Eugenio Avelino

This album has excerpts from two previous releases by Xangai: Xangai Canta Cantigas, Incelenças, Puluxias E Tiranas de Elomar and Xangai - Mutirão Da Vida. Those already acquainted with Elomar can form a clear idea of this album's sonority. It can be described as strongly regional music, slow and intense, with a curious and uncanny combination of the rich folklore of Brazilian northeast region, which has profound medieval European influences in the modal harmonies/melodies and in the construction of their dialect (which received even a glossary in the inlay so other Brazilians could understand what those Brazilians meant), and the educated universe within which Elomar, a classically trained violonista, dwells. The first album had Elomar as guest artist, along with another violão, cello, clarinet, and viola. The second album has a very different sonority, more lively and rhythmic, constituted by works by northeastern composers, both old and modern, including Xangai himself. Here he is accompanied by cello, viola caipira (Brazilian ten-string viola), violão, accordion, female vocal, sax, clarinet, flute, and percussion, keeping the strongly regional flavor, not being inscribed in mainstream MPB. ~ Alvaro Neder, All Music Guide