Album Review: Nu Tropic - Voce Sabe (Comet)

Writer: John Armstrong

Afrobeat lovers will know and love Paris-based Comet for Manu Boubli’s excellent three sick-rare Afro compilations, but the label’s now branching out into original recordings and the omens are all good if this imaginative collaboration is anything to go by. Think Rainer Truby’s Intuit project from last year (whose strong horn section this record shares) and you’ll have a handle on DJ/production team Nu Tropic’s vibe. The set draws on Europe’s refound appetite for old-school jazz-funk flavours, but with a house-y production edge: Paul Murphy’s Afro Arts catalogue being another touchstone.

Nu Tropic are respected jazz/beats jock Jazzamar and technical wiz DJ Link, but that’s just the beginning. Nu Brazil flavours abound: Trama artist Fernanda Porto does her famous Braz d’n’ b thing (Leva E Traz), whilst comparative newcomer Anna Torres covers Sao Paulo nu-disco and Brazilian RnB corners (Sambador and Voce Sabe respectively). Washingtonian-turned Parisian session multi-instrumentalist Allen Hoist continues the career switch to jazz vocalist (the beginnings of which we saw last year with 12” remixes by 4 Hero and Raw Deal) with charm and ability. Trumpeter Stephane Belmondo’s jazzdance cruncher We’ve Got It is already being charted by floors such as John Kong’s Movement, whilst the cool French hip hop corner’s held up by Beat Assaillant.

Great pan-Parisian music for open ears. Keep a copy in the car for those long August drives down to San Tro!

RELATED LINKS:
More Info - Nu Tropic website



Buy Nu Tropic's Voce Sabe at Amazon US (CD)



PUBLISHED: 2 June 2005

RELEASE DATE: 24 May 2005 (UK/US)

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