Various Artists
The New Brazilian Music (2007)
This double CD sampler was given out at WOMEX 2008 in Sevilla (Spain). The collection was put together by BM&A, an agency that promotes independent Brazilian music abroad. Disc 1 focuses on Brazilian roots music and contains material that would normally attract world music fans. Disc 2 contains primarily pop, rock, techno and other musical forms that barely have any Brazilian folk roots.
The booklet comes with extensive liner notes, including a biography for each artist, contact information for each act and definitions of various Brazilian musical genres. Disc 1 begins with a piece that may confound the listener. It sounds Japanese and this is so because the first track featured is an orchestra of Sao Paulo street musicians that includes artists from various Brazilian regions as well as immigrants from Japan, Paraguay and Bolivia.
The rest of disc 1 contains a mix of Brazilian popular music (MPB), traditional and contemporary folk music, and outstanding instrumentalists such as Yamandú Costa and Roberto Correa. Other highlights include the Banda de Boca, a group that uses vocal techniques (similar to Bobby McFerrin and Cuba’s vocal Sampling) to perform contemporary Brazilian roots music.
The most interesting piece on disc 2 is the opening track by Axial, a Sao Paulo group that combines dreamy atmospheric electronics with captivating vocals and Brazilian roots music.
The CD is not available for sale.
For more information about BM&A go to: www.bma.org.br
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
