Search - Ivan Lins :: Maos

Fantastic and sadly forgotten gem.

Distant Voyageur | Io | 12/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ivan Lins is by far one of the greatest composers that the Earth has ever been blessed with. His music is deep, soulful, rich and highly intelligent and has enjoyed enormous success and popularity all over the world over 30 spectacular years except, from my knowledge, the United States and it's truly a shame as his music is so incredibly unique. It's really sad to see that the United States has missed out on so much great music from this phenomenal musician. This 1987 album is one of countless standouts among the huge arc of albums that Lins has produced and released over the years. To tell you the truth, there are so many standouts that I find it so hard to recommend any of his albums over other albums of his ("Love Dance" versus "Juntos" versus "Awa Yio" etc.). Generally, I'm more into his more pop oriented material that he made over the years thanks in part to his two best album of his career the essential "Love Dance" and Carribean influenced "Awa Yio". "Maos" to me, is a more 80s polished but absolutely beautiful collection of eight songs, all of which are awesome. Unlike "Love Dance" and "Awa Yio", I kind of consider this Lins' 'nighttime' album, having a nighttime kind of mood. The album cover perfectly portrays the mood of the album, nighttime but not eerie but excellent nighttime dance music. "Maos" makes for such a great album that I cannot be able to recommend it enough. "Illuminados" is one of my favorite songs that Ivan Lins has ever recorded. Keep in mind that he has recorded many versions of this song over the years. Ivan Lins has the unique talent of redoing some of his classics and putting them into totally different melodic structures, different lyrics, different languages, and creating totally new versions of his excellent songs yet the familiarity of the song is still there. The title track on this CD becomes the dramatic and dynamic "Art of Survival" on his following album "Love Dance". Both of them are excellent. Most of the others from my knowledge are originals. The album is VERY short (Just over 32 and a half minutes long) with just eight songs but in that short playing time, "Maos" manages to deliver so much beauty and great music that the short playing time doesn't detract from the need to buy this AMAZING album. Go and buy this today, that is if you are willing to go on major CD hunting for it. It's worth the very hard search."

Beautiful compositions and arrangements!

Carlos Valdivia | Staten Island, New York United States | 01/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ivan Lins is an amazing songwriter and performer (I've seen him perform in NY and Brazil several times). This is the first CD I heard of him and was amazed for the beautiful compositions, incredible voice and amazing arrangements. You will be amazed from the beginning with the opening tune: Vieste, where Ivan shows his vocal skills. Going through a more Latin rhythm beat with Nicaragua, returning to a more of a melancholic feeling with songs like Maos and Iluminados. Ivan's music has been described as Pop. For me, it's much more than that. All of his songs are part of the long catalogue of Brazilian Music and have become standards in their own right. Needless to say is the fact that his songs have been performed and arranged by several well known US artists (both in pop and jazz): Patti Austin, Brenda Russell, Quincy Jones, David Benoit, George Benson, etc.If you are new to Ivan Lins, this is a good starter. He has a lot of music recorded. Starting with this album, will make you buy all the others as well. That is what happened with me."