by Sterling McGarvey

François K's Wave Music came into 2002 with a splash with the deep house vibes of Deep & Sexy, and exits with the exquisite sounds of Bossa Mundo 2, his joint effort with DJ Yellow (aka Alain Ho) of Paris. The team of Parisian expatriate and Parisian resident come together to create an exquisite melding of Brazilian sounds with deep house.

Unlike the glut of albums on the market (one begins to wonder if a backlash will rise against Brazilian-influenced Nu Jazz that might be in the same vein as the current anti-electroclash wave), Bossa Mundo 2 manages to surpass the competition in its execution rather than simply floating on the current sonic trends. Tracks such as "Awakening," featuring Barbara Mendes, carry the sounds (acoustic guitar, deep bassline, and foot-tapping percussion) that made François' own "Enlightenment" so rich and memorable. The more upbeat sounds of "Libre" give it a unique feel. In keeping with a faster tempo, "Deepest Seas" lies somewhere between uptempo jazz and slowed-down jungle. One can hear the melding of the soaring, percussive house associated with Wave alongside the acoustic guitars and polyrhythmic sounds of Afro-Caribbean beats in songs such as "Like Ours."

On paper, Bossa Mundo 2 seems like a good joining of two well-respected house producers. On disc, it lives up to the hype. If you're looking for the right blend of Latin rhythms and smooth house, Bossa Mundo 2 is a fine place to search. It's a 63 minute-long big Brazilian kiss on disc.