More Stunning work from Joyce
bordersj2 | Boston | 03/27/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Far Out Records is easily one of my favorite labels. They insist on releasing great album after great album. They realized that artists like Marcos Valle, Os Ipanemas, Azymuth and Joyce (to name a few) still had a great following and at the core of their work from 20, 30+ years ago were immensely talented & original musicians and songwriters. This is another of Joyce's albums on the label, following "Hard Bossa" from 1999 I believe.
This is a delightful album - I think that this one to me is more a testament to her terrific guitar play. It starts out with "Forces D'Alma", a wonderful opening with her guitar and song-writing. That's followed with pure acoustics with "Na Casa Do Villa". Beautiful work, although she sings in a constant tone through and through it. "Pege Leve"'s terrific - great energy, you really end up trying to follow the lead on this cut. Other tracks that stood out to me were Bota De Sete Leguas", "Azul Bahia", "Quatro Elementos" and I loved "Risco". This disc has terrific songs, wonderful instrumentation with her husbad (Tutti Moreno), Eduardo Neves, Nilton Rodrigues and even Elza Soares appearing on the powerful opener, "Forcas D'Alma".
I recommend this. Of course I'm biased since she is easily one of my very favorite artists - if being free had a voice, it would be Joyce's music. Joyce is one of only a handful of artists out there that I'll blindly buy. If you like this, be sure to check out "Hard Bossa", and a few of her more modern releases evne like Joyce & Banda Maluca "A Little Bit Crazy" and her latest, "Rio-Bahia". It might not hurt either to check out some of her older works too which really are special. Other artists you might like too, if you enjoyed this, are Rosalia De Souza (especially her latest, Brasil Preciso Balancar), Ana Caram, Da Lata's "Song's from the Tin", Marcos Valle. From the old school, Gal Costa, Elis Regina, Leila Pinheiro, Nana Caymmi."