Brazilian Girls Issue #29

Talk to La Bomb (Verve Forecast)

By Amber Drea
Published: September 1st, 2006 | 12:00am

Brazilian Girls’ debut album was one drug reference away from easy listening, but on its sophomore release, the NYC-based quartet adds a hearty dose of spunk to the chilled out world music vibe. Produced by Mark Plati, who has worked with David Bowie, the Cure, and Deee-Lite, Talk to La Bomb combines rock, jazz, funk, Latin, and Caribbean with electro, techno, and drum'n'bass.

Lyrically, sultry-voiced singer Sabina Sciubba seems to focus on vice, though some meaning is lost to English speakers, as French, German, Spanish, and Italian make frequent appearances. Titles like “Nicotine” and “Sexy Asshole” are self-explanatory while others need some interpretation. Sciubba lightly addresses political concerns with the explosive “Never Met a German” (about stereotyping), the reggae-flavored “Sweatshop,” and the Weather Report–inspired “Talk To the Bomb,” which incorporates vague war metaphors.

The rest deal with having a good time. On “Tourist Trap,” Sciubba lists things one does on vacation, such as peeing in the ocean, losing at the casino, drinking wine and tequila, and throwing up. “Last Call” — an obvious single produced by the Cars’ Ric Ocasek — is an ode to bar hopping; the equally catchy “Jique” features a hard hitting bass line, hand claps, and sirens; and the rambunctious “Problem” talks about partying till you drop (dead). The band also shows its romantic side on “All About Us,” which touts the importance of putting love before material desires, and on the seductively sexy “The Rules Of the Game.” Yet no matter how smooth and sophisticated Talk To La Bomb gets, Brazilian Girls always give each song an experimental edge.