Max de Castro gained instant and enthusiastic praise from the critics as he burst on to the music scene in 1999 with "Samba Raro," his first album release, mixing modern soul, bossa nova, and samba. On this, his second release,
de Castro has evolved and matured as a performer, and
Orchestra Klaxon is a much stronger album than his promising debut. The soul influence, especially in
de Castro's singing, has been toned down and replaced by a more straightforward, richly orchestrated, modern, and lush R&B sound. This emphasizes
de Castro's strengths -- the fine melodies, his excellent production skills, and the energetic and inventive beats and rhythms. More concise and focused than before, the music of
Orchestra Klaxon is firmly rooted in the rich traditions of Brazilian popular music, but it is still very creative and fresh sounding -- easy to enjoy but never banal or obvious. On "Mais uma Vez, um Amor" jazzy samba pop meets electronic beats. "Calaram a Voz do Nosso Amor" and "Linha do Tempo" are clearly inspired by the typically swaying "balanço" of
Jorge Ben (seemingly an eternal source of inspiration for various generations of Brazilian artists). "Acapulco, Daqui a Pouco" and "Sonho de Verão" have a distinct Latin touch. Diverse, rich, and highly enjoyable,
Orchestra Klaxon is an excellent album that confirms
de Castro's reputation as one of the most talented young artists of Brazil. ~ Philip Jandovský