Zum Zum – Urbana Capoeira (Zum Zum)
Reviewed by Sadie O., 3/22/06
Duo does mellow Brazilian music loosely based on Capoeira (mostly, I think, in terms of using the signature instrument, the berimbau.) Capoeira, as most folks know, is a danced form of martial art developed by Brazilian slaves, and the music is usually very rhythmic in order to facilitate the timing of the dance – this is generally not very rhythmic, so I don’t get a lot of capoeira feel from it (well, a lot of lyrics are about capoeira.) The berimbau is an African-based instrument with a single long string that is beaten and a resonating gourd, and makes an interesting sound. I guess the “urban” aspect here is a certain amount of synthesized orchestration, which I think detracts. It’s all very mellow and sweet.
None of it’s BAD, but none of it’s GREAT – unless you’re really into smooth jazz. I like 7 and 11 best.
1. Very mellow midtempo, acoustic guitar and vocals with some percussion, trumpet. Builds considerably, ends abruptly with tiny cymbal noises persisting.
2. *Mellow downtempo with berimbau, male vocals, spacey noises. Cool swingy beat comes in almost 2 minutes into song, then back to spacy noises.
3. Midtempo, smooth dance groove, song about capoeira. Pretty, but a bit too “smooth jazz” production.
4. *Slide guitar and vocals. smooth orchestral stuff comes in after 1.5 minutes, which isn’t as nice.
5. Vocals and acoustic guitar, mellow downtempo. Female backing vocals and more instrumentation come in occasionally.
6. Acoustic samba groove. Somewhat uptempo; I guess the signature song.
7. **A beat! It’s got a beat! Berimbau and trumpet. I guess the title means berimbau jazz… It’s mellow still and midtempo, but it’s got a beat!
8. *downtempo, mellow with a decent beat, lots of keyboards and noises.
9. Slow, but with a strong, simple beat. Male vocals and odd noises, a bit of electric guitar, some female backup chorus.
10. Downtempo, mellow, male vocals, synth and a bit of percussion, “capoeira” repeated over and over.
11. **Midtempo and upbeat, lots of instrumentation and beat, all about the berimbau although you can’t hear much berimbau.
12. Midtempo jazzy groove with a lot of spacey stuff, some slide guitar. Very quiet for last 40 seconds or so.
13. Percussion and spacey noises, male vocals. Midtempo, mellow. Electric guitar solo, slow fade at end.