Perola Negra

This is the CD reissue of Luiz Melodia's first album, from 1973. He got his chance upon having Gal Costa include "Pérola Negra" on her 1972 Gal A Todo Vapor and Maria Bethânia, "Estácio, Holly Estácio," on her 1972 Drama - Anjo Exterminado. This is Melodia at his best. The album opens with the samba "Estácio, Eu E Você," accompanied by the excellent Regional Do Canhoto. Pure Brazilian grooves can also be found in the all-time classic "Estácio, Holly Estácio" and in the northeastern forró "Forró de Janeiro." He was already into a fusion of Brazilian sambas (he was raised in Estácio, the most traditional samba hill in Rio) with contemporary American rhythms, but at that time there was a general concern for musicality, so in this album the American grooves are interpreted acoustically, with occasional brass arrangements, and no boring, noisy drum machines -- a category that includes "Vale Quanto Pesa," "Prá Aquietar" (with some fuzzed-out guitars), "Abundantemente Morte" (a blues), the immortal classic "Pérola Negra," "Magrelinha" (another hit), "Farrapo Humano" (one more of his all-time hits), and "Objeto H." His lyrics, in general, focus on urban themes with philosophical stoicism. ~ Alvaro Neder|