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Take a social-political-music movement, “new wave”, and interpret it through bossa nova (which also means “new wave,” in Portuguese). “Nouvelle Vague” isn’t groundbreaking by any means, but it handily transcends novelty–quite a feat for a project of this kind.This CD is based on an interesting premise. Highlights include “The Guns of Brixton” and “Teenage Kicks,” but the biggest surprise is the boppy “Too Drunk to F**k”. Although these covers are in English, they’re done French-Brazilian style (lightly accented vocals, bossa nova rhythms). Nouvelle Vague (French for “new wave”) has as much in common with the cinematic movement of the 1960s as the musical genre of the 1980s. The originators continue to be the masters. Four years without a new release was a long time, but the months have been wisely used, and this album feels altogether more adult. The competitive tango danced between the machines and the musical instruments is as wonderful as the real thing. Rich string arrangements and a more tightly managed acoustic sound add depth and emotion. Generally lighter in mood than the debut, Lunático, named after a horse owned by tango legend Carlos Gardel, is also wittier and more confident. Jangling guitars are provided by guests Calexico, there’sgravelly rapfrom Afro-tango maestro Juan Carlos Cáceres and Cristina Villalonga is still doing her Dietrich thing with the words. Too smart to screw up the “difficult second album”, the Paris-based pioneers have renewed their approach, widening their musical palate to include spacey piano and steel guitar, 1970s disco beats and a mock cabaret sound redolent of the Bad Seeds. Since the release of La Revancha del Tango (2001) there has been a boom in this new fusion, with tech-friendly artists sampling and remixing everything from Astor Piazzolla standards to scratchy 1930s ballads. It’s now seven years since Franco-Suizo-Argentine trio Gotan Project stirred up both the world music and club scenes with its edgy, knowing electronica based on the tango and its livelier sister-rhythm, milonga.