Great modern soul from Brazil – a tight little set that's got a similar vibe to some of the work that Marcos Valle and Leon Ware were doing together in the early 80s! The groove here is nice and jazzy – arranged by Lincoln Olivetti in a style that's funky, but laidback too – a warm post-disco approach that produces lots of upbeat tunes, but which state their case in a very classy way! Junior sings in Portuguese throughout, but with phrasing that almost makes for a universal sense of soul – and there's a sunny glow to the whole thing that really goes beyond the boundary of language. Titles include "Rio Sinal Verde", "Agre Doce", "Super Sensivel", "Hora H", "Via Aerea", "Pedras De Cristal", "Entrego A Deus", "Obvio", and "Copacabana Sadia". CD

Sweet and jazzy pop from early 70s Brazil – a great little album that we'd rank with our favorites by Marcos Valle and Edu Lobo! Arthur Verocai isn't nearly as well-known as those two, but he works in a similar territory – taking jazz, large arrangements, and nice touches of electric funk – and working them into a groove that has the soaring and ambitious feel of the best post-Tropicalia work of 70s Brazil! This rare gem was self-produced, and fell of the map almost as soon as it was released – but it really deserves wider recognition, and shines with a depth that makes it an instant classic to our ears! Titles include "Presente Grego", "Caboclo", "Pelas Sombras", "O Mapa", "Sylvia", "Karina", "Velho Parente", and "Dedicada A Ela". CD