De Tarde, Vendo O Mar

Twelve years ago, Brazilian bassist Luizão Maia and Japanese producer Neil Oda set out to create an album of bossa nova renditions of songs by Japanese pop singer/songwriter Yumi Matsutoya. An unexpected and delightful twist came when chanteuse Bebel Gilberto was invited to join in on the collaborations and The Sound of Brazil documents the magical results of those sessions: ten effortlessly smooth tracks driven by Bebel's sultry vocals. The songs simmer with elegant simplicity and gently pulse to the beat of years of Brazilian music history; this is the original "chill-out" vibe that continues to be pillaged by so many down-tempo artists. In an era when electronica remains indebted to bossa nova, The Sound of Brazil is just as relevant today as it was in 1991.