Search - Arsenal :: Oyebo Soul (Dig)

Highly Recommended

Critical Reviewer | El Paso, TX | 08/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When you mix lush sounds and smart beats, and have them set in a multi-cultured music base with influences from Brazil, African, and Latin America and throw in Hip Hop, Jazz, Pop, and more--well you get the fresh sounds of ARSENAL. A Belgian duo, they have garnered world-wide attention with their creative sound.



This album has tracks where vocals are in Portuguese, English, and other languages. The songs offer genre-bending sounds that can lean to Chill, Dance, Latin, and World and a blend of all of these. Already a big hit "Mr. Doorman" is a commercial-type work. Other cuts are less so, yet are being liked by diverse audiences. An example is "A Volta" where Chill meets Jazz meets Soul/Dance. Co-written with Mario V. Dos Santos, a Brazilian Capoeira teacher, the tune is a fun and magical work that engulfs the listener in thick sounds and waves of Brazilo-Chill grooves. On "Longee" the bass and drums sound like those of a heavy metal band yet the vocals are soul-like, sultry, and very well-done. The female vocals and vocalisms throughout the album are of high quality. It's an interesting contrast--the gut crunching bass and big beats supporting the solid vocals. "Tigerwoods" is going to get some attention. Then on "How Come?" these guys bring in others to make a good sound. There's lots of contributors on the project from DJs, to producers, and musicians from many lands, places, and genres.



The U.S. release has two bonus tracks--"Longee" in a different mix and the 12" version of "A Volta" winds up the disc. This album is a very creative, interesting, and fun listen. This duo is the new century's version of The Euryhthmics...not since has a pair delivered such diverse and creative sounds. A CD that has a bright and forward looking sense. The album is highly listenable and very enjoyable. It doesn't grate on you like some other party/dance discs do. [Very] Recommended fun music."

Music that heats up your body and warms up your heart

Hilde | Belgium | 07/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although this Belgian duo's first song "A volta" was compiled worldwide on varouis complitations like Café Del Mar,MTV's Chill Out, their first full-cd "Oyebo Soul" was/is especially a national succes and it's a shame that not more people worldwide are aware of this fantasic album. The mixture of afro-brazil-rock-house-hop, as they call it themselves, seems a bit impossible to combine in one record, but when you listen to it, you find yourself dreaming away of far distance shores en nipping of tropic cocktails on this melting pot of warm voices and great music. It may suprise you that the makers of this record are from a country where the weather is often grey and rainy but these Belgians guys are succeeded in heating up my body and warming my heart. Fans of Leftfield, Thievery Coporation, Buddha Bar, Groove Armada, Massive Attack and another great Belgian artist Buscemi, will surely appreciate this fine piece of quality music!"

GREAT CD !

Joseph Nicholas Prusinowski | 11/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
I really liked this cd . It has a mellow but upbeat feel with a mixture of brazilian and english. Every track is good.

I only wish there were more tracks.

overall a grat listen for driving or chilling at the house."