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When it comes to “It does exactly what it says on the tin” this album is just what is required in this current period of recessionary credit crunch, freezing Siberian winds and rock salt shortages as “the finest modern sambas” cheer and warm every cockle you have to move to the beats of Brazil samba.

Selected by the champions of samba, Far Out’s Joe Davis alongside DJ Cliffy (he of Barmacumba which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year and numerous compilations including Black Rio - Brazil Soul Power 1971-1980), it seems like picking these 16 tracks was a stroll in the favelas for these guys.

Excellent track after excellent track with some you know and some you don’t. It’s always good to hear Seu Jorge’s ‘Carolina’; a modern classic if there ever was one along with the jazz-funk fusion of ‘Depois do Caranaval’ by Azymuth (from Brazilian Soul).

And not even those two tracks show the full range of sambas chosen here - from the jazzy big band of Armando Marçal, the sing-a-long of Treesa Cristina, the samba inspired style of ballroom carioca and the awesome drum and whistle jazzdance madness of Dom Um and Jadir de Castro - would that be former Weather Report drummer Dom Um Romão?

Far Out favourites are represented by The Ipanemas (from Call Of The Gods, Grupo Batuque and vocal legends Joyce and Elza Soares - Sambistas all.

Excellent sleeve notes by DJ Cliffy as you’d expect and whilst Brasil is warming up for the Carnival, Barmacumba’s last event couldn’t have been more of a contrast; a DJ Skate Night at Somerset House! Could the next compilation possibly a Strictly Samba on Ice? As long as the music is hot, that’s the main thing so get movin’ to Far Out Strictly Samba. Vamos sambar! as the locals would say.

Reviewed: Various - Far Out Strictly Samba (Far Out Recordings) Cat. No. FARO 137CD Release date: 9th February 2009 Artwork by Elaine Obeng
Tracklisting:
1 Roge - Swingue Do Samba (3:49)
2 Seu Jorge - Carolina (5:51)
3 Teresa Cristina & Grupo Semente - Foi Um Rio Que Passou Em Minha Vida (2:59)
4 Nereu Mocotó & Swing - Maria José (3:24)
5 Azymuth - Depois Do Carnival (6:10)
6 Zaira - Casamento Na Favela (2:32)
7 Aparecindinha with Grupo Batuque - Jongo Jade (3:45)
8 Dom Um And Jadir De Castro - Kaxcatribalim (3:00)
9 The Ipanemas - Era Bom (4:23)
10 Trio Mocotó - Beleza, Beleza, Beleza (4:50)
11 Arthur Verocai - Tudo De Bom (3:33)
12 Joyce feat. Elza Soares - Samba Da Silvia (3:23)
13 Teresa Cristina & Grupo Semente - No Pagode Do Vava (3:28)
14 Grupo Batuque - Na Cadência Do Samba (2:36)
15 Roge - Brazil Em Brasa (3:30)
16 Armando Marçal - Sorri Pra Nós (4:29)

Links
www.myspace.com/barmacumba - Tiffany & Co Presents Batacumba DJ Skate, Friday 23rd January 2009.
www.faroutrecordings.com
www.myspace.com/faroutrecordings
www.myspace.com/marcosvallebrazil
azymuth.net
myspace.com/azymuth
Antonio Adolfo
www.myspace.com/theipanemas
www.myspace.com/joycebrasil
arthurverocai.com.br
Jungle Drums February 2009: Rio Carnival/London Reduced jungledrums.org Strictly Samba “Vamos sambar!” Milo Steelefox
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Does_exactly_what_it_says_on_the_tin