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Either Olivera or Tirelli writes their tracks but I suppose the attraction for many would be the cover versions they’ve done. The album has an “array of styles from Brazilian bossa and Latin jazz to pop and instrumental soul” with that classic Hammond sound and vibes.

Of their own tunes, ‘Soul Nuevo’ and ‘My Job’ kicks off the CD and really warms us up for ‘Comin Home Baby’. Followers of Sky’s Poker Million will recognise this one as the original by Mel Torme was used as one of the theme tunes to the first series. It also a popular tune with Gary ‘The Soul Machine’ of the Kernow Soul Club, I found out last year.

‘Soul Limbo’ (the test cricket theme of the BBC) is what it is and has been done to death.

It’s now that the CD changes in feel and gets into the more Klaus Wunderlich sound, particularly on ‘In The Year 2525’, ‘Gin Tonic’ and ‘Ramblin’. It might be trendy in the lounge scene, but leave Klaus to it. Sexteto Electrónico Moderno sound better when they’re in a soulful Stax vibe or on a Sergio Mendes tip.

The bossa of ‘Simplemente Agradable’ and ‘Samba Diferente’ fall between the two extremes and some days they sound better/worse than others but the album really loses me (but probably gains many more 60 year olds) when they get into the Bacharach/David and Serge Gainsbourg covers. ‘I Say A Little Prayer’ is more Tower Ballroom Blackpool than Northern Soul’s Mecca Ballroom. For all its sexiness, this version of ‘Je T’aime’ would be more at home at a Butlins or the British Legion on a Saturday night.

Apparently, the idea of the Sexteto Electrónico Moderno to start with was to cover instrumentals from soundtracks of blockbuster films. Not a bad idea, so what soundtracks could we come up with from their era? [more to follow on this subject, stay tuned]. However, the last two tracks on the CD are taken from their last album (some sort of trip to Mexico) and they’d totally lost it by then.

On the whole, the CD starts really well with some jazzy soul and then drifts off to lounge land that I’m not at all comfortable in. Having said that, Vampi Soul look like an interesting label whose back catalogue includes releases by Latin-funk-brother, Joe Bataan and an option to Cuddle Up With Claudine Longet.

Sounds From The Elegant World is available on heavy vinyl which would suit fans more than the CD.

Reviewed: Sexteto Electrónico Moderno – Sounds From The Elegant World Cat. No. VAMPI CD 036 Released: August 2005.

Tracklisting:
1. Soul Nuevo (3:31)
2. My Job (2:45)
3. Comin’ Home Baby (3:42)
4. Soul LImbo (2:20)
5. In The Year 2525 (3:18)
6. Muere Pequeña Bestia (3:13)
7. Ramblin’ (2:12)
8. Simplemente Agradable (3:59)
9. Samba Diferente (3:02)
10. Gin Tonic (3:41)
11. Say A Little Prayer (3:07)
12. Je T’aime, Moi Non Plus (2:52)
13. The Look Of Love (2:42)
14. El Licor Del Albañil (3:45)
15. Despierta Amor (2:51)

3, 4, 6, 7, 11 from “…Sin Comentarios” (Clave, 1969)
1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12 From “Doble Personalidad” (London, 1970)
13 From “Sexteto Electrónico Moderno” (Clave, 1968)
14, 15 From “Las Cosas Pasan” (Discos de la Planta, 1971)

Links:
Vampi Soul www.vampisoul.com
Mel Torme – ‘Comin’ Home Baby’ (London) [1962] “This was a surprise hit by Jazz vocalist Mel Torme for the hippest of young Londoners, the Modernists, (admittedly it was recorded by Atlantic one of the hip labels at the time) and, well, it does have the Cookies singing backing vocals.”
The Soul Machine – For all your soulful needs, 60’s & 70’s Specialist in Motown, Stax, Atlantic & Northern Soul email: kernowsoul@yahoo.co.uk The Wednesday Soul night is no more in Hayle (let your feelings be known to The Cornubia Hotel)
Klaus Wunderlich - ‘The Phase 4 World Of Klaus Wunderlich’ (Decca). Klaus can drop a surprise now and again, last week picked up ‘The Phase 4 World Of Klaus Wunderlich’, which, in addition to the attractive sleeve it contains a cover version of ‘Mas Que Nada’ by Jorge Ben; the rest of it is awful (as per review of Vinyl Vulture)
Ian Levine Presents…Reaching For the Best - The Northern Soul Of Blackpool Mecca
The Blackpool Tower