Search - Isabella Antena :: Easy Does It

Isabelleantena.com

music fan | chicago | 02/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you want to buy this record , it comes as a double cd for 18$ included shipping on isabelleantena.com.

This version includes remixes by Thievery Corporation , Nicola Conte , Buscemi and Yukihiro Fukutomi."

The queen of the bossa

a music lover | 11/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Queen Isabelle did it again.After her Best of presenting most of the bossa she recorded (in the past 25 years) , she's giving this beautiful album , very latin , with songs in english , french and brazilian.My favorites : Omerta bossa , Moonlight dancer and a wonderful version of Mancini's Nothing to lose."

Pure Bossa

whateverprod | France | 03/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is Isabelle Antena's first full purely bossa nova album. It comes complete with covers of Henry Mancini and Tom Jobim songs. This is an extremely happy record. It is the work of a European who has fully assimilated the bossa nova sound.

The songs she wrote sound like she overdosed on Jobim, and while hallucinating, started writing songs. A majority of the songs are in English however, there are songs in Portuguese and a few in French



The album kicks off with the Henry Mancini composed song Nothing to Lose that was song by Claudine Longet in Blake Edward's movie The Party. It sets the tone for the whole disc. One of easy, relaxed melodies, emotional availability brought on by summery weather.



Easy Does It was produced by Isabelle with husband and arranger Denis Moulin, and recorded at their own studio in the South of France in 2004. Life near the sea, sand and sun has clearly had an effect on her work. All the songs are about living near the water and the beauty of nature.

My favorites have to include:

Moonlight Dancer

Your One and Only

Easy Does It

Obrigado

La Pecheresse a la Ligne.

Her vocals really shine on the latter two, the only songs sung in French, emerging as a perfect combination of latin rhythms and chanson francais.



Disc Two is a collection of remixes of this album by artists paying homage to Isabelle Antena's work. It is very solid remix project and complements the album well.



The second CD opens with a loungy remix of Nothing to lose by Thievery Corporation

Nicola Conte's version of Omerta Bossa is next and builds upon the sound of her original with an arrangement courtesy of an Italian Jazz Aficionado.

The Belgian acid-jazz artist Buscemi adds more of an electronic-tinged edge to La Pecheresse a la Lingue.

LaMalice's remix of Easy Does It, focussing on a sample of highlights the political nature of one of the more socially conscious songs on the disc. She sings, if Issy Does It then No Shooting, No Fighting, No War! --quite impressive for a bossa nova song, she discusses how her pacifist views are out of step with the realities of contemporary life.

Yukihiro Fukutomi's Fresh remix adds electronic percussion and makes the overall tune more bouncy and dancefloor friendly.

The Dr. Drak Mix of Stars called here The Star System, contains the lyrics of the original song as replicated by computer. Yes, thats right, to an electronic samba you hear a monotone voice speak all the lyrics to the original. This has the effect of an alien lifeform coming to earth speaking to you via a voice modulator. Needless to say, it is a curious and somewhat funny track.

The Musiq for Pleasure remix of Your One and Only turns the bossa nova track into a fierce punk electro-rock style track that would fit well next to Playgroup's Make It Happen.

All in all, this set is a real pleasure to listen to from start to finish.

See more on isabelleantena.com"