Hits

With its rhythm heritage, Brazil figures to be fertile ground for reggae, whether played along the lines of the classic Jamaican models or just added into that rich mix. Cidade Negra is a popular reggae group in Brazil, but the two-CD Hits/Dubs is a disappointing collection of perfectly pleasant but lightweight pop reggae. The "Hits" disc is particularly lukewarm. The no-bite slickness of polished tunes like "A Sombra da Maldade" and "A Estrada" indicate that the target audience was the Brazilian pop mainstream. Toni Garrido's vocals have that caressing tone, "Sábado à Noite" is just smoothed-out nice reggae music, and a title ("Eu Também Quero Beijar) that translates as "I Want to Kiss, Too" speaks volumes. The only tunes that raise the energy enough to get a little skank propulsion going are "Falar a Verdade" and "Na Frente de TV," and it's probably no coincidence that both feature original lead singer Ras Bernardo. The "Dubs" disc generates some creativity and real Jamaican feel, but the music is less notable than the Dub Hall of Fame list of collaborators: Augustus Pablo, Mad Professor, Lee Perry, Sly & Robbie, Steel Pulse, Aswad, and U-Roy. The opening "Casa" features drum'n'bass, "Conciliação" has good energy, and "Simples Viagem" by Aswad echoes and reverbs out spacily enough. But only Sly & Robbie get to an interesting new place, a Brazilian/ragga/reggae fusion on "O Guarda" driven by an edgy Robbie Shakespeare bassline and Garrido's best vocal by far. It applies a Jamaican sensibility to Brazilian forms. The "Dubs" disc is at least moderately interesting most of the time, even though it clearly seems like a stab for credibility by association with legends. Anyone searching for revelatory reggae variations from a different culture won't find it with Cidade Negra.