Bajofondo Remixed

If, in 2006, someone who knew absolutely nothing about electronica asked what the term electronica meant, he/she might get a narrow, uninformed response like, "True electronica is always rave music." Or, if the person asking the question spoke to someone who was truly knowledgeable, he/she would be told that electronica is many different styles -- some of them abrasive and harsh, some of them downright lush. And the fact that electronica went to different extremes in 2006 was a positive thing; all that variety kept electronica healthy. Bajofondo Remixed is on the more musical and melodic side of electronica. This is hardly an example of head-clobbering techno; the Bajofondo Tango Club have a certain amount of funkiness, but brutal sensory assault is not part of the game plan. Sleek, hypnotic tracks such as "Pulso" and "Perfume" point to the fact that Bajofondo would rather seduce than confront or attack. That is not to say that the confrontational side of electronica is a bad thing; the harsher side of electronica, although not everyone's cup of tea, can be exhilarating if one has acquired a taste for that type of approach. But for Bajofondo, it is all about the art of the nuanced seduction. Those who have purchased a lot of CDs by Kriztal Entertainment (an indie label known for putting out plenty of chillout and downtempo compilations) should have an easy time getting into Bajofondo Remixed as well; the parallels are evident. And the name Bajofondo Tango Club does not mean that this 2006 release sounds anything like Astor Piazzolla. Bajofondo Remixed is not a tango album; the name Bajofondo Tango Club is obviously meant to be ironic. There are some Latin influences on this disc, but not necessarily Latin as in Argentinean tango. "Perfume," for example, has a Brazilian influence. Bajofondo Remixed falls short of exceptional, but it is a decent release that is worth hearing if one enjoys the kinder, gentler side of clubland electronica. ~ Alex Henderson|