Playing a new record by Gilberto, whose 2000 debut Tanto Tempo was the third-biggest selling Brazilian album in chart history, is rather like opening up an expensive box of confectionery. Everything is meltingly rich and exquisitely presented if rather soft-centred, but there's real bite and a profoundly lingering after-taste to her warm, summery bossa nova tunes, too.
On her third solo release, her silky, down-tempo voice is beautifully underpinned by shimmering washes of synthesised beats cleverly mixed with organic acoustic instruments. For the first time she's written most of the material herself, although a wonderful bossa-jazz version of Cole Porter's Night & Day provides one of the most heart-stopping moments. Sheer class.
Recorded in London, Rio and New York, British producer Guy Sigsworth is among those adding subtle touches of electronica to the sultry Brazilian rhythms on several tracks.
