África Brasil

Ran to Wikipedia to see if Rod Stewart got sued for lifting the melody of ‘Taj Mahal’ for ‘Do You Think I’m Sexy?’. Answer - yes, he did!

Anyway - holy moly this was great! Sun has just come out today, I’m inside at work and trying desperately not to groove at my desk. Putting this into the regular rotation.

Holy crap I loved this. What a brilliant album. Cannot fault it at all.

This is definitely one of those albums that make me appreciate doing this list. There is absolutely zero chance I ever would’ve discovered this on my own.

Top Track - Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro

fun sound!

Cool funky rhythms. For which the album gets a 3.
But I don't want to hear a load of singing (and even more talking)! In a language I don't understand. Call me a xenophobe I don't care, but I wouldn't listen to this again.
I would actually say it's probably more because I don't particularly dig the fella's voice, because if this was Astrud Gilberto it would be added to my playlist.

Á𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢 𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭 is a vibrant showcase of MPB at its most rhythmic and infectious. Jorge Ben blends Brazilian grooves with strong African influences, building songs around driving percussion, hypnotic guitar lines and a deep sense of forward motion. The album feels both rooted in tradition and effortlessly modern, powered by repetition, groove and warmth rather than complexity. It’s confident, joyful music that proves how naturally Brazilian popular music can absorb and transform African elements without losing its own identity.

Lots to enjoy in here 😀

This was somewhat difficult for me to evaluate. Most of the lyrics rest pretty high in the mix and cover the instruments. I don't mind that ordinarily, but I don't speak Portuguese, so all I have is the instruments to rely on. The vocals I don't understand being the most prominent feature, for me, isn't ideal. If there was an instrumental version of this album, I think I'd like it a lot.

Not the best. Some interesting rhythms.

2.45

I've had a bunch of duds in a row and I get so excited when I see something non-anglo on here.
This was such a fun vibe and the instrumentation was really fun (o filosofo),
5*
Highlights: ponta de lanca africano, o filosofo, meu filhos meu tesoro, taj mahal (childhood flashbacks)

Jorge Ben Jor is a Brazilian popular musician who is well known for playing a style of samba that incorporates elements of soul, funk, and bossa nova. His broad appeal led to a successful career, affording him the leeway to further experiment with his sound. África Brasil was one of those experiments, ditching the acoustic guitar in favor of the electric guitar, while still offering a celebratory and historical tribute to Afro-Brazilian culture.

I'll be honest, I was genuinely impressed by this record. The syncopated rhythms, the funky guitarwork, Ben's soulful delivery alongside the backing vocalists, all these elements come together with such a vibrant energy in these compositions. You know you got me hooked when these performances have me singing along, and I don't even speak Portuguese. Of course, it helps that the translated lyrics offer positive affirmations and solidarity between Africa and Brazil, to the point of highlighting historical figures, football, and tied ancestry. The only song that felt thematically different was the re-recording of "Taj Mahal" regarding the Indian structure, but even that was a genuine bop with the sped-up rhythm amidst the banging of the congas and timbales, with a vocal melody that Rod Stewart would end up using later.

This is the kind of album that puts a smile on my face. África Brasil is the type of cultural celebration that transcends borders, and I'm glad to have enjoyed it.

Is this the perfect music for a chilly Thursday morning in the American midwest? Today it is. It only took 1/2 the album to decide that I wanted to live here forever.
Maybe I'd find a reason to rate it lower if I understood the lyrics, but I'm not burdened with that problem today. I listened to it twice and then spent the rest of the morning in his discography. Brazilian music will always have a place in my heart, shut up and take my five stars.

Never heard of this guy, this is what I signed up for! It’s cool to be exposed to new stuff. This was enjoyable.

World music funk. Kind of fun.

There are actually some highly catchy bangers on this, annoyingly so as 1) I was expecting to hate it and 2) I can't really sing along to them without sounding like I've tried funnelling too much food into my trap, as I don't know the slightest bit of Portuguese. However, there are also some very dated moments on here when it decides to sneak some synth work in. I suppose if I'm ever looking for a fix of some funky Nando's background music, this is where I'd be gravitating towards after the sample size of two albums I've heard, but how often will that itch present itself?

So, this is only my second album on this journey and also the second Brazilian one. I was looking forward to expanding my repertoire but at first I was worried I checked the wrong setting or something.

There's a very funk vibe. Another album for listening with headphones due to the use of the different channels. I think I hear an organ or electric piano in the right channel on track two. Rhythm egg/maraca or some such and a bunch of instruments I am unqualified to identify but which are not the standard guitar/drum/bass.

Okay, now I finished the album and I liked it okay. It's not my cuppa but I can get behind some of it.

Класна весела музика, мені ще сподобались тут футбольні референси, як, наприклад пісня присвячена Зіко.

Pretty fun, I liked the beaT(s)

What a party beat! Fantastic album of great tracks to boogie with.

Not the usual 70s fare! Still got plenty of electric guitar though. Anyway, I appreciate the Brazilian Portuguese representation. This guy's really into history, alchemy, and futebol, huh? I enjoyed listening to this, more than I expected, but I'm not sure it quite reaches a 4, since it's something I view as more background music (probably because I don't speak the language). Chill and fun and pleasant, but the high pitched whistle-y noises are not my jam, and there are a lot of them. So that's a 3 for me.

Highlights: 'Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu', 'O Filósofo', 'Taj Mahal'