Moraes Moreira: A Revolta dos Ritmos

Easily Meeting the Expectations

The career of singer, composer and guitarist Moraes Moreira started way back in 1968 with the first appearance of the band Novos Baianos. The band from Bahia gained success with their mix of psychedelic rock with traditional Brazilian music styles. In 1974 Moraes decided to start a successful solo career with music that initially was dominated by samba-rock influences which slowly evolved to more traditional forms.

On A Revolta dos Ritmos Antônio Carlos “Moraes” Moreira Pires, (Ituaçu, Bahia, 1947) serves a wonderful combination of music and poetry. As the singer explains in the title track of the album, it was obvious that, after composing quite some new sambas, Moraes had a samba album in mind. However, because the other rhythms started to complain, it turned out to be a CD that also includes baião, xote, frevo and maracatu.

Moraes Moreira often delivers albums that are built up around a special theme, but they always carry the entertaining Moraes Moreira trademark. Again the result is a fantastic addition to his catalogue. You can’t go wrong with albums like this.”The Revolt of the Rhythms” was born. This change of direction was a good move because the result is a most entertaining album full of variation, with the catchy music of Brazil’s northeast as common denominator . Although, there’s also a bossa from Rio, it’s a bit of the odd duck on the album. Accompanied by strings, the song (“Brasileira Academia”) misses contact with the other songs on the album…

The title track “A Revolta dos Ritmos” is the absolute highlight on the album. The instrumentation is perfect. Each instrument goes its own way to add something extra to the sentiment of the song. The instruments personify the revolt of the rhythms in a wonderful and modest way. Another ear catcher is the xote “Nós Somos Sim Paraíba”, so simple but so to the point. The sanfona from Meninão has a pleasant feature in this song. It’s clear: Moraes Moreira pays tribute to Brazil’s cultural heritage with music and with words. On “Feito Jorge Ser Amado” he pays tribute to the immortal work of the modernist writer Jorge Amado; a special dedication to underline that it would be his 100th birthday in 2012. The cozy bolero “No iPod do Meu Coração” (On the iPod of my Heart) Moraes talks about the romantic sentiment he puts in every song he composes or sings. It helps that Moraes Moreirahas a pleasant and friendly voice. His geniality gives the music an extra familiar character. The often extended lyrics are loaded with references to Brazil’s cultural richness On “A Dor e o Poeta” Moraes talks his way through the first half of the song, softly accompanied by sanfona (Meninão) and acoustic guitars (Davi Moraes and Moraes Moreira himself). It’s beautiful how he flows over in singing without loosing the sentiment he built up in the first half. For each track the instrumentation is chosen in a noticeable, careful way and with good taste for tradition.

Moraes can’t be visited at his website. At this moment it’s (as always) still under construction!

ALBUM INFORMATION

Moraes Moreira
A Revolta dos Ritmos
Biscoito Fino BF 188-2 (2012)
Time: 44’17”

Tracks:

All tracks by Moraes Moreira, except where noted.