6 Underrated Brazilian Records To Expand Your Musical Horizon
Brazil has a music scene like no other, one that's just as expansive an varied as the US, but with elements that you would never hear in the US. There's so much more to discover, but here's a start.
Brazil, the largest country in South America, over 200 Million people, and with people, comes music. And boy does Brazil have music. They have one of the most developed music scenes in the world, but they haven’t had the cross-country success that English speaking artists can get, or in more recent years, K-pop has gotten in the English speaking world. Because of this, it’s unlikely that you’ll hear the wonderful music of Brazil without being born there, save maybe some Bossa Nova or Samba in a movie soundtrack or crossover works like Getz/Gilberto. There’s also those who have an interest in Brazilian music and have maybe heard the more surface level albums, like “Os Mutantes” or “Clube da Esquina” many of which are great albums, but they’re looking to dig deeper. That’s why I put together this list, to appeal to both of them, and anyone else that’s willing to learn. So without further ado let us start.
6. Lô Borges - Lô Borges
Lô Borges album cover
This album is a rock record at heart, but it sways between rock and more pop elements, very reminiscent of The Beatles, even having some harmonies in there to really complete the feel. The style choices are more western than some of the albums that follow on this list, the lyrics are still in Portuguese, but a lot of the elements will be recognized by more western ears. That doesn’t make the record any worse, in fact I think that’s what makes it a good starting point. You can hear the sound of bands like “The Beatles”, and “Paul Simon” while being introduced to new grooves, like on the track “Homem da Rua” and the second half of “Nao Foi Nada”, which features an experimental take on traditional Brazilian sounds. Although these moments are just sprinkled throughout the album, not overtaking it, so you get a taste, but not a mouthful. Although once you get a taste, you won’t want to stop.
5. Domingo - Caetano Veloso & Gal Costa
Domingo album cover
A collaboration between 2 massive players in the Tropicalia (a Brazilian artistic movement that blended psychedelic rock with traditional Brazilian sounds) and the general Brazilian music scene working together. If you want to explore past this list (which you should) both of these artists are great starts. You really can't go wrong with that. Its music is more down to earth and laid back than Gal or Caetano’s albums to follow, but they still definitely have the talent needed to pull it off with less experimentation. The instrumentation is passionate and calming, while still having enough to keep you hooked. Caetano also sounds great here, it’s a fairly traditional delivery, but he just has a voice like no other so there’s no complaints. Gal too sounds great, singing in a more traditional style as well, not taking too many risks, but this album wasn’t made for that, it was made to be a good calming time, with some beautiful sounds.
4. Nara Pede Passagem - Nara Leão
Nara Pede Passagem album cover
This album has perhaps the best mixing I have ever heard, it is incomparable. There’s such a difference as soon as you start listening, the drums are more atmospheric, the vocals are popping, and the instrumentation feels so full. This has a very packed stereo, there’s times where I’ll listen to an album with intense stereo but they don’t have enough going on to really fill out the sound in a way that makes the stereo worth-while. But here, it’s the exact opposite. There is not an empty crevasse of sound anywhere to be found on this album, it is absolutely beautiful. That doesn’t mean this album is absolutely bursting at the seams with sound, it's honestly very minimalist. There’s just not a ton of elements, maybe five max per song, but it’s so much more than enough, and it's enough to appreciate the beauty of Nara’s voice, without overpowering it, but having it not feel lonely either. There is so much to appreciate, the groove on the guitar, the subtle but punchy drums, the güiro filling out the sound and complimenting the guitar’s groove. The woodwinds are also beautiful here, they align so perfectly with Nara’s vocals it almost turns it into a duet-like composition. This album is absolutely stunning musically, vocally, and everything in between. There’s not a dull moment here, it’s song after song of new ideas, new beauty, and simple highs and lows.
3. Edu Canta Zumbi - Edu Lobo
Edu Canta Zumbi album cover
This album is one of the most moody and dramatic works to come out of Bossa Nova, and it's completely stunning. Its lush arrangements, deep haunting vocals, and the overall sentimental emotion in this work is impossible to look away from. Your full attention will go to this album while listening, and there's not a single quality that underdelivers on the sense of sorrow and calmness here. It’s one of the most emotional albums out of Brazil, and the way each element blends together and goes back and forth between emotionally crushing songs and quick, not necessarily happy, but at least happy-feeling songs, is extremely compelling and experimental. It is genuinely criminal that this album does not have more praise or attention. The sound doesn’t stay consistent throughout, but that fact gives multiple angles to this album, where if it was all one style we wouldn’t get. You need the high points to put the low points in context.
2. Os Afro - Sambas de Baden e Vinicius
Os Afros album cover
The percussion on this album is some of the best not only for samba, but in Brazil as a whole. There’s some extremely smiley songs and great vibes, but they’re paired with these more complex songs emotionally, and it creates an atmosphere of sliding emotions, but there’s always a sense of hope in the end. The lyrics complement the songs well but it’s mostly about the music here. You can still absolutely catch the vibe of this album without them, they fit more as an instrument in their own right. Canto De Xangô is one of the best songs out of Brazil, but the whole album really hits great. There’s not a track here that isn’t great. Everything has a very tight sound, it all feels perfectly well rehearsed, and planned, while also not feeling clinical. It feels like music being made by masters of their craft, endlessly consistent but never too rehearsed. There’s nothing dull about this record, it’s all a vibrant experience that doesn’t shove it in your face, it trusts you to find the groove yourself.
1. Africa Brasil - Jorge Ben Jor
Africa Brasil album cover
Although “Africa Brasil” is by an artist that needs no introduction, this isn’t Jorge Ben Jor’s biggest record, that title would go to the genre-defining “Samba Esquema Novo”, which is one of the most seminal and well known Brazilian records of all time. While that record is great, “Africa Brasil” brings a certain spice you can’t find on his much more Samba-focused debut. That spice is the African influence that the title hints at. Which is all throughout the record, from the tight rhythms to group vocals, to the call and response littered throughout the record. Now I think the influence is noticeable, but it’s definitely just that, influence, this record is still certainly primarily Brazilian. Even if you don’t understand Portuguese, the storytelling and hooks here are enough to tell you that Jorge brings a lot to offer on the lyrical front as well. Vocally this record stands out in Jorge’s career as it feels like he really let it all out for this one. In previous albums his delivery could be a little reserved at times, and although his vocals definitely had their shining moment, on “Africa Brasil” everything he sings here has a certain passion to it that can’t be found anywhere else. Every aspect of this record is contagiously danceable, and joyous, but it’s never too much and it’s never forced. It’s simply how the sound was meant to be. This is Jorge Ben Jor performing at his best, having all the experience and chops necessary to make one of the greatest Brazilian records of all time.
Brazil has one of the best music scenes of any place on Earth, but unless you go digging it’s unlikely you’ll ever find yourself listening to it, and I think that the more music from around the world you listen to, the better music listener you can become. A lot of your favorite artists got influence from music outside of their locale. And their influences before them. Once you start listening, you’ll notice it everywhere, and it’s the best feeling when you do. There’s so much more to find in Brazil, and even just with the artists here, each and every one of them has more to dig into, some just as good, some better, it all depends on your taste. So, start with these, but keep exploring, and immerse yourself into the wonderful music landscape of Brazil.