Suba: Tributo

By all accounts, Suba was the toast of the Brazilian music scene, known for his ability to blend electronic production techniques with Brazilian instrumentation and rhythms. Serbian-born, Suba was killed in a studio fire at the age of 37 and did not live to see the release of his album Sao Paulo Confessions or Bebel Gilberto’s acclaimed album Tanto Tempo to which he contributed. Tributo is an attempt to piece together some of the remaining works of Suba, in the form of remixes, reconstructions and remakes. The result is a vibrant collection of tracks that effortlessly combine authentic Brazilian flair with electronica. The two versions of “Samba Do Gringo Paulista” were inspired by sampling a track from Sao Paulo Confessions, in the absence of the destroyed masters. Both emphasize kinetic Brazilian percussion rhythms - Zero db outlines them with a delicate house flavor while Bigga Bush’s remix uses understated acid tweakings. Throughout the CD are percussive interludes dubbed as “duets” between Suba and percussionist Joao Parahyba. These were recorded live in concert – Suba would electronically process JP’s drumming as he played. Tributo is a remarkable album that bears testament to the strength of Suba’s musical spirit -maintaining a cohesive sound, despite the variety of producers involved. The circumstances of its production lend it a haunting dignity. Anyone looking for something a little different than your average 4-on-the-floor will find this completely refreshing.