A long hard look at Brazil... part 10

A little later that same year, Lô released his self-titled debut solo album. Push come to shove, I think it's the best Brazilian album I've ever heard. It's ever very far from my record player. Everything I liked about his work on Clube Da Esquinha is here, even more so. 15 songs in half an hour – this is intricate stuff. It blends together in a patchwork masterpiece of concentrated compositions, fragments (but always perfectly realized) and a couple of freewheeling improvisations. You have to keep on your toes, there's always something happening.

Listen to this 1'50” song. A very short piano verse, followed by this loping percussion driven flute workout, repeat at 0'27”. A 0'42” a whole new section – wonderful acoustic guitar descending riff. Back into the verse at 1'03” followed by 20 seconds of extemporization. And that's it.

Or 2 minute ballad 'Homem da rua'. A moody verse goes into a lovely chorus, at 0'35” a new riff bursts in with more singing, it breaks down, at 1'05” back into the verse and chorus. The last half minute is repeat and fade.