Caravana Sereia Bloom

by Ceu

Overview

Caravana Sereia Bloom, the third album in seven years from Brazilian singer and songwriter Maria do Ceu Whitaker Pocas (aka Ceu), sounds dramatically different than the breezy, electronically washed 21st century bossa and samba of her previous offerings. Both earlier efforts were influenced by the electronic music of Thievery Corporation, Kruder & Dorfmeister, and even Roeyksopp, as well as jazzy bossa, samba and classic MPB. Working with producer Gui Amabis, Caravana Sereia Bloom is a much more expansive recording. Born from ideas incurred during an extended road trip through her native country from Sao Paulo to the nation's northeastern region, and the inspiration of the road movie Bye Bye Brazil, it reflects -- musically -- much of what she heard during those travels; this music also has much in common with the ambitious, experimental spirit of the tropicalia era without being self-conscious. While Caravana Sereia Bloom is easily the most stripped-down record she's cut, it is also her most contemporary. Ceu and Amabis employ programming and electronic sounds throughout; the emphasis here is on guitars, basses, drums, keyboards from synths to Wurlitzer, reeds, winds, and brass. No two tracks seem to come from the same root universe, but all reflect the fleeting sensations of life on the road. The funky carnivalesque jazz samba in opener "Falta de Ar" contrasts mightily with the neo-psychedelic surf guitar chicha of "Amor de Antigos." The ska-inflected cumbia of "Asfalto e Sal," with its bass drums, flutes, and hypnotic bassline, is an album highlight. "Contravento" is a rhythm collision of samba, lambada, and cumbia. It's among the most driving tracks here and colored beautifully by a multi-tracked tenor sax, B-3, percussion loops, drums, a taut bassline, and pulsing guitars. "You Won't Regret It," one of three English-language tracks here, is a cover of a vintage rocksteady tune featuring gorgeously layered vocals, trumpet, fluegelhorn, sampled tuba, and grand rhythmic interplay. "Baile de Ilusao" melds 21st century brega and cumbia in a heady, sensual mix with a lovely melodic frame. "Fffree" is an abstract, completely solo tune, on which Ceu plays organ, guitar, and bass and sings a brief, airy poem about the liberating quality of rootlessness. The 13 tracks on Caravana Sereia Bloom reveal an artist who is pushing the envelope of MPB, and is taking no prisoners in the process. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	04/03/2012
Label:	Six Degrees
UPC:	0657036118522
Rank:	193393

Tracks

1. Falta de Ar
2. Amor de Antigos
3. Asfalto e Sal
4. Retrovisor
5. Teju Na Estrada
6. Contravento
7. Palha¿¿o
8. You Won't Regret It
9. Sereia
10. Baile de Ilusão
11. Fffree
12. Streets Bloom
13. Chegar em Mim

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ceu   Primary Artist,Bass,Organ,Guitar,Vocals,Electronic Drums
Curumin   Drums
Nahor Gomes   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Dengue   Bass
Lucio Maia   Guitar
Dustan Gallas   Vibraphone,Flute,Piano,Guitar,Soloist,Keyboards,Wurlitzer
Edgard Pocas   Guitar (Acoustic)
Pupillo   Drums
Lucas Martins   Bass
Thiago Franca   Sax (Tenor)
Gui Amabis   Bass,Guitar,Keyboards,Vibraphone
Negresko Sis   Vocals (Background)
Bruno Buarque   Drums
Fernando Catatau   Guitar

Technical Credits

Maria do Ceu Whitaker Pocas   Composer
Gustavo Lenza   Mixing,Engineer
Simon Simantob   Production Coordination
Llyod Robinson   Composer,Lyricist
Glenmore Brown   Composer,Lyricist
Jorge du Peixe   Composer
Andre Bourgeois   Executive Producer
Gui Amabis   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Producer,Programming
Yuri Kalil   Engineer
Felipe Tichauer   Mastering
Oswaldo Martins   Composer,Lyricist
Breno Kruse   Production Coordination
Rica Amabis   Producer,Programming
Lloyd Robinson   Composer
Ceu   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Programming
Nelson Cavaquinho   Composer,Lyricist
Lucas Santtana   Composer,Lyricist