| This Week's Highlights |
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analysis w/e 14.5.11 |
DVDs out 9.5.11 |
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@ DVDfever Youtube |
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May 11 2011 
DVDfever co uk
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Brazilian maestro shines… most of the time. Judging a foreign language CD is always tricky business. Thankfully, the music speaks for itself. This Gilberto Gil album is no exception, so I’ve recruited my Brazilian friend Cesar to help me out. One thing I can fathom out is, that this is a collection of two very different musical styles. The first part, Frevo Rasgado with defunct psychedelic rock ers Os Mutantes (The Mutants) does in places, sound very dated, and then others timeless. Throughout this superb collection, Gil switches from baritone to scat singing or falsetto with consummate ease. Music wise, he was (is) considered avante garde and progressive even back then. The backdrop for the music and lyrics was the chaotic turmoil h appening in Brazil in the late 60s.
Until recently, Gil was Brazilian Minister For Culture, however, his effectiveness is open to debate, nevertheless, he’s one of Brazil’s eminent exports. As a musician, he’s always been highly respected, even by the critics and this collection captures him arguably at the peak of his powers, where it begins with a breezy universal approach on the rhythmic heavy Frevo Rasgado with the all-guns-blazing brass section and scat, on what translates as torn rhythm. Considering the political climate then, Coragem pra Suportar, is controversial, inasmuch it exudes courage to bear to its people. Dated Domingou (Sunday) is a raspy effort to match the West Coast work of Love (including Arthur Lee) on albums such as De Capo and Forever Changes, whereas the more indigenous sound (snorting trumpets and all that) of Marginalia 11 is a dig at marginals / criminals via pulsating Latino shuffle. Pega a Voga, Cabeludo is a bundle of fun and a term possibly used by Gil’s Bahia region meaning ‘popularity’. This thrusting blast has all the hallmarks of the period – hand claps, wailing, shouts and wiry guitar solos. There’s a dramatic shift in pace an d template on the exquisite Ele Falava Nisso Todo Dia (he talked about it every day). Sparkling acoustic guitar picks, synonymous with Spanish maestros and big orchestration. A rockier element carries the bouncy Procissao (procession) the type of thing you might have heard at a 60s hippy / underground Carnival. The dirty bass is something to behold. At this point we reach the divine Luzia Luluza – fluttering instrumentation ap lenty.
The changes are more profound, and more commercial on Pe da Roseira (Rosebud). The funky beat, heavy bass and wiry solos only add to the magic, still retaining the Brazilian sound to perfection, reminding me of something Astrid Gilberto and Stan Getz woul d have done. Moving on there’s the playful blues-inflected Volks Volkswagen Blue boosted by masses of brass. A personal favourite is the loungy bossa nova delight Aquele Abraco – a great hug – indeed, one of the several timeless gems, accompanied by bluesy, as bluesy gets in Brazil, 17 Leguas e Meia. Check the superb guitarist. There are some oddities too, like the edgy-experimental acid-rocker A Voz do Vivo. Bringing back some musicality, the urban infused jazzer Futurivel with eccentric flashes – restores some credi bility at least. Gil closes the collection with curious Oma Iao, bristling with delicious guitar solos and some kind of Asian chant or religious expression. PS. A big ‘thank you’ to Cesar. File under: Never a dull moment!
Weblink: elrecords.co.uk
The full list of tracks included are :
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier. PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
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Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
