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Elly Roberts reviews
El/Cherry Red Records
- Released: 2008
- Rating: 8/10
- Vote and comment on this album:View Comments
Brazilian maestro shines most of the time.
Judging a foreign language CD is always tricky business. Thankfully, the music speaks for itself.
This Gilberto Gil album is no exception, so Ive recruited my Brazilian friend Cesar to help me out. One thing I can fathom out is, that this is a collection of two very different musical styles. The first part, Frevo Rasgado with defunct psychedelic rockers Os Mutantes (The Mutants) does in places, sound very dated, and then others timeless.
Throughout this superb collection, Gil switches from baritone to scat singing or falsetto with consummate ease. Music wise, he was (is) considered avante garde and progressive even back then. The backdrop for the music and lyrics was the chaotic turmoil happening in Brazil in the late 60s.
Until recently, Gil was Brazilian Minister For Culture, however, his effectiveness is open to debate, nevertheless, hes one of Brazils eminent exports.
As a musician, hes always been highly respected, even by the critics and this collection captures him arguably at the peak of his powers, where it begins with a breezy universal approach on the rhythmic heavy Frevo Rasgado with the all-guns-blazing brass section and scat, on what translates as torn rhythm. Considering the political climate then, Coragem pra Suportar, is controversial, inasmuch it exudes courage to bear to its people. Dated Domingou (Sunday) is a raspy effort to match the West Coast work of Love (including Arthur Lee) on albums such as De Capo and Forever Changes, whereas the more indigenous sound (snorting trumpets and all that) of Marginalia 11 is a dig at marginals / criminals via pulsating Latino shuffle.
Pega a Voga, Cabeludo is a bundle of fun and a term possibly used by Gils Bahia region meaning popularity. This thrusting blast has all the hallmarks of the period hand claps, wailing, shouts and wiry guitar solos. Theres a dramatic shift in pace and template on the exquisite Ele Falava Nisso Todo Dia (he talked about it every day). Sparkling acoustic guitar picks, synonymous with Spanish maestros and big orchestration.
A rockier element carries the bouncy Procissao (procession) the type of thing you might have heard at a 60s hippy / underground Carnival. The dirty bass is something to behold. At this point we reach the divine Luzia Luluza fluttering instrumentation aplenty.
The changes are more profound, and more commercial on Pe da Roseira (Rosebud). The funky beat, heavy bass and wiry solos only add to the magic, still retaining the Brazilian sound to perfection, reminding me of something Astrid Gilberto and Stan Getz would have done.
Moving on theres the playful blues-inflected Volks Volkswagen Blue boosted by masses of brass. A personal favourite is the loungy bossa nova delight Aquele Abraco a great hug indeed, one of the several timeless gems, accompanied by bluesy, as bluesy gets in Brazil, 17 Leguas e Meia. Check the superb guitarist. There are some oddities too, like the edgy-experimental acid-rocker A Voz do Vivo. Bringing back some musicality, the urban infused jazzer Futurivel with eccentric flashes restores some credibility at least. Gil closes the collection with curious Oma Iao, bristling with delicious guitar solos and some kind of Asian chant or religious expression.
PS. A big thank you to Cesar.
File under: Never a dull moment!
Weblink:elrecords.co.uk
The full list of tracks included are :
Frevo Rasgado with Os Mutantes (1968)
1. Frevo Rasgado
2. Coragem pra Suportar
3. Domingou
4. Marginalia 11
5. Pega a Voga, Cabeludo
6. Ele Falava Nisso Todo Dia
7. Procissao
8. Luzia Luluza
9. Pe da Roseira
10. Domingo no Parque
11. A Luta Contra a Lata ou A Falencia
Cerebro Eletronico (1968)
12. Cerebro Electronico
13. Volks Volkswagen Blue
14. Aquele Abraco
15. 17 Leguas e Meia
16. A Voz do Vivo
17. Vitrines
18. 2001
19. Futurivel
20. Objeto Semi-Indentificado
21. Oma Iao
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Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.