Search - Forro in the Dark :: Light a Candle (Dig)

Forro in the Dark's "Light a Candle" is a musically energeti

Dennis A. Amith (kndy) | California | 10/20/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Light in a Candle" is the latest album from the New York-based band Forro in the Dark. A band formed back in 2002 by Mauro Refosco, the vocalist who plays the zabumba drums, Davi Vieira on vocals, percussion and metal triangle, Jorge Continentino who play who plays the pifano flute, sax and vocals and Guilherme Monteiro on guitar. Keeping within the confines of tradition but also adding their modern style to forró music.



Known for blending Brazilian musical style "forró" with modern music, the band brings us an exciting album with music that the group has brought to the East Village at the nightspot Nublu for years. Combining forró and urban music, the album definitely has an energetic vibe that fans of their music will definitely be entranced by.



According to the band's website, "The skeleton of the band's sound is the syncopated rhythms of forró, - xote, baião and arrasta-pé - which are familiar to Brazilians as the toe-tapping backdrop to a long workday, a folk party in the Northeast, and the sound spilling out from dance halls in the wee hours. The upbeat tunes contrast with the lyrics' serious themes: Forro songs romanticize the harsh and unforgiving sertão of Brazil's northeast, giving voice to the migrant's melancholy lament and the country bandit's ballad."



Tracks such as "Bandinha" which showcases cool percussion and pifano flute along with cool vocals by Mauro Refosco that has a nice taste of urban tribal, while a track such as "Nonsensical" has a reggae vibe. And then there are some tracks in English such as "Better Than You" and the track "Lilou" which the features another cool melding between the percussion and flute.



Other standouts include the hip moving "Baio Embolado", the sultry and seductive "Silence is Golden", the flute and electric guitar driven-track "Anao De Jardim" and "Forro De Dois Amigos" which are both fantastic tracks. Then there is the percussion driven track "Caipirinha" and the rock track "Just Like Every Other Night".



Overall, Forro in the Dark's "Light a Candle" is a musically energetic and captivating album that brings that wonderful forró music stateside. And most of all the band, paying homage to the rich history of the musical genre by updating the sound with the use of the pifano flute, zabumba, timbau drum, guitar and triangle. Definitely an album worth checking out!"