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André Martins - Argila Year: 2008
For those who are tuned to the guitarist national scene, the name André Martins shall not sound strange. Respected as guitarist, composer and teacher, André is releasing his new album named Argila by the label Black Records (www.blackrecords.com.br)
The first thing which is going to take your attention and we have to congratulate the record label and the musician is the graphic arts which besides being that beautiful shows all the maturity and professional part from both them. The album features several musicians which adds on the diversity of the album.
Hermeticamente starts with a really interesting groove which seem to be influenced by a mix of rock and funk, until we face the clean guitar theme which shows all André Martins' jazz influence. I really like the way André goes through several styles.effects and phrasing with no prejudice and no difficultie to walk through this. The song also includes a outstanding solo which reminds me that "outside" blues.
Tomodachi owns a nice theme and reminds me those sonority from the Real Book, but a Real Book from XXI century much more modern and full of improvements.
A well-explored element throughtout the whole album is the inclusion of samplers, synths and loops which added a voice starts the track which is the tittle of the album. The voices sounds a little evil or strange, like someone was screaming for something which he/she doesn't get or seems to not have an answer. The guitar starts playing full of effects, adding to the whole psychodelic environment built by André, it is really a track to listen over and over again.
Pra Heitor is a track dedicated to Heitor TP, there is a phone talking with an effect over the drums groove, I think it is Heitor and this seems to be a way to highlight the homage. The song goes on with a extremely beautiful theme which reminds me something brazillian which develops itself as long as the metters goes by.
Ua:brari is inspired by the book of Marcelo R. Paiva , one more time the effects take over the introduction. There is a nice harmony behind this kind of slow churn melody which shows a lot of extreme sultriness despite of the voice sounding in the background of the beggining. A rock n' roll guitar solo is played over an not usual brazillian harmony.
Moccha is a track which I had already heard on the first Cd of the Guitar X website, I think it sounds pretty much on the same style of the first track. A jazz-rock full of effects, swing and a great taste.
Beautiful blues licks opens Seara Vermelha which was based on Jorge Amado. A really nice factor was the adding of recitation in the middle of the song, it shows the very strong bond between André and literature.
Port townsend starts with an harmony on the introduction which reminds me a pop ballad which finds itself perfectly with the beautiful André's prashing.
Neruda includes a outstanding saxophone solo by Wilson Teixeria which sounds incredible with the guitar full of effect. A happy moment for the album.
Darcy was written in memorian of Darcy Ribeiro and it includes a pretty much touching and beautiful poetry. The track starts with some strings followed by a drum sample, the unique touching speecher interpretation makes this the highlight of the whole album. This is my favourite track and it was the track which touched me the same way my favourite songs ever does. André is also very fortunatue on the last solo.
Argila presents an evolved musician and something really distant from what we are used to listen from the most of the guitarists nowadays, in other words it is a great differential, all these modern effects and all the strong bond with the literature make this a candidate for one of the best albums of the year on this genre of music.
Tracks: 01 - Hermeticamente 02 - Tomodachi 03 - Argila 04 - Pra Heitor 05 - Ua:brari 06 - Moccha 07 - Seara Vermelha 08 - Port Townsend 09 - Neruda 10 - Darcy To purchase, e-mail blackrecords@blackrecords.com.br
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