum machines here, but rather cunningly arranged samples and collages take you even further into a uniquely relaxed state of mind.

The opening track "Samba da Bencao" sets the tone, a dreamy selection of sax and clarinet samples and drum loops, set alongside real time guitar and traditional percussion. Tracks such as this and the startling album closer "No Return" fit perfectly alongside more traditional standards such as So Nice (Summer Samba) and Gilberto Gil's 'Bananeira. Portugese and English lyrics dovetail effortlessly together. And just when you're in danger of becoming so relaxed you might drop off altogether the mood just goes uptempo enough to keep your attention.

This album has been granted a British release just in time for the final fling of that perverse and unpredictable beast, the English summer. It's hot. You need to cool down. This album is perfect for the purpose. — (via BBC Music)

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Reissued, 45 RPM, 2 LP, housed in gatefold sleeve
Remastered from the original tapes
Includes unreleased texts and photos

Vinyl Tracklist
A1 Samba Da Benção
A2 August Day Song
A3 Tanto Tempo
B1 Sem Contenção
B2 Mais Feliz
B3 Alguém
C1 So Nice (Summer Samba)
C2 Lonely
C3 Bananeira
D1 Samba E Amor
D2 Close Your Eyes

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Label: Crammed Discs // Ziriguiboom
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Gatefold
Reissued: 2025 / Originally Released: 2000
Genre: Jazz, Electronic
Style: Bossa Nova, Future Jazz, Downtempo, Latin

File under: TAV Essential Listening
File under: Latin Influenced
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