There is life and music in Brazil beyond samba. Here are a couple fresh imports.
The brothers Henrique and Juliano are making the traditional “sertanejo” style of Southern Brazilian music popular again. They have rich and passionate voices, and are unabashedly delivering the sounds in a popular format. This doesn’t detract in this concert performance, as the flamenco guitars of “Pra Que Juizo” or the energetic acoustic strums of “Ate Voce Voltar” come out completely undiluted. There are definite rock influences, as shown on “Quem Ama Sempre Entende” an “As Vezes,” but there are also traditional sounds with accordion as on “Sereia.” They make timeless music become contemporary.
Vocalists Jorge Alves Barcelos and Mateus Pedro Liduario de Oliveira also produce music in the sertanejo style, but with a much more traditional sound and delivery. More acoustic in delivery, there is still a dash of US influence, as on the bluesy “Nocaute” and American rocky “Maneira Errada,” while a sitar jumps in for extra flavor on “Os Anjos Cantam.” Earnest and dramatic voices make for passionate moments on “31.12” and the energetic “Com Nao Me Apaixonar” while there’s a gentle grace to “Coisas De Quem Ama.” The guitars and voices get sensuous on”Calma” while some moods evoke Sergio Leone’s Spaghetti Westerns on pieces like “O Que Eu Tava Falando.” A fresh breeze of sound.