Zé Ramalho

The double-album cover (an adaptation of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's with important figures of Northeastern music) already shows that new directions are being sought. The first track, the interesting instrumental "Intróito à Nação," really shows the sonorities of the Northeast in fusions with orchestral sonorities, and Indian tablas and sitars also show here and there (as in "Bandeira Desfraldada" and "Violando Com Hermeto"). But the main direction of the album points to social claims on behalf of the suffering Northeastern people. More explicit in this sense is the inclusion of "Pra Não Dizer Que Não Falei das Flores" (song composed in 1968 by the Northeastern Geraldo Vandré in the protest song style, which created many problems for Vandré, the first being the censoring of the tune, in spite of its message of extreme pacifism). The portrayal of Vandré on the album's cover is the first association of his image with the discographical market, after 30 years, and indicates a possible return. The sounds of the Northeast predominate throughout the album as a vehicle for strongly social/political lyrics -- like the beautiful poetry of "Temporal" (Bráulio Tavares/Fuba) and the simpler but strong "O Meu País." Several illustrious Northeasterners like Hermeto Pascoal, Naná Vasconcelos, Dominguinhos, Elba Ramalho, Ivete Sangalo, Fagner, Flávio José, Armandinho, and Pepeu Gomes also contribute to the album, providing good moments like "Amar Quem Eu Já Amei" (João do Vale), "Lamento Sertanejo" (Dominguinhos/Gilberto Gil), and "Bandeira Desfraldada" (Vital Farias). ~ Alvaro Neder, All Music Guide