Marisa Monte: Memories, Chronicles And Declarations Of Love

The fashionable rediscovery of the Brazilian Tropicalistas finally accorded several prominent songwriters, from Caetano Veloso to Tom Zé, the acclaim they've long deserved. But, like most fashions, the passion and interest have already begun to fade. That's too bad: The Tropicalia revival could have been the perfect jumping-off point for those willing to delve into the current state of Brazilian pop, and young artists such as Carlinhos Brown and Marisa Monte deserve far wider audiences than they command outside South America. Both singers have gained exposure through their friend and American co-conspirator, avant-pop maven Arto Lindsay, who has served as producer and liaison to such equally eccentric artists as Brown and Monte. Monte's music is phenomenally accessible, and her fourth album Memories, Chronicles And Declarations Of Love—produced by Lindsay and featuring several of his regular sidemen, including Melvin Gibbs and Peter Scherer—may be her best. So effortlessly breezy and beautiful that it takes a few seconds to realize the lyrics are in Portuguese, Memories subverts traditional Brazilian sambas with carefully chosen elements of contemporary pop that sound modern while retaining connections to the past. "Teme De Amor" adds to a light funk groove the subtle accompaniment of rolling drums. Earlier, the slide guitars of "O Que Me Importa" recall George Harrison, whom Monte has covered in the past. But it's all in the delivery, and from ballads such as "Abololo" to the more syncopated "Cinco Minutos," Monte's voice is in control of the direction each song takes, lilting, laughing, and lifting with a casual and captivating virtuosity.