— The doldrums in Brazilian music do seem to have ended. More artists are coming out with new projects whether with full-length CDs or singles of upcoming albums (hopefully). In these past two weeks, I saw singles from Zé Paulo Becker and Simone, among others, being featured on several streaming platforms. Those look very promising as future releases. Today, however, I want to bring you up to speed on two new albums released in February 2022.
Túlio Borges completed his trilogy started back in 2015. With his fourth solo career album, O Mundo É Nosso Salão, Túlio Borges completes his journey along his forró heritage. His discography is fully reviewed in MB, and you can read about his previous albums there.
With ten new songs co-written with poets Climério Ferreira, Afonso Gadelha, and Vicente Sá, Túlio Borges presents us with delicious music deeply rooted in the Brazilian Northeastern musical tradition of forró. Out of those ten songs, only two do not bring his name associated with them: “Feiticeira Louca” is by Liga Tripa and “Moças de Angical” was written by Dominguinhos and Climério Ferreira.
Although a native of Brasília, Túlio Borges Braz de Souza (born on October 24, 1980) received his musical degree on piano performance from the Escola de Música de Brasília (Brasília’s School of Music). He spent a couple of years in the USA and two others in England. When he returned to Brazil, he began making music professionally. The media and public took notice of him in 2007, when he won the SESC musical festival in Brasília with the song “Shirley.” Three years later, he released his first album, Eu Venho Vagando no Ar.
In this new project, lively rhythms and profound lyrics abound easily. Túlio Borges’ music brings the rich Brazilian Northeastern music in gems like “Tava Pensando em Você” with lyrics grounded in the popular narrative. The rhythmic “Chama o Nino” is a joy to hear and to keep you dancing. The song equates grown-up words to kids’ talkative language. It is simple and down-to-earth with an effusive rhythm base. Although the album is mostly forró, there are other genres, too. In “Há Beleza na Canção,” we find the melody waltzing into romantic spheres.
The CD features a skilled team of musicians including Rafael dos Anjos (acoustic guitar), Hamilton Pinheiro (bass), Júnior Ferreira (accordion), Marcos Farias (accordion), Valério Xavier (percussion), Victor Angeleas (mandolin), and Pedro Vasconcelos (cavaquinho).
The second album to feature here is a very expressive release featuring ten original new songs with music by Moacyr Luz and lyrics by Rogério Batalha. In an all-acoustic format with singers accompanied only by the impressive acoustic guitar of Carlinhos Sete Cordas, you will hear some of the most beautiful slow sambas and ballads coming from these two composers with Antes Que Tudo Acabe (Before Everything Ends). The interpreters include Moacyr Luz himself and nine other stellar performers: Moyseis Marques, João Cavalcanti, Mingo Silva, Humberto Effe, Marina Iris, Beth Dau, Douglas Lemos, Branka, and Alice Passos.
Rogéio Batalha da Silva is a poet born in Rio de Janeiro on November 30, 1970. A literature professor, Rogério Batalha has written three books and has been recorded by Ney Matogrosso, Nelson Sargento, and Moacyr Luz, among others. Rogério and Moacyr have collaborated for over 15 years. The partnership started very simply, and Moacyr tells us about it in his own words:
Conheci o Rogério Batalha num show que eu fiz com o Aldir Blanc, na Lona Cultural de Vista Alegre. Tímido, ele me deu um exemplar do seu livro de poesia, que me interessou desde os primeiros versos.
I met Rogério Batalha in a show I did with Aldir Blanc, at Lona Cultural in Vista Alegre. Shy, he gave me a copy of his poetry book, which interested me from the first verses.
Moacy da Luz Silva is also a native of Rio de Janeiro (born on April 5, 1958). Singer, composer, and guitarist, Moacyr Luz comes from a musical family. His grandfather was a clarinetist with the Fire Department. Moacyr Luz began studying the acoustic guitar when he was 15 years of age. He has performed with some of the best names in Brazilian music, including João Nogueira, Élton Medeiros, Aldir Blanc, Fátima Guedes, Jards Macalé, Zé Renato, Guinga, Walter Alfaiate, Luís Eça, Alaíde Costa, and more.
In fact, one of the songs in this album comes from a poem in the book connecting Moacyr and Rogério. The track “Malícia,” sung by Douglas Lemos, is in that book that started their friendship. It is hard to choose one song over another. The melodies are hauntingly beautiful, and the lyrics are simply alluring and at times very moving. The performers gave their best to honor these destined-to-become classic songs. Beth Dau, for example, opens with the tender “Baluarte,” a song about desires consuming one’s youth. In “Pobre Orquídea,” Humberto Effe delivers a serenade about orchids and the end of fantasies when a day breaks. “A Tarde” is the one song in the album in Moacyr Luz’s own voice. Take a look at these verses:
A tarde quando vai cair
A Lua doida pra reinar
Sem nem me perguntar porquê
Eu sonho em cantarolar
Bastou lembrar pra reviver
O perfume da lembrança que me fez sonhar
The afternoon when it falls
The moon wants to reign
Without even asking me why
I dream of humming
Just remember to relive
The scent of the memory that made me dream
Moacyr Luz’s voice is evocative and at times close to breaking. The pain in the lyrics is evident in his performance. Even if you don’t know Portuguese, you will feel the emotion coming in his rendition.
On and on, each track is a powerful whirlwind of emotions and feelings. Antes Que Tudo Acabe (Before Everything Ends) is music to listen to and enjoy in quiet times, in sad and happy moments. The entire album and performances are entrancing and superbly delivered.
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