Bebel Gilberto

Shortly after releasing Bebel Gilberto’s phenomenally successful Tanto Tempo in 2000, Six Degrees commissioned numerous producers to try their hands at remixing songs by this Brazilian royalty. Considering how much Gilberto’s bossa-tinged sound had evolved by the time her self-titled 2004 effort was released, there’s little surprise that this second collection of dance-based mutations follows suit. Gilberto’s strength is in her backing team; her voice is painfully beautiful at times, though her true musical domination relies on the incredible artistry behind her. Brooklyn-based DJ Spinna jump-starts Remixed with down-tempo, home-grown flavor on a bass-heavy, head-nodding translation of “Céu Distante.” Tom Middletown picks it up with a dreamy rendition of “Simplesmente,” and Thievery Corporation’s treatment of “Cada Beijo” is made for lounges. But it’s the Latin Project that sets off the record properly with a keyboard-led, bottom-heavy version of “Aganjú” — already masterfully crafted by Carlinhos Brown — that’s the hands-down winner. Later, when Spiritual South tweaks the same song into a quirky, electroclashing floor jammer, you’ll appreciate the attempt. Then you’ll skip back again to lose yourself in a fit of Portuguese wizardry.