"Tribalistas" Arnaldo Antunes, Carlinhos Brown, Marisa Monte (Virgin)

We had to wait a whole year and for a million copies of this CD to be sold in Brazil before it was brought over to Europe, where we are now able to revel in this sonic delight. A series of love songs, either sensual or humanistic, on a backdrop of Brazilian pop, never cheesy but always catchy. This is the result of the encounter between talented, sensitive and mutually respectful artists, three carressing voices that harmonise together and complement one another. A trio that Brazilians are used to, like that of Gil, Veloso and Bethania during the Tropicalist period. But times have changed and these representatives of today's sound of Brazil don't need to team up in order to survive, they got together for the fun of it. In the title track they describe themselves as 'Tribalistas, hands on the ceiling, feet on the ground, Tribalistas is an anti movement that will split up any second'. It is also the ephemeral nature of this record that makes it so attractive.


'Tribalistas' the DVD


Filmed during the weeks of recording, the DVD takes us right into the creative process of this little masterpiece. The film bears witness to the complicity of the trio, the simplicity of their communication, their love of unexpected instruments (table vacuum cleaner, nail file, paper, plastic trumpets...) and they give some handy advice for turning an old pair of glasses into an irresistible fashion accessory (just wear them upside down). More importantly, the three musicians show how they work together, each person with its role: Marisa Monte as the mistress of ceremonies, Arnaldo Antunès as poetic vouchguard and Carlinhos Brown as an inventive Mr Plus. Free of interviews, this film does not try to explain why these people work together. Everything is said by the atmosphere of their working sessions and the lyrics of their songs, subtitled in Portuguese or English.

Benjamin MiNiMuM