Rio Baile Funk is an unmixed compilation of Brazilian artists whose songs are played at Favela parties.

The Favela movement is centered around DJs and Sound Systems that supply parties with dance music. Though the Favela scene originally help American artists in DJ's stacks, there are so many local artists that the current scene is all Brazilian artists, with most songs sung or rapped in Portugeuse.

All the tracks have an aggressive upbeat feel. The sound is based on Miami Bass and hiphop. There are casio electronics, and lots of drums, congas and percussion. The tracks don't have any regular bass, guitar, drum action - these are constructed tracks composed of rhythms, samples, and lots of drum related work.

Furacao 2000 has been putting on events since the early 90s. They start off the compilation.

MC Jack E Chocolate does a song about Pavarotti with tenor opera vocals and rap. Os Tchutchucos uses an accordion and lots of fat drum beats. The accordion and latin beats might remind you for a second of Boozoo Bayoo, but this music is much more in your face than they ever were. These two songs work well played together.

Ricardo e Esquisto has music that could remind you of the Uwe Schmidt acts Los Samplers or Atom and Tea Time.

De Falla's Popozuda Rock'n'roll was on The Glimmers, a compilation on eskimo Recordings.

Dessin DJ does a heavy duty casio solo that is to casio what Edgar Winter Group Frankenstein was to ARP. The song has vocals that sound like a child. O Corrascos connect right up to the end of the Dessin DJ song with another catchy track that has Louie Louie like keyboard.

MC Serghino uses a horse sound like The Avalanches had and a giddy-yup beat.

MCs Naldinho & Beth is to my ears the standout track on the compilation. There are male and female vocals, lots of deep bass, and driving congas. The closing track on the disc is a radically different version of this track by Waguinho that is almost just as good, with a more afrobeat sound.

When you play this CD the first time it may not catch you. The recordings are great, but the in-your-face nature of the songs demand the right mood. Repeated listening will engrain these songs in your head, so beware! (and enjoy).

Faves:

• 3 and 4 played together
• 5, 6 and 7 played together
• 8
• 9 and 10 played together
• 12
• 14, 15 and 16 played together
• 19 (different version / expansion of song 12)