Bossa Nova Singers - Various Artists

Advantages: Nice original look at punk and electronica
Disadvantages: Slightly samey

...An odd name and only kind of French. Basically it's two French blokes (which is the French bit) who decided to remake a load of old punk classics, but with a twist... Nouvelle Vague means "New Wave" (in French) but also "Bossa Nova" (in brazillian portuguese) and well, that's the twist. Punk covers done bossa nova style... odd you think, but highly effective! Now what's so great about two blokes singing punk classics in a weird way? Well they don't sing: in fact there are eight different female singers that take it in turns to take us on this twisted form of punk. Each of their voices adds a bit of sexiness to the mix, which is a bit odd hearing "Teenage Kicks" (originally by the Clash) sung in a sensual way is a good enough reason to buy the album on it's own, but there are in fact 13 brilliantly sung and produced songs. My only gripe... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: one of the best album of 2005
Disadvantages: not easy to find on the market

...ok , these are my words to speak of this record. I first heard Isabelle Antena when she wrote and sung Seaside with Buscemi on his album Camino Real .I then found that the first Eighteen street lounge compilation started with one of her track (Antena). As I'm a fan of both Thievery Corporation and Buscemi , when I saw that this record had remixes from both , plus Nicola Conte and Yukihiro Fukutomi (who are among my favorite artists) , I had to get it. And actually , I do prefer now by far the first CD , pure bossa nova in Jobim style. The cover of Henri Mancini's song is outstanding.I new it from the movie the Party , Claudine Longet being a french actress and Dimitry from Paris (french dj) had made an instrumental version.But this one , to me is even better than the original. The bossa cd is recorded with a big band , strings , flutes... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful

Advantages: Melodic, tranquil and beautiful.
Disadvantages: A few songs..

...This is a spectuacular album, brought together from the concept band Nouvelle Vague. Basically, without being too 'cover disasterous', this band have manipulated songs from other artists and subverted them to the Bossa Nova style. Infact, in some cases in a quite different, atmospheric style. 'Fade to Grey' (originally by Visage), consists of a low tempo, isolated array of whispers and accordian, it stretches far beyond any stereotypicial bossa nova style and shows that Nouvelle Vague can create magical pieces and stylistic compositions that totally overthrow the original. Making you wish 'Vague produced it first. Of course, there are other great points to make about this album, and that is that you can buy this as an impulse buy. I purchased this, hearing nothing about the band, apart from a review in a musical magazine boasting it... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful