Elza Soares – The Woman at the End of the World (Mais Um Discos, 2016)
The Woman at the End of the World (originally released as A Mulher do Fim do Mundo in Brazil in 2015) is the latest album (her 34th) by iconic Brazilian artist Elza Soares. She is a well-known samba and Afro-Brazilian singer with a husky voice, and an activist who fights for the rights of blacks and the poor in Brazil.
Woman at the End of the World teams up Soares, who’s in her late 70s now, and musicians from São Paulo in what they describe as dirty samba (samba sujo). The musical result is an extraordinary mix of irresistible samba beats, trance-like distorted electric guitars, contemporary electronics, brass riffs, ambient sounds, improvisation, reggae, rock, and Elsa’s unmistakable samba-soul voice.
The lyrics center around significant topics of 21st century Brazil: discrimination, blackness, domestic violence, sex and drug dependence.
Elza Soares became popular in the 1950s and 60s. Her hits included “Se Acaso Você Chegasse” (1960), “Boato” (1961), “Cadeira Vazia” (1961), “Só Danço Samba” (1963), “Mulata Assanhada” (1965) and “Aquarela Brasileira” (1974). She married Garrincha, one of Brazil’s most famous football (soccer) players.
The Woman at the End of the World shows the vitality of a veteran artist who is willing to experiment and take her music across the familiar samba boundaries.
Buy The Woman at the End of the World in the Americas
Buy The Woman at the End of the World in Europe
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.
