Music Reviews
Artist:
Bonde Do RoleTitle:
'With Lasers'Label:
DominoWebsite:
http://www.myspace.com/bondedorole
As the name might suggest, Bonde Do Role are not from these shores. They were formed by the chance meeting of a DJ named Gorky and fellow DJ Pedro some two years ago. Developing their own individual sound of electro-rock they soon became unexpected practitioners, and adaptees of baile funk, a sound with its roots firmly in the clubs of Rio de Janiero.
‘With Lasers’ is the duos debut album release, and follows the release of ‘Diplo Presents Bonde Do Role’, an EP released last year which made a significant impression upon the movers and shakers within the business.
The album’s initial track, ‘Danca do Zumbi‘, begins with a pulsing electric guitar sequence that wouldn’t be out of place on a Guns & Roses track, voiced over initially by Satan’s half brother, the track soon settles into the carnival, rock laden spirit. With a procession of kick drums, flowing bass lines using rhythms with a stop start flavour and hissy cymbals, lyrics supplied by Marina complete what is a perfect package.
Bonde Do Role seem to mix musical genres with ease, peppering tracks with a crescendo of rock guitar instrumentals which murmur wildly in the background.
Coupled with this are other tracks on the album which are filled with a supply of the electronic upbeat, mind bending qualities that true baile funk fans know well.
With tracks like ‘Office Boy’ and ‘Bondallica‘, guitar sequences are far more prominent, where as a large proportion of other tracks on the album are a mix of drums, synthesisers and voice sampling, here the tables are turned. Marina, lead vocalist with Bonde Do Role, has a monotonous, monotone, droning to her vocals. Although robotic in nature it seems to perfectly compliment the style of music.
Lyrics throughout the album are in Portuguese which adds to the carnival spirit but also unfortunately to Marina’s annoying qualities too, although certain tracks like ‘Gasolina’ for example are interspersed with lines of English which is refreshing.
Reflecting the language of the streets, Bonde Do Role aim to impress their romantic genre of music with its melodies and arrangements upon open minds.
Now of increasing appeal to the western world, baile funk practitioners like Bonde Do Role are certain to impress and break into markets dominated by a lack of South American talent. Watch this space !
Reviewed By: Matt Clutton
For more info see www.myspace.com/bondedorole or www.dominorecordco.com
Bonde do Role With Lasers is out on Domino Records on June 4th.
