Eu Andava Como Se Fosse Voar

A title that translates as ‘I Walked as if I Were Flying’ somehow suggests this north-eastern Brazilian singer’s ambition both as artist and co-producer of her second solo album. “I relish the challenge of pushing my musical boundaries,” the ex-Sertanília member suggests, “experimenting with different musical languages, and inviting artists with diverse expressions that may seem initially contrasting to my own.” With a plethora of contributors and whether singing her own compositions or interpreting others’, there is no lack of diversity here: Mestrinho’s accordion invests ‘Quando a Gente Se Vê’ with distinct baião and forró generic traces; ‘Toda Verdade Guarda Uma Mentira’ rocks out after an ominous synth-charged introduction; and ‘Ponha Colírio na Flor’ serves light, bubbly samba-pop. The Afro-Bahian influence evident on, say, ‘Se Você Se For / Citação: Meia Hora’ and the MPB hallmark of songs like the opening ‘Amarelocura’ fuse winningly on ‘Quando as Luzes se Apagam’. Quieter numbers like this and the atmospheric ‘Jornada do Prazer’, rather than the more overblown title-track, spotlight more distinctly a voice reminiscent at times of Marisa Monte. If Aiace stumbles occasionally as she walks on this engaging album, she takes flight often enough to suggest rich promise.