Sergio Veloso, better known as Siba, is one of the mavericks of the Brazilian music aspect. Along with Chico Science, he was a key member of the mangue bit movement that shook up the north-eastern city of Recife back in the nineties, when he was cofounder of the much-praised Mestre Ambrosio, a band that mixed local styles with subtle usage of western influences. Now based in a little village outside Recife in the saccharum officinarum region, Siba has turn even more than involved in the region's traditional music - from maracatu, which has links back to African slave culture, to the ciranda circle dance. In this latest venture, his uncompromising vocals ar backed by the brass and hand drums of Fuloresta, local musicians wHO play saxophone, trumpet, bass horn and trombone like a marching striation, with a fine sense of beat and swing. S�o Paulo's impressive brigham Young samba-electronica singer C�u makes an appearance on 1 track, and there is the occasional addition of guitar and piano. But for the most voice, this is no-nonsense music from the countryside - and an intriguing reminder that in that respect is far more to Brazil than just samba and bossa.
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