Despite its opening bars sounding like the backing to a black and white TV advert Sabrina Malheiros’ New Morning is actually rather pleasant.
Now pleasant isn’t a word I normally use but it seems to fit here; it’s not great, it’s definitely not bad, it’s just — well pleasant. We get the usual mix of 21st century bossa drawing on samba, soul, house and lounge music, but the mixture failing to really jump out.
No stranger to the upper-echelons of Brazil’s music elite, she is the daughter of Azymuth bassist Alex Malheiros and granddaughter of Sergio Mendes no less, Sabrina calls up an impressive cast list. Ivan Conti, Paulinho Braga and Arthur Verocai are all on board, and as with her debut Equilibria, Daniel Manuick takes care of production.
Her voice is sweet and soothing but at times lacks distinction. It’s at its best when backed with gentle guitar and subtle backing vocals — ‘Alem Do Sol’ provides the best example here, and she evens has a stab at two English songs; ‘New Morning’ and Carol Kings ‘It’s Too Late.’
The album’s highlights are clustered towards the end; with the upbeat afro-smaba inspired ‘Eira Nem Beira’, the single ‘Connexao’ and ‘Sem Pressa’ co-written with Arthur Verocai.
An album to enjoy on a pleasant sunny evening rather than one that demands your attention.
Links:
Far Out Recordings
Sabrina Malheiros
