May 2, 2017

RhoDeo 1718 Roots

Hello, after 15 months of Brazil, i came to a prepared super swinging final posting, but then after researching for the final bio i found out, these guys were't Brazilian at all, they did make great Brazil inspired music though. Well i will posting them later in the Grooves section. For today i still had some great compilation albums in hand, these will be our goodbye to Brazil, next week we'll move over to Argentina..


The music of Brazil encompasses various regional music styles influenced by African, European and Amerindian forms. After 500 years of history, Brazilian music developed some unique and original styles such as samba, bossa nova, MPB, sertanejo, pagode, tropicalia, choro, maracatu, embolada (coco de repente), mangue bit, funk carioca (in Brazil simply known as Funk), frevo, forró, axé, brega, lambada, and Brazilian versions of foreign musical genres, such as Brazilian rock and rap.


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David Byrne generated some serious good karma by opening lots of ears to Brazilian Popular Music (MPB) with this collection.  Not only is everything here great, but it all leads to much, much more stuff that's equally amazing.  Just check out the higher-rated releases from any of the artists listed here and you'll be good to go for years of wondrous revelation.  For the uninitiated Anglophone ear, it's like discovering a parallel universe of musical bounty.

One of the cool things about MPB is that artists collaborate with one another far more frequently, as a group, than Anglophone pop/rock artists.  Imagine an album of John Lennon collaborating with the Beach Boys, Pete Townshend with Stevie Wonder and Cream, Jimmy Page sitting in with Fairport Convention, George Harrison doing an album with Yes.... and a couple dozen more such examples.  Something in Brazilian culture seems to tend toward inclusivity and extended webs of friendships.  The resulting good vibes and increased cross-pollination are remarkable to behold.

Additionally, MPB seems to draw on even more influences than Anglophone pop/rock:  the wealth of indigenous traditions as well as more recent innovations like bossa nova; all kinds of immigrant influences (including their indigenous traditions as well as contemporary styles), and finally, all that great stuff that was going down in Britain and the USA (particularly the Beatles, and psychedelia in general; Brazil had their own version of a very colorful '60's).  Treasure trove, in other words.  Rather miraculous.


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Americans had been fascinated with the weightless elegance of Brazilian bossa nova since Stan Getz hooked up with Joao Gilberto in 1964, but David Byrne's groundbreaking 1989 compilation, Brazil Classics 1: Beleza Tropical, presented an entirely new vision of Brazilian pop. Culling together '70s and '80s tracks by avant-garde artists (Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, Caetano Veloso) as well as Afrocentric soulsters (Milton Nascimento, Jorge Ben), Byrne presented a polyglot pop that was as blithe as '60s bossa nova and as adventurous as his own work with the Talking Heads. On Beleza, the bossa rhythm is turned into an elastic springboard for wild experimentation -- from Jorge Ben's gritty funk to Caetano Veloso's stately art-pop to Gilberto Gil's airy crooning and Nazare Pereira's entrancing party jams. Throughout, state-of-the-art production and a very postmodern sense of eclecticism effect an album that was (and is) as constantly challenging as it is endlessly satisfying. Loopy and lush, stylish and scintillating, this is the kind of album whose constantly varying hues and textures will always present the listener with fresh perspectives.


Brazil Classics, Beleza Tropical is the first in a series compiled by Talking Heads singer David Byrne that preceded the big wave of interest in Tropicalia during the late '90s by almost a decade. Performers include such influential Brazilian figures as Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, and Jorge Ben, with several songs from each. The selected recordings span the 1970s and '80s, also including tracks from Milton Nascimento, Nazare Pereira, and more. The liner notes feature the original lyrics as well as their English translations.



VA - Brazil Classics 1 - Beleza Tropical (flac  391mb)

01 Jorge Ben - Ponta De Lança Africano (Umbabarauma) 3:50
02 Maria Bethânia & Gal Costa - Sonho Meu 2:52
03 Gilberto Gil - Só Quero Um Xodó 4:52
04 Caetano Veloso - Um Canto De Afoxé Para O Bloco Do Ilê (Ilê Ayê) 3:02
05 Caetano Veloso - O Leãozinho 3:05
06 Chico Buarque - Caçada 3:03
07 Chico Buarque Part. Vocal Milton Nascimento - Calice 4:01
08 Lô Borges - Equatorial 3:11
09 Milton Nascimento - San Vicente 2:42
10 Gilberto Gil - Quilomba, O El Dorado Negro 4:42
11 Jorge Ben - Caramba!... Galileu Du Galileia 2:29
12 Nazaré Pereira - Caixa De Sol 3:22
13 Nazaré Pereira - Maculelê 2:28
14 Caetano Veloso - Queixa 4:24
15 Gilberto Gil - Andar Com Fé 3:17
16 Jorge Ben - Fio Maravilha 2:15
17 Milton Nascimento - Anima 4:12
18 Caetano Veloso - Terra 6:42

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In his second survey of Brazilian music, David Byrne chose to focus on samba, the rhythmic heartbeat of this melting pot of a country. Not surprisingly for a culture known for syncretic music, samba comes in many varieties. The selections primarily focus on the modern forms of the genre, more specifically on the studio end of the spectrum, with little or no relation to the large-scale productions associated with Carnaval in Rio. There are bits of reference to the classic sambas of the '60s in the songs here, and explorations into jazz on the side. Nods to Afro-Cuban influences are thick in the lyrics, going so far as to have a full song from the Candomble traditions based on the Yoruba orishas. Beyond this, though, there's a whole range of modern Brazilian music present in the background of these tracks, as slighter influences from MPB and Tropicalia quietly creep in now and then. The main force here though is the creative energy of a number of newer samba composers, forming exceptional works for the various singers. It can range from frenetic to extremely relaxed, but it's always solid music. It's the range of coverage, perhaps, that makes the album worth hearing. As such, it makes an outstanding jumping-off point for further listening in the realm of the samba.



 VA - Brazil Classics 2 - O Samba   (flac  337mb)

01 Clara Nunes - A Deusa Dos Orixás 2:34
02 Clara Nunes - Ijexá (Filhos De Gandhy) 3:48
03 Zeca Pagodinho - S.P.C. 3:35
04 Alcione - Sufoco 4:07
05 Ciro Monteiro - Formosa 2:47
06 Alcione - Olerê Camará 3:05
07 Beth Carvalho - O Encante Do Gantois 3:39
08 Neguinho Da Beija Flor - Aldeia De Okarimbé 3:10
09 Chico Da Silva - E Precisio Muito Amor 2:59
10 Almir Guineto - Caxambu 3:39
11 Almir Guineto - Quem Me Guia 3:14
12 Agepê - Ela Nao Gosta De Mim 4:31
13 Martinho Da Vila - Claustrofobia 3:21
14 Martinho Da Vila - Batuca No Chão 3:36
15 Paulinho Da Viola - Sarou Para Ramadés 2:12

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When David Byrne first visited the Salvador/Bahia region in 1986, a new musical form that he never heard before amazed him. Dubbed forro, this dance sound originally hailed from northeastern Brazil, described as "a mixture of ska with polka" by Byrne himself. This is party music. It’s party music from people who’ve been through hard times, who live in a parched, unforgiving area of Brazil, the Northeast. They love their country, their land, probably more than they love Brazil, which has not always treated them well. The people who make and dance to this music are most often brown. Like their earth. It is the brown sound. Chão. The festas are intense and the bands would play all night, when one band got tired, they would take a nap, or drink, or eat, and another band would take over. Until the sun came up.

All of the album's tracks radiate a strong, positive energy, created in the most part by reggae-ish acoustic guitars, melodic accordions, and never-ending contagious rhythms. And although this musical style could be compared to America's zydeco sound, forro is intended mainly for parties. Brazil Classics, Vol. 3 was compiled by Byrne himself and features the very best artists and compositions that the genre has to offer. Highlights include Luiz Gonzaga's excellent opener, "O Fole Roncou" (bordering on funk), Dominguinhos' laid-back "Querubim," and the hyper-energetic "Festa do Interior" by Gal Costa. A superb introduction to the exotic style of forro, and highly recommended.



 VA - Brazil Classics 3 - Forro Etc. Luaka Bop (flac  358mb)

01 Luiz Gonzaga - O Fole Roncou 2:45
02 Gal Costa - Festa Do Interior 3:14
03 Jackson Do Pandeiro - Tum-Tum-Tum 2:33
04 Luiz Gonzaga - Danado De Bom 2:43
05 Dominguinhos - Querubim 2:48
06 Anastácia - O Succeso Da Zefinha 2:07
07 Nando Cordel & Amelinha - É De Dar Água Na Boca 3:59
08 Dominguinhos - Vou Com Vocé 2:04
09 Gonzaguinha - Asa Branca 3:22
10 Clemilda - Recordaçao De Vaqueiro 2:37
11 Jorge De Altinho & Dominguinhos - Bom Demais 3:22
12 Marinalva Tarde Nordestina 3:16
13 Luiz Gonzaga - A Feira De Caruaru 3:12
14 Genival Lacerda - Aniversário Da Seu Vava 3:26
15 Jackson Do Pandeiro - Chiclete Com Banana 2:38
16 Trio Nordestino - Rejeição 2:09
17 João do Vale - Estrela Miúda 2:56
18 Luiz Gonzaga & Elba Ramalho - Sanfoninha Choradeira 2:59

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Here is an excellent compilation remedy to the gloom and the ambient depression which proposes a choice of Samba Pop high in color. Pure Brazil: Samba Soul Groove (2004) offers an essentially late selection of the 60s, 70s, with Samba Pop ("Take It Easy My Brother Charles" by Jorge Ben and "Maracatu Atomico" by Gilberto Gil), Tropicalia ("She's My Shoo Shoo" by Os Mutantes), Soul Pop ("Reu Confesso" by Tim Maia), and the Samba Pop Disco ("Flor De Maracuja" "E Isso Al" by Paula Lima). One notes the omnipresence of the genius Jorge Ben Jor with four compositions of which one interpreted by Caetano Veloso ("Ive Brussel"). Also present the "discreet", but excellent composer and interpreter, Erasmo Carlos accomplice of Roberto Carlos ("De Noite Na Cama" and "Mane Joao"). "A Beleza E Voce, Menina" by Bebeto and "Nega De Obajuae" by Copa, rather "weak" compositions, could have been replaced by more expressive titles. Finally a very good compilation rhythmic, cosmopolitan and enthusiastic. Samba Soul distinguishes it self from Caipirinha and The Girls from Ipanema because of its uniqueness. Samba, unlike Bossanova brings out a rhythm that can't keep you still. Samba Soul Groove will bring out your party mood into full gear.



VA - Pure Brazil - Samba Soul Groove (flac  313mb)

01 Take It Easy My Brother Charles (Jorge Ben) 2:36
02 Maracatu Atomico (Gilberto Gil) 2:58
03 She's My Shoo Shoo (A Minha Menina) (Os Mutantes) 2:54
04 Flor De Maracuja (Gal Costa) 3:00
05 Ive Brussel (Jorge Ben & Caetano Veloso) 4:43
06 Reu Confesso (Tim Maia) 3:39
07 De Noite Na Cama (Erasmo Carlos) 3:19
08 Chiclete Com Banana (Gilberto Gil) 3:24
09 E Esso Ai (Paula Lima) 3:23
10 Os Alquimistas Estao Chegando Os Alquimistas (Jorge Ben) 3:00
11 A Beleza E Voce, Menina (Bebeto) 3:56
12 Nega De Obaluae (Copa) 3:51
13 Mane Joao (Erasmo Carlos) 3:16
14 Xica Da Silva (Jorge Ben) 4:05)

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7 comments:

JB said...

Thanks again for posting this great Brazil music.
Just one note - both links for VA - Pure Brazil - Samba Soul Groove
connect to ogg files. Could you repost the flac if possible?

Thank you,
JB

Rho said...

Hello JB sorry about that, a strange mistake, anyway it's been corrected by now.

Unknown said...

Lovely - thank you

JB

Guitarradeplastico,scraping oddities said...

many thanks

Bruno said...

Hi there... Any chance you could re-upload this post? Thanks a lot for all the amazing stuff you share! <3

Bruno said...

Thank you! Amazing!! As always!

Mat said...

Unfortunately the Zippyshare link for Brazil Classics 2 appears to be down. Can you help somehow? ;-) Many thanks! Fantastic post!