Marisa Monte is one of the best figures of today's Brazilian pop (a category that does not comprise pure samba, choro, canção, baião, and other Brazilian popular musics). While most new bands and interpreters center their work on futile material and focus on easy formulas and clichés, she is concerned in really adding something to the superb tradition of MPB, which is quite a challenging task. This is her third album, where, with special guests
Philip Glass,
Laurie Anderson,
Gilberto Gil,
Paulinho da Viola,
Velha Guarda da Portela, Época de Ouro,
Naná Vasconcelos,
Carlinhos Brown, and others, she delivers some of her hits: "Maria de Verdade," "Na Estrada," "Segue o Seco," "Dança da Solidão," "De Mais Ninguém," "Bem Leve," and "Balança Pema." One of the best pop albums from the '90s, she makes clear that she is after a new language in which the respect for the rich musical tradition of Brazil is evident. ~ Alvaro Neder