A mixed bag that has more strengths than weaknesses,
Telecommunication demonstrates
Azymuth's ability to occasionally get into trouble when resorting to hi-tech gimmickry for its own sake, but also illustrates how rewarding the Brazilian trio can be. With its vocoder-ish hijinks, the funk-influenced "May I Have This Dance" is a dated and corny bit of silliness unworthy of
Azymuth. But there's also much to admire on this CD, including the haunting "The House I Lived In," the sensuous "Country Road," and the sentimental "Last Summer in Rio." Though keyboardist/pianist
José Roberto Bertrami and bassist/guitarist
Alex Malheiros do not always stretch out enough, the results are quite appealing when they do. ~ Alex Henderson