Maybe the most personal, most evocative album we've ever heard from Brazilian singer Moreno Veloso – a set that's summed up wonderfully by its title, as these are songs that Veloso sung to his children at night during the darkest months of 2020! The record features just vocals and guitar – but as with his father Caetano in such a setting, Moreno actually seems to make more with less – allowing us to hear him in a way that's maybe even more up-close than ever before –with the mix of emotional currents that you'd get on the best bossa recordings of this nature – even though Veloso is far beyond bossa with this music! Most tracks are penned by others, but given these fantastic new interpretations – and titles include "Fazenda", "Unga Dorme Nesse Frio", "Luna Caprese", "Tigresa", "Noche De Ronda", "Normelia", and "Tres Da Madrugada". CD

A later album from Antonio Carlos E Jocafi – but one that still holds onto the lively samba roots of their best older sides! The instrumentation is a mix of acoustic and electric elements – but usually falls more towards the former – and arrangements are by Cesar Machado, who changes things up a bit throughout the set, shifting styles to fit the musical voice of each individual tune. Titles include "Olho D'Agua", "Teresa Batista", "Dona Flor E Seus Dois Maridos", "Capitaes De Areia", "Conversa P'Ra Boi Dormir", and "Jesuino Galo Doido". CD

Very early work from Jose Roberto Bertrami – the keyboardist who rose to fame with Azymuth in the 70s, but who's working here in an all-acoustic bossa mode! In keeping with Bertrami's later talent for an unusual groove, the album's got a feel that's slightly different than the other bossa records of the time – styles that are sometimes less percussive, but still quite flowing – and which are graced by a depth of tone and color that's really wonderful! At some points, Bertrami almost hits modes that are straighter jazz – with traces of Horace Silver or other American players in the mix – even though the tracks are nearly all numbers by Brazilian composers. Titles include "Balansamba", "Taluhama", "Lilos Walts", "Dorme Profundo", "Impulso", and "Da Me". CD

Interesting, soulful work from Milton Nascimento – two different scores from the 70s, both written for ballet! The approach here is similar to some of his studio work of the time – an sophisticated yet soulful blend of instrumentation and vocals, baroque yet touched with the straightforwardness of rock, and never overly complicated, despite the nature of the setting. The work is essential if you like any of Milton's mid 70s studio albums – and performers on the projects include Joao Donato, Helcio Miltio, Beto Guedes, Nelson Angelo, Novelli, Luis Avellar, Toninho Horta, and Milton himself, leading the groups on both sessions. Titles on the first disc (Maria Maria) include the title track, "Lilia", "A Chamada", "Pai Grande", "Seducao", "Francisco", "Boca A Boca", "De Repente Maria Sumiu", and lots more! Titles on disc two (Ultimo Trem) include "Abertuna: Minas", "Ponta De Areia", "Povo Da Raca Brasil", "A Viagem", "Ultimo Trem", "Roupa Nova", and "Decreto", "Bicho Homem", "A Lua Girou" and more. 36 tracks on two CDs! CD

The hippest installment so far in the Brazilika series – a mad mix of musical styles from Finders Keepers mainman Andy Votel – all in a freaky, funky, fuzzy blend of sounds! The tracks here are much grittier than the work we're used to hearing from the Far Out label – as Votel's dug through the 60s and 70s vaults of RGE/Som Livre Records to come up with rare Brazilian rock, funk, and other heavy styles from back in the day! As with Votel's reissues on Finders Keepers, there's a sound here that's informed by beathead record collecting – a love of older grooves directed by current musical developments – all with a definite ear for the wilder side of the sound spectrum. Most tracks have a pretty heavy groove – and the styles run from psychedelic rock through Tropicalia-inspired tunes, to post-bossa, Bahian sounds, and more. Titles include "Funga Funga" by Trio Soneca, "Careta" by Betinho, "Modulo Lunar" by Os Brazoes, "Terra Livre" by Abilio Manoel, "Os Bichos" by Trio Soneca, "De Vera" by Novos Baianos, "Ciladas" by Pery Ribeiro, "Se Voce Pensa" by Moraes Moreira, "Flores Belas" by Tim Maia, "1974" by Gerson Conrad & Zeze Motta, "Gamboa" by Brazilian Octopus, "Deixe Entrar Um Pouco D'Agua No Quintal" by Os Mutantes, "Periscopio" by Azimuth, and "Gotham City" by Os Brazoes. CD

New recordings of bossa classics – done in a sparkling modern style, but still with a relatively classic groove. Roberto Menescal arranged most of the tracks, and also plays guitar on many numbers – and performers include Marcos Valle, Claudette Soares, Leny Andrade, Cladia Telles, Tito Madi, Os Cariocas, and Carlos Lyra. Includes "Samba De Aviao", "Pode Ir", "Samba De Verao", "Nos E O Mar", "O Barquihno", "Chega De Saudade", and "Lobo Bobo". Nice stuff, and kind of in the Lumiar vein. CD

A record that could have been the biggest breakthrough in the career of the legendary Joyce – yet the set was never issued at the time! The late 70s session has Joyce recording in New York, under the guidance of studio maestro Claus Ogerman – who has a wonderful way of elevating the overall quality of the proceedings, while never getting in the way of that special magic that made Joyce so wonderful – especially on her albums for EMI! As with those records, Joyce plays acoustic guitar alongside her amazing vocal approach – a style that's unlike anything else we can describe – informed by jazz and Brazilian music, yet soaring and gliding in a completely sublime style – awash in color and light as it flies to the sky. Mauricio Maestro helped out heavily on the record too – and the other players include Mike Manieri on vibes, Michael Brecker on tenor, Joe Farrell on flute, and Nana Vasconcelos on percussion – on titles that include a fantastic early reading of "Feminina" – plus "Miserios", "Descompassadamente", "Pega Leve", "Ciclo Da Vida", "Coracao Sonhador", and "Moreno". CD

A set of warm and jazzy instrumental tunes, with plenty of traces of more traditional Brazilian music – performed by the group No Em Pingo D'Agua, joined on this occasion by pianist Cristovao Bastos. The feel is light and free, with plenty of interplay between piano, guitar, and flute – and titles include "Amigo Bandolim", "Valsa Dos Peixes", "De Um No", "Merci Nanci", "De Soslaio", "Travessuras De Maira", and "Domingo Na Geral". CD

One of the greatest soundtracks ever – a record that set a whole new standard for audio representation of a film! The mad music for the set was composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim, with lyrics by Vincius De Moraes – and performed by Luiz Bonfa on guitar – but despite such prime bossa pedigree, the whole thing's got a sound that goes way beyond the familiar – a crazy mix of batucada percussion, samba rhythms, bossa guitar, and loads of sound effects from the film – so much so that the first half of the record is almost a sound-for-sound replication of the first 20 minutes of the movie! The sound collage is amazing – an extremely unique approach to soundtrack representation, and one that's never been done so beautifully since. A truly breathtaking record, filled with mindblowing sounds – and an early example of the genius that would explode in 60s music in Brazil. Some key bossa classics are represented here in early versions – including "Felicidade", "O Nosso Amor", and "Manha De Carnaval" – but they're wrapped up in odd sounds and rhythms that really make them sound different! Plus, this CD also includes a 13-minute medley of tracks from the score, performed by Bola Sete at the 1966 Monterey Jazz Fest! (Soundtracks, Brazil) CD

A beautiful take on the compositions of Milton Nasicmento – performed by guitarist Ricardo Silveira and pianist Luiz Avellar. Given the majesty and ambitious production styles often used with Nascimento's own recordings of his tunes, this stripped-down set is a very different take on the material – one that gets at the deeply personal spirit of the tunes, and which moves past the original lyrics into some introspective musical territory. We're surprised at how much we like the results, and we really enjoy the album's versions of "Para Lennon E McCartney", "Vera Cruz", "Cravo E Canela", "Travessia", and "Nuvem Cigana". CD