It must mean something that two compilations comprised of tunes that meld breakbeat and bossa nova have landed on my desk. A trend? By the time the compilations start appearing on store shelves (or on my desk, for that matter) it’s usually an indication that the trend is at an end. That doesn’t mean that either or both of these anthologies don’t have something to recommend. Subtitled “The American Chapter,” Break ‘N Bossa (Instinct) is actually a pleasant collection of bossa-tinged numbers such as “Bossa Per Due” by Nicola Conte, “Galicia” by the Rainer Truby Trio, and “Delicado” by South Copa. True to its title Drum And Bossa (Om) by Landslide transports the Bossa Nova to the land of drum ‘n bass for a hyper-rhythmic dance-floor experience. If it doesn’t become the next big thing, the bossa revival is certainly the “Rio” thing.
Speaking of musical trends, the British two-step dance club phenomenon certainly got a boost when the video for “Fill Me In,” from Craig David’s album went into heavy rotation on MTV. As he does on the single and video, Craig David brings an R&B smoothness to his album Born To Do It (Atlantic) that balances the quick beats and softens them up a bit. A young Casanova from the word go (just listen to “Last Night”), the title of the album implies that David was born to do more than just sing. However, when he combines the dance vibe with his silky soul vocals (as he does on “Time To Party” and “Can’t Be Messing Around”) you might think that a future star has been born.
Vengaboys (and girls) were practically inescapable a couple of years ago when their silly Euro-disco hit “We Like To Party” was the anthem in clubland. If you can overlook the vapid and empty lyrics (you can, can’t you?) the good times can still be found on their new disc The Platinum Album (Groovilicious). Skip the saccharine nonsense of the opening track and shift into high gear on “24/7 In My 911,” a song meant to be pumped from the speakers of a convertible. The low-maintenance dance party continues on “Kiss (When The Sun Don’t Shine),” ’48 Hours” and “Skinnydippin’.” However, the album title is wishful thinking at its best, especially when Vengaboys get too Ace Of Base for my taste.