Spectacular organ from Celio Balona – a Brazilian keyboardist from the 60s, but one who's maybe a bit different than some of his contemporaries – as the range of tones and other sonic elements is nicely mixed up to really fit the spirit of the tunes – which include early numbers by Caetano Veloso, Milton Nascimento, and Chico Buarque – and not just the usual pop instrumental songs you'd hear on other records like this! Most of the backing seems to be from a small combo with nicely snapping drums – and Balona's command of his instrument is great, and includes plenty of basslines from the bottom that really make the best tunes groove – in a lineup that includes "Vesti Azul", "Carolina", "Alegria Alegria", "Manifesto", "Travessia", "Maria Carnaval E Cinzas", and "Meu Grito". CD

One of the most playful albums we've ever heard from Hamilton De Holanda – a set that features the master instrumentalist on 10 string bandolim, in front of some larger orchestrations – but on tunes that are pulled from a variety of pop culture sources, including some surprising entries from cartoons and video games! Hamilton's command of his instrument is still fantastic – beautifully expressive, and always doing a heck of a lot with just a little – and the larger orchestrations are thoughtfully handled by Leandro Carvalho, in a way that never dims the presence of the lead instrument, but instead inflects its sound with just the right sense of color and space. Titles include "Sitio Do Pica Pau Amarelo", "A Pantera Cor De Rosa", "Super Mario Brothers", "Os Flinstones", "Vida Alegria E Esperanca", and "Dorme Com Os Anjos". CD

A soaring blend of Brazilian modes – served up here by Ricardo Richaid, who's almost a one-man army himself, given the amount of instruments he plays on the set! Yet the record is also way more than just a batch of tunes cooked up in a bedroom – as Richaid has collaborators on nearly every track – which expands his own work on piano, bass, and a variety of guitars – really helping to situation his raspy and compelling vocals amidst some jazzier touches on flute and tenor, guest vocals, percussion, and other elements along the way! The tunes are often really catchy and compelling, even if your command of Portuguese is as bad as ours – and it's clear that Ricardo really knows his way around a hook, in sort of a universal way – while still making music that's completely his own. Titles include "Drone", "Vip Xuxa", "Maracas Enterprise/Frio Da Manha", "Ave Poena", "O Velho Cai", and "Formigas". CD

A soaring blend of Brazilian modes – served up here by Ricardo Richaid, who's almost a one-man army himself, given the amount of instruments he plays on the set! Yet the record is also way more than just a batch of tunes cooked up in a bedroom – as Richaid has collaborators on nearly every track – which expands his own work on piano, bass, and a variety of guitars – really helping to situation his raspy and compelling vocals amidst some jazzier touches on flute and tenor, guest vocals, percussion, and other elements along the way! The tunes are often really catchy and compelling, even if your command of Portuguese is as bad as ours – and it's clear that Ricardo really knows his way around a hook, in sort of a universal way – while still making music that's completely his own. Titles include "Drone", "Vip Xuxa", "Maracas Enterprise/Frio Da Manha", "Ave Poena", "O Velho Cai", and "Formigas". LP, Vinyl record album