Progressive Brazillian Music
Reginald Ollen | New York, USA | 02/23/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is my favorite Lenine album, but it is rare and expensive if you can find it. If Peter Gabriel had been born in Brazil ...no, that's too easy. Lenine plays acoustic guitar like a percussion instrument, sings like Caetano with cahones, and the bass player is always upfront and center in the same way Tony Levin is upfront - the real difference between Lenine and Peter Gabriel is that Lenine swings.
Lenine is mysteriously absent from the typical U.S. hipster collection. He's more melodically driven than Chico Science, who might be found in such a collection. Until Science died a few years ago they were contemporaries on the cutting edge of progressive Brazillian pop/jazz/rock fusion. (It's hard to define this music because it fearlessly goes where ever it wants, but where Chico Science leans toward punk and heavy metal Lenine leans toward traditional Tropicalia and smooth funk.)
Let me put it this way, if you liked David Byrne's popular first compilation of Brazillian artists from the 60's (Belize Tropicale) and if you like Peter Gabriel's middle solo years then this is for you. All of Lenine's albums are worth a spin around the block (or the treadmill) and if you wonder if it's all studio magic then listen to Lenine "In Cite," a lean live album recorded with a powerhouse trio. The results are startling and powerful. This guy deserves a little limelight.
Ani DiFranco does a vocal turn on one demonic cut from Falange that's worth the price of admission."
