One of the persistent challenges facing artists is keeping
things fresh. Brazilian singer Céu seems to have no problem with this, however. In her quest for a more upbeat, rhythm-driven album, she
employed the production help of French native Hervé Salters, aka General
Elektriks, who cut his teeth playing keyboards for Femi Kuti and playing with
Blackalicious and Lyrics Born, and Pupillo, drummer of one of a longstanding
Brazilian feature, Naçao Zumbi, as well as his country's most in-demand
producer.
Working with them was a dream come true, says Céu. They were
able to translate her
vision into reality with Tropix, which she says is a combination
of 'tropical' and 'pixel'. 'Somehow the pixel became an inspiration,' she says.
'A pixel is a small part of a big thing defragmentation as a concept. That s
also why the album has a lot of arpeggiator keyboard, to capture that sound.'
Utilizing Salters keyboard mastery, Céu has redefined her
sound once again. She's never been purely an electronic artist; her global
temperament, combined with a deep love for Brazil's indigenous sounds, shines
through on every record. Tropix is no different. Any programming only adds to
the organic nature of her unique style.
And that style is the result of being brought up in a
musical family. Her musicologist and composer father introduced her to an array
of musical forms: Root Samba, Afrobeat,
Reggae, Jazz. Céu was later taken with artists like Billie
Holiday, Erykah Badu, and Ella Fitzgerald. In her own music she pulls from
whatever she can use to create a distinct sonic repertoire.
The São Paulo native has received four Grammy nominations
and has stormed into Billboard charts on a number of occasions, proving both
her lasting power as well as her immensely attractive songwriting skills.
The arpeggiator has the honor of kicking off the record with
a subtle line supporting Céu's melody on 'Perfume do Invisível'. The song tells
the tale of one women telling another what she would do if she were invisible,
inspired by Italian comic book cartoonist Milo Manara. Manara has made a career
of fusing the popular with the imaginative: he's worked with famed movie producer
Federico Fellini and penned covers for Marvel Comics, though he's best known
for his unforgettable erotic drawings.
The beat-driven 'Arrastarte-Ei' begins with a roving bass
line thanks to Lucas Martins before expanding into a Questlove-esque rhythm.
Again her poetry flies into the fantastic. 'It's a love song', she says, saying that I can transform
myself into the sea when my beloved is coming back from a journey.' The emphasis on keyboards and lack of guitar a staple
instrument in her catalog allows Tropix to play with the listener's imagination in new
ways.
The poppy 'Varanda Suspensa' recalls a veranda on a São
Paulo beach that she spent many hours sitting on in her youth, 'beside my
grandpa, watching the landscape change the colors, looking like a tropical
expressionism painting'.
Not that there aren't any guitars. One kicks off a beautiful
tribute of a cover from postpunk band Fellini, also from São Paulo. The 1989
original Chico Buarque Song honoring the legendary singer, writer, and cultural
critic is frenetic and driving with a strong touch of Joy Division. Céu sits
back on the groove, keeping the eighties vibe intact with a well-placed
synthesizer, crooning in English over the exploding harmony.
Born with such a passionate love for the music and cultures of the planet, Céu has taken it all in and returned it with one of the twenty-first century's most distinctive voices. Tropix is a stunning effort created by a woman who truly knows no boundaries. ~ Amazon
Born with such a passionate love for the music and cultures of the planet, Céu has taken it all in and returned it with one of the twenty-first century's most distinctive voices. Tropix is a stunning effort created by a woman who truly knows no boundaries. ~ Amazon
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