Nicola Conte: Jet Sounds Revisited : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

As part of Thievery Corporation's global Eighteenth Street Lounge family, Italy's Nicola Conte exists in bossa-influenced, jazz-inflected, downtempo territory. With Jet Sounds Revisited Conte re-examines the dark cinematic vibe of his debut album, Bossa Per Due, in remix fashion. Artists similar in style and flair such as Koop ("Fuoco Fatuo"), Kyoto Jazz Massive ("The in Samba"), Les Gammas ("Forma 2000 Reforma 2001"), Nuspirit Helsinki ("Jet Sounds") and Thievery themselves ("Bossa Per Due"), are chosen for remix duties. Conte's signature thrumming stand-up bass, sassy horns, shuffling beats and echoing percussion are infused with a processed, modernist lounge mood moving them away from the organic original. But Conte's retro stylings filtered through studio technology are kept intact, only given slight adjustments to add each remixer's particular flavor to the tune. Additionally, three new tracks ("Tema in Hi-Fi," "New Standards," "Love Me 'Til Sunday") are included on Jet Sounds Revisited. If you liked the original, you'll enjoy these re-workings by like-minded artists.

LILY MOAYERI
(November 12, 2002)