Tom Zé is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, innovator and composer who was hugely influential in the Tropicália movement of '60s Brazil. Zé is often thought of as Brazil’s answer to Zappa or Captain Beefheart; a true innovator and a true artist. After the peak of the Tropicália period, Zé went into relative obscurity. It was only in the '90s, when musician and Luaka Bop label founder David Byrne discovered an album recorded by Zé many years earlier, that he returned to performing and releasing new material. Continuing in a similar musical vein to Grande Liquidicao...

Groundbreaking for its time, listening to Tom Zé today it sounds a strange oddity out of time and out of touch. 'Guindaste A Rigor' sounds like something that wouldn't feel out of place on an episode of Sesame Street.

Meanwhile, 'Dulcinéia Popular Brasileira' opens with an out of tune band before moving onto a catchy, sing-song track. Once the album settles down, there are little gems to discover. 'O Riso E A Faca' is one such memorable track.

If you're aware and appreciate Zé's work then you'll love this... For the uninitiated, this is certainly a case of try before you buy.

5

Nick Smithson