Search - Luiz Melodia :: Perola Negra

Ecletic (and marvellous) record of a underrated genius

Marcos Henrique | Piraju, SP Brazil | 10/03/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If Luiz Melodia were american, he would be as reverencied as Isaac Hayes. Although he came out from a samba ambient, he always loved another kind of noises (blues, jazz, rock, northeastern brazilian music, etc). This record is the definitive proof of his talent. Forget axe music, Daniela Mercury and other nulities. This is a vivid example of excellent brazilian music."

Must have!

Cesar Goldkorn | Rio de Janeiro, BRASIL | 04/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Luiz Melodia's first record is a mature work, beautifully composed and played. Although it may look deceitfully simple, his music is very sofisticated, very melodical (after all, Melody is his last name ...), so smooth and soulful that he will warm up your heart.
Special attention to "Estácio holly Estácio", which was his first national hit and it's permanently recorded in my memory. Just listen and you'll understand why ..."

Nice early work from a Brazilian soft-pop icon

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 12/18/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In the 1970s, Melodia became a favorite songwriter among the swank MPB set. I've really hated what I've heard of his later work, but this disc -- his 1973 debut album -- is pretty nice. Co-produced by tropicalia scenester Guilherme Arajau, it opens with a nice soft samba cancao, and drifts into jazz-inflected material that brings to mind Stevie Wonder and Gilberto Gil. The album's second side gets into some interesting bluesy R&B material, ala Joe Cocker, perhaps... a style of music that is rarely heard in the Brazilian scene. A good record, definitely worth checking out."