Editor Reviews:

Album Description:
Far Out Recordings are proud to announce the release of the debut album from Zeep, the new band from Nina Miranda & Chris Franck.

Zeep is the new band from Nina Miranda & Chris Franck, the musicians formerly known as Smoke City (still remembered for their seminal `Underwater Love' track that was the soundtrack to a Levi's advert) - and Da Lata, signed to Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures label.

Imagine Led Zep, The Meters, Joni Mitchell and The Beatles jamming in Brazil with Tropicalistas such as Gal Costa, Gilberto Gil & Os Mutantes and you're on the Zeep trail. Zeep is where rock `n' roll, funk and classic pop get spiced up with a little samba magic, bringing you an album inspired by the attitude of the 70s when music was live, urgent, right-on, scruffy, funky and folksy.

Whilst Zeep was mainly dreamt up in London, the beat of Brazil gives the music it's swing, as electric guitars, funky drumming and samba percussion all combine with shouts, whispers and random bursts of `collective conscience' to produce one of the freshest albums we've heard in a long time. "We made this record without having a record deal in place as we wanted to let the music dictate where it was going", says Chris, "this is music for music's sake, recorded with everyone playing together". "This" finishes Nina, "is why we christened it `Zeep', because we wanted a name that was born the same time as the music".

Opening track `Funny Old Song' sets the tone of the album - a snappy, uplifting, folky bossa where spoken interjections from various Zeepistas give the track a film-like quality, whilst second track `Super' is a blast of psychedelic folk-funk where our `super-hero powers can take us high'. `Come with me' features the velvety voice of Kenny Lynch - London's answer to Nat-king-Cole - and is a tale of two people down on their luck who find solace in each other. Lyrically it's classic samba and with the shuffling percussive groove and sing-a-long chorus it's undoubtedly one of the albums highlights. `Zeep Dreams' is a pacey baião featuring Senegalese djembe player Mamadou Sarr and vocalist Diabel Cissoko that connects Brazil to mother Africa.

Other obvious highlights are `Baby', that featuring Courtney Dennie, on backing vocals, is a romantic bossa with a reggae soul vibe. `Agua', the first ever Nina & Chris song, is a punchy baião inspired by the spirits of those passed away and the essential life-giving property of water. `Sem Pensar' is sung in Portuguese conjuring up the contrasting physical and socio-economic landscape of Brazil to a lilting rhythm in ¾ time and `Keep an Eye on Love', is a feel-good R 'n' B samba begging for daytime radio airplay.

Rating : - Light-hearted, "Family" album
Fans looking for the next "Smoke City" or "Da Lata" album should rejoice with Zeep coming out. All are here, minus Mark Brown & Patrick Forge respectively (and curiously), and several friends of Chris & Nina who have worked with them over the years through various projects. This one was released on Far Out Records, same label as several other artists they've worked with (Troubleman, etc.) and the label where I first heard their "Agua" single. Obviously Chris & Nina are together, have kids, etc. and they feature here as well.

I liked this album. It goes in and out of musical styles, but the overall vibe is optimistic, funky, fun and htey try to really create a "Live!" feel with the instruments. Granted, you sort of feel like the 'innocence' of it is forced a little, but you still enjoy the record. The album starts out well with "Funny Old Song", a poem in the middle of the song with samples. That's followed up with the funked up "Super". Admittedly, it has a good live energy to it that saves the melody. "Come With Me" was als oa very nice song before "Zeep Dreams", a song that will definitely remind you of Da Lata... particularly their remix to Gabin's "Azul Anil". Tristan Banks is on the percussion there, yet another connection with Chris Franck from the "Batu" days. "Keep an Eye on Love" was also very nice and I think the top track that was pushed for the album was "have You Ever", a song that has a wondreful uitar intro from Chris Franck before rolling into a wonderful melody. Throughout the album you also have skits with their kids, some samples on most of the songs and beeps, laughs, etc. here and there.

I enjoyed the album. Very nice songs, great originality and you can't really deny the talent of Chris Franck and the joy in Nina Miranda's voice. Something about her voice reminds me of Wanda Sa - always has. It's always awesome to hear live instrumentation - to me they make an album all the more timeless. But admittedly the album wasn't without fault. I enjoyed the original version of Agua more than the one featured here and I was a little curious that 'Mash Banana' wasn't included. I want to say they're inviting you into their world musically, but at some times - and I know this may sound odd - but you feel like there are a lot of 'inside' jokes here, that there's a disconnect somehow with them doing their own thing vs. you the listener. And I mean that as a HUGE Smoke City fan. :) Anyways, a good album, terrific musicianship and I'd certainly recommend it to any Smoke City or Da Lata fans. It's certainly lighter (and IMO better) than Da Lata's last album... I'd say if it's most similar to any of their albums, it'd be "Heroes of Nature".

For the radio... I'm not sure you'll see a lot of these songs featured there. Best bet is to try to catch a live show if ever you're in England or they start to tour - it'll probably be a great performance.