The pioneering electro-Brazilian band releases their fourth album just in time to celebrate the upcoming World Cup in Brazil. The album is available on Six Degrees Records. Here’s a free download to whet your appetite.
The group was founded fifteen years ago by Marcio Menescal (son of bossa nova pioneer Roberto Menescal), DJ Marcelinho DaLua, and producer/sound engineer Alex Moreira based on a simple, yet profound idea. They update the classic sounds of Brazil with modern effects and electronics. Since the group began, numerous other bands have emerged with a similar concept.
On Our Kind of Bossa, Bossacucanova is joined by some of the other leading lights of their generation of Brazilians. Top on the list in this writer’s opinion is Maria Rita—herself the daughter of another legendary Brazilian singer—Ellis Regina. She is featured on the second cut, “Deixa A Menina.” It means, “If you let me, girl.” Here’s the original by Chico Buarque.
The group also enlisted some of the veterans of the genre including famed band Os Cariocas, a vocal outfit formed in 1942 by Ismael Neto, alongside singer Wilson Simoninha, longtime friend Marlon Sette, on trombone and the legendary Oscar Castro Neves on guitar who passed this last year.
The album’s closing track, “To Voltando” is a celebration of Brazilian identity and culture. The group’s “master” and Marcio’s father, Roberto Menescal, contributes strings on the song while Ze Carlos adds guitar.
