Daydream? Bebel Gilberto invites you with her album of the same name, released in 2004. As the daughter of Bossa Nova star Joao Gilberto and singer Miucha, Isabel Gilberto de Oliveira, as Bebel is called, absorbed her Latino art with her mother’s milk.
Constantly commuting between New York and Rio, the music was her constant companion. Whether you can hear that in her songs is hard to say. What is certain, however, is that the artist, who was born in New York in 1966, demonstrates a tremendously unconstrained way of working – and she is not afraid of perhaps too catchy melodies. Perhaps one must be receptive to this Bossa Nova daydream sound. Certainly even. But if you can get something out of these sometimes rhythmic, but mostly slow-motion songs, you might be surprised when you consume them: Diving into a daydream is a desired side effect of her acoustic calming pills. Whether with the breathy cover version of the Bossa Nova oldie “Baby”, the rapturous “Simplesmente”, the percussive “Aganju” or – one of my favourites – the almost unreally beautiful “All Around”. To sugar-sweet Bossa Nova guitar chords, bass and discreet percussion, Bebel Gilberto sings of overcoming difficult times; of hope, love, not being alone and of better days to come again. Those who are plagued by love sorrow will probably cry snot and water at this song – but after this five-minute therapy session they will feel strengthened and more optimistic. A catharsis in melody and word.
