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| Popmatters |
 With the release of Oi! A Nova Musica Brasileira!, the record label Mais Um Discos tried to put together the kind of compilation of new Brazilian music that they thought should be available. All other attempts at a similar product have failed, either because they have been too reliant on artists from major record labels, or there has been a severe lack of quality control. Oi! A Nova Musica Brasileira! has just the right balance, using self-released or independent artists, and showing a supreme level of taste.There is a diverse array of styles here, ranging from the standard pop, rock, and indie to the Brazilian styles of tropicália, frevo, and bossa nova, and onwards still to the fresh sounds of technobrega, eletromelody and manguebeat. While this means that not every song will suit everyone, the upshot is that there’s rarely a point of boredom while listening to the disc, each of its 40 tracks continuing this journey into the current state of independent music in Brazil. Disc One represents the more familiar pop and rock-based sounds, which in their selves can be quite out there, as the opening ‘fun fair on speed’ groove of Mini Box Lunar’s “Amarelasse” proves. There are hints of influence from popular indie bands here on “Perdizes” by Do Amor, who have been compared to Vampire Weekend, and Mombojó‘s “Justamente”, which has a smooth pop melody as infectious as anything by Phoenix, but the real highlights lie in the harder-to-categorise songs. The otherworldly “Pedrinho” by Tulipa shows a singer with more soul than many of the female samba/bossa nova singers that get flung at Western audiences. “Nome Próprio” by Porcas Borboletas is a taut post-punk anthem that fails to let up over its 3 minute duration. Perhaps best of all is Lucas Santtana’s “Hold Me In”. The only English-language song on the disc, it’s a haunting folk song showing a real talent for mixing guitar-based folk music with digital effects to add depth to a song....full text |
| Bbc |
| The ease of downloading has ignited a culture of cherry picking that has pretty much sounded the death knell of the dear old compilation album. But it may still have a role in cutting out the legwork to trumpet a new movement – whether real, perceived or simply well marketed. Don’t let the "Oi!" distract you – this isn’t a collection of dodgy punk bands. It’s a bold, colourful, all-guns-blazing double CD set devoted to emergent contemporary music from the Brazilian underground. Or, in the words of the sleeve notes, artists who "combine both domestic and international influences to create their own uniquely Brazilian musical language with global appeal." The logo is certainly eye-catching enough, the information contained within exhaustive and, while no 40-track collection is going to deliver complete satisfaction, there’s enough here to excite the senses and demonstrate that not everything seeping into Western consciousness from Brazil need be rehashed bossa nova, novelty lambada or slinky samba variations. Indeed, while many of the featured artists do draw on traditional styles with a mellow context tempering the more extreme electro dance forms, the mostly subtle blend of hip hop, dub, acid jazz and even avant-garde coating make for some fascinating tracks. Highlights include China’s Colocando Sal Nas Feridas, Zé Neguinho do Côco’s Recife D’água, and especially Catarina Dee Jah’s quirkily irresistible M.I.A.-meets-Althea and Donna groove on Kay Fora....full text |
| Guardian |
| A welcome short cut to Brazil's prolific musical scene and its ever-changing hybrids, this well-packaged two-CD collection bypasses the customary languid sambas to concentrate on indie rock and electronica. Bands like Do Amor ("Brazil's Vampire Weekend") mix African and western styles, others like Porcas Borboletas major in surf guitars. Amid the retro-synth sounds and hip-hop you'll also find dub (Guardaloop), Afrobeat (DJ Dolores), "the Amazonian Beyoncé" (Gaby Amarantos) plus the occasional folk songstress like Siba. Not all the cross-pollinations come off, but the appetite of young Brazil for experimentation and psychedelia is striking. Watch this space....full text |
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