Check this lot. Will Quantic says, “Arthur Verocai is a genius”, Madlib “I could listen to (the Arthur Verocai) album everyday for the rest of my life” and Mark Pritchard “When I listen to Arthur’s music it makes me glad to feel alive”.

You’ll remember Verocai’s ‘Presente Grego’ was included Paz E Futbol on last years’ Jazzanova compilation so it’s with great joy that we’ve now got a whole 11 track album by the multi-instrumentalist aclaimed as Brazil’s answer to David Axelrod.

Even if this album didn’t feature those other legends Azymuth on three tracks, this is a must have. The first two tracks are just delicious downtempo string drenched tunes but ‘Sucuri’ is a remarkable mix of acoustic guitar and 70s synth.

And talking of 70s, hats off to Joe Davis (head of Far Out) as this is the follow-up to Verocai’s debut album from 1972. Davis apparently found an old copy in Rio in the 80s. Panned by the critics at the time of release it disappeared until re-issued in 2002 on Luv N’ Haight. There’s echoes of La Nueva Onda De Brasil here but music as good as ‘Caboclo’ would inevitably find it’s time and place.

Encore, get the subtle title, doesn’t need such a long jestation period, even though it started with Dave Brinkworth (half of Harmonic 33 with Troubleman Pritchard) going out the meet Arthur in Rio in early 2005.

Keeping the Axelrod comparison of cinematic dreams transposed to a samba beach, this album covers the whole scene from the remake of ‘Tudo De Bom’ to the lounge bar of Ivan Lins on ‘Filhas’. The track ‘Caminho Da Roça’ is like getting Toot Thielemans in Rio; not literally of course as the harmonica is performed by Giabriel Grosssi.

The album finishes on a classical duo of cello and acoustic guitar before the instrumental version of ‘Bis’, one of the tracks with Azymuth with some strings, horns and funky guitar to melts your heart.

Put this in your ‘must have’ pile along with Azymuth, Marcos Valle, Joyce, Antonio Aldopho and all the other Far Out releases.

Hectic Mix nominations: ‘Tupã Tupi’, ‘Amor Na Contra Mão’, ‘Sucuri’, ‘Caminho Da Roça’, ‘Bis (Instrumental)’, ‘Eu Quero Paz’, ‘Dona Das Meninas’

Reviewed: Arthur Verocai - Encore (Far Out Recordings) Cat. NO. FARO 122CD Release date: 15th October 2007

Tracklisting
1. Tupã Tupi (3:37)
2. Amor Na Contra Mão (4:02)
3. Sucuri (5:23)
4. Abertura (2:08)
5. Bis feat. Azymuth (3:58)
6. Dona Das Meninas feat. Azymuth (4:51)
7. Filhos feat. Ivan Lins (3:03)
8. Tudo De Bom (3:36)
9. Eu Quero Paz feat. Azymuth (4:02)
10. Caminho Da Roça (4:20)
11. Preludio/Bis (Instrumental) (5:41)

Links
arthurverocai.com.br
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toots Thielemans