Very early Gismonti
Jean-Jacques Rossatti | BRAZIL | 07/15/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Ok fellas, I find this one to be almost unlisteneable to - most of the songs have some very dated arrangements (the album was originally released in 1969) written by Gismonti himself, and the only highlight I can think of is the 'linear' incarnation of 'Salvador', as opposed to the 'shattered' later versions - listening to this version one realizes how much Gismonti has developed as a musician.And this is exactly the point I am trying to make: some of the songs have a 'bossa nova' feel, being that B.N. was almost dead by then here in Brazil, whereas others show the influence of artists such as The Beatles - only that this mixture isn't as rewarding as it can be in the works of, say, Caetano Veloso.But why I am comparing Gismonti to Veloso? Simply because most of the songs on this album have lyrics sung by Gismonti himself -and they are just not good, to say the least...Last but not least: the sound quality is only average - like the album itself."
INCREDIBLE FIRST ALBUM!
Speedy | Fl, MO USA | 06/25/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ok. I know most of you think of ECM Gismonti when Egberto Gismonti is mentioned. But the stuff from his homeland is great too, and produced with a whole diferent 'third world' perspective giving each piece a unique 'sound' not found in his polished european publications. So what does this sound like? Complex, brazilian and (oddly) mediterranean, avant-gardish and romantic-yet-always-somber ...these will be the type of songs (with a bit of jazz thrown here and there for showing Gismonti's chops) you will find in this fine disc. The end result is simply very original and stunning! Recommended if you like his brazilian work."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1