- Everybody's got a different bone to pick with the concept of the remix album: Rock fans that think songs come in one definitive version, fans that can do without outside ears re-imagining their faves, dance people grown weary with endless permutations of stuff that in many cases isn't all that memorable to begin with. Many times, all of these positions have an arguable point. And it's true that I'm not familiar with the original versions of the dozen tracks by the 11 Angolan artists from the '60s and '70s that are made over here by a handful of modern Brazilian producers and remixers—chief among them Rio's Mauricio Pacheco, whose hand is on seven tracks, either alone or in collaboration with Berna Ceppas (Wyza's "Mãe"), MPC Digital Dubs (Carlos Lamartine's "Kuale N'go Valodo") and DJ Cris (Elias Dia Kimuezo's "Zom Zom"). Maybe the original versions would obliterate the Comfusões 1 experience altogether.
Somehow I doubt it, though. Pacheco and his crew's obviously modern touches—snaking echo, found-sound overlays, tricked-up percussion, synths not yet in manufacture when these Angolan players laid their tracks down the first time—have an integrity of their own. Many times, remixers will stitch their sources anew over machine grooves, but throughout Comfusões 1 the Brazilians leave the Angolans' rhythmic structures intact, simply bolstering what was already apparently there, as with Rica Amabis's light-fingered enhancements to Carlos Lamartine's "Nzambi Nzambi," or swamping it in dub reverb, serrated cymbal samples and near-dog whistles ala Bonga's "Kapakiao (Kassin & Berna Ceppas RMX)." If you're worried about this being some Jason Nevins vs. Run-D.M.C. shit, fear not.
Despite Pacheco's obvious dominance (and evident good ear for both working with the material at hand and choosing like-minded folks to get in on the project), Comfusões 1's highlight belongs to DJ Dolores, whose ties to Brazil's traditional styles and its forward-thinking electronic scene make dividing the two seem even sillier than it would normally be. Dolores' take on Paulinho Pinheiro's
"Merengue Rebita" uses clattering guitars and zesty güiro as the basis for a crunchy groove buttressed by electro-toms and shivering echo on the tinny drums. It makes me want to hear the original—right after I listen to the remix one more time.
Tracklist 01. Teta Lando - Angolé (Maurício Pacheco RMX)
02. Artur Nunes - Tia (Mario Caldato Jr. RMX)
03. Avonzinho - Mama Divua Diame (Maurício Pacheco RMX)
04. Bonga - Kapakiao (Kassin & Berna Ceppas RMX)
05. Carlos Lamartine - Nzambi Nzambi (Rica Amabis RMX)
06. Wyza - Mãe (Maurício Pacheco & Berna Ceppas RMX)
07. Carlos Lamartine - Kuale N'go Valodo (Maurício Pacheco & MPC Digital Dubs RMX)
08. Luis Visconde e Alvarito - Chofer de Praça (Maurício Pacheco RMX)
09. Paulinho Pinheiro - Merengue Rebita (Dj Dolores RMX)
10. Ciros Cordeiro da Mata - Kappopola Makongo (Moreno Veloso RMX)
11. Kissanguela - Cada Cidadão Deve Sentir-se um Soldado (Maurício Pacheco RMX)
12. Elias Dia Kimuezo - Zom Zom (Maurício Pacheco & Dj Cris RMX)