Pernambuco Calling
David McLoughlin | @work | 05/28/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Otto was one of the founders, alongside Chico Science and Fred 04, of the Mangue Beat, participating as percussionist in both Nação Zumbi and mundo livre s/a. In 1998 he released this his first album, "Samba Pra Burro". Produced by Apollo 9. Support from DJ Soul Slinger. It mixes drum'n'bass with regional music from the Brazilian northeast - maracatu, forró.... Bebel Gilberto makes an appearance on "Bob". The album was followed up by "Changez Tout - Samba pra burro dissecado," a double CD of remixes by Brazilian producers and DJs - Camilo Rocha, Patife, Ramilson Maia, Marky Mark, André Abujamra, Apollo 9, etc"
Mangue Poetics
Kenneth R. Riley | Kentucky | 03/25/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Otto's first CD is great and definitely in the mangue beat tradition. If you don't speak portuguese but like drum 'n' bass type music, you'll like it because of the mixing in of rhythms from the state of Pernambuco in the Northeast of Brazil, which, is the cultural heart of Brazil. If you understand Portuguese, well then you perceive how poetic his songs are, especially in songs like TV a Cabo and Cafe Preto. Both musically and lyrically, he stays true to the mangue beat conception of always keeping one foot in Pernambuco and the other in the world. If you like originality, this is definite must have."