Top of the World Review: Seu Jorge – Músicas Para Churrasco Vol 1
Posted on June 9th, 2012 in Recent Posts, Reviews by Songlines.
Words by Russ Slater
First contender for this year’s perfect summer album
Seu Jorge’s latest finds the Brazilian singer back doing what he does best. His previous record, a selection of rock-leaning covers recorded with Almaz had some interesting moments but, like Paul McCartney doing opera, was a touch indulgent. Músicas Para Churrasco Vol 1 is an album of samba funk, focusing on the groove and feeling good.
Sunshine-soaked vibes exude from the title – translating as ‘Music for Barbecues’ – through the lyrics, which focus on the pleasures of the opposite sex, and onto the lush production. With Seu Jorge’s distinctive baritone being the focal-point, and the sound of the cavaquinho never far away, it’s the arrangements that make these songs stand out. The addition of a brass section is a touch of class, bringing the subtle seduction of Gamble & Huff’s Philly soul to songs such as ‘Dois Beijinhos’; the electronic synths that cut through opener ‘A Doida’ are less subtle but undeniably fun; while the use of big singalong codas just adds to the party atmosphere. All of these qualities come to the fore on ‘Japonesa’, a tale of falling in love with a Japanese girl that ends with a chorus of voices shouting the unlikely refrain of ‘Yakisoba’, the name of a Japanese noodle dish hugely popular in Brazil.
As summer approaches, it’s hard to think of an album that could better accompany the English barbecue; Músicas Para Churrasco Vol 1 does exactly what it says on the tin.
