"Mendes, a striking Brazilian discovery in both audio and visual terms, made new friends with her contribution to the Brighton-based Mr. Bongo label's Brazilian Beats Vol. 3 album, released back in March.
Her self-titled and almost entirely self-written debut set is produced by distinguished English helmsman Robin Millar, best known for helping to create the sonic sophistication of Sade. It's a similarly upmarket story here, on a collection of songs that whisper softly and sweetly of such olive-tinted, late-night sultriness.
As Mendes says herself, the Nu-Brazil style that she represents is about far more that just The Girl From Ipanema, even if the music does exude that certain Gilberto-esque duskiness. She was born in Ceres to a farming family with Spanish, French, Portuguese and Brazilian heritage, and brings a cosmopolitan timbre to unmistakably measured Brazilian grooves.
Mostly she sings in Portuguese, but converts seductively to English on Night Night (especially when she murmurs alluringly 'you are the sexiest man I ever saw') and on a winning cover of Chicago's If You Leave Me Now. Irresistible first to last". HMV Choice magazine (UK)
"Dubbed the Brazilian Sade, Ive Mendes has already made a mark for herself in her home country, Spain and Asia. Her debut album features a collection of love songs in both English and Portuguese. The combination of her sultry personality and an incredible talent for writing and singing will surely win her plenty of fans over here too". Hello Magazine (UK)
"This statuesque Brazilian diva is already big news in most parts of the world, and her debut, produced by Robin Millar, the chap behind Sade, is her attempt to crack Britain. This is summery, sultry and sensual stuff. Perfect, dare we say, for the bedroom stereo". **** OK Magazine (UK)
"More summer Brazilian sounds, this time care of the sweetly soulful voice of Ive Mendes. Accompanied by a tender mix of bossanova beats, slinky acoustic guitar and airy percussion. Ive is being described as the 'Brazilian Sade', this is aided by the fact that she has Sade and Everything But The Girl producer Robin Millar embracing her gentle, seductive cooing with his breezy production sound. The fact the songs are a beautiful bilingual blend of English and Portuguese, only adds to her appeal.
The cover will leave you feeling hot (and sticky) and the music paints romantic pictures of peaceful and serene summer nights. The songs sung in Portuguese have a more sexually alluring quality; in particular 'Nao Vou Fugir' is a waft of classic Brasilia that wouldn't be out of place on Bebel Gilberto's 'Tan to Tempo' album. The label describe this as Nu-Brazil but to me ' belo". Funk & Breaks Magazine (UK)
"Ive Mendes, a spectacular artist capable of mixing tradition, Soul and Pop. This is an album that you will be passionate about".
Website :- www.ivemendes.net
