The Ipanemas: Samba is Our Gift

Herald rating: * * * * *

If there is any justice, then this woozy and wonderful album, fronted by a couple of old guys from Rio, will be the next new Buena Vista Social Club phenomenon - and it comes with an even more warm and sassy vibe.

Right from the lazy trombone over lounge music strings and a tickle of acoustic guitar on the opening track, you know you are in for a thoroughly pleasant journey.

And with all that Rodney Hide has done for ballroom dancing (say what you like, he got people watching) then you could also imagine people all over the country breaking out their dancing shoes for these slippery and seductive sounds.

The Ipanemas are percussionist/singer Wilson Das Neves and guitarist Neco, who could never be accused of being in a hurry: their debut album came in the 60s and the follow-up - amusingly called The Return of the Ipanemas - didn't arrive until 40 years later. Guess they were busy.

They have put on a sprint in the home straight, however. This is their fourth album and, for men who look like they should be in rockers on the front porch, they conjure up some swirling Latin American magic: Das Neves' lively acoustic guitar weaves in and around the piano of Fernando Moraes; trumpet and trombone pop in and out; and on songs like the tricky Taioba you just want to grab your Pan Am shoulder bag and take a 707 direct to Copacabana.

So yes, it is retro in a way. And yes, there is that bad-da-bah vocal thing you hear so often in samba - but here it is infectious in the hip-sway songs, and this music even makes the trombone sound sexy.

About now we could do with warmth in our world, and the Ipanemas offer that - and will have you reaching for repeat play. Ahhh.

Label: Southbound