Sonantes [PA] [Slipcase]

Performer: Sonantes
Engineer: Yuri Kalil; Gui Amabis; Daniel Bózio; Beto Villares; Rica Amabis
Producer: Sonantes
Distributor: n/a

Notes: Personnel: Gui Amabis (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); L�cio Maia (guitar, keyboards); Fernando Catatau, Beto Villares (guitar); Frederica Bourgeois (flute); Gilberto Pontes (tenor saxophone); Luca Raele, Daniel B�zio (keyboards); Pepe Cisneros (percussion). Audio Mixers: Yuri Kalil; Carlos "Cac�" Lima; Gustavo Lenza. Recording information: Ambulante; Boa Ideia; BRC Studios; Fine Tuning; Totem; YB. Celebrated Brazilian vocalist Ceu teams with members of Instituto and Na�ao Zumbi, forming the Brazilian supergroup Sonantes. For the most part, the project is more akin to Ceu's sultry and mellow jazz-inflected solo work than to the bands' more aggressive material, but an air of creative spark and experimentation is apparent on every track, and the subtly rocking "Defenestrando" is the sound of true collaboration between disparately inventive artists. Not a band per se, Sonantes are more of a Brazilian collective out of Sao Paulo that came together to make soundtracks for imaginary movies. They do, however, include some pretty serious talent, with members of Instituto, Na�ao Zumbi, and others, as well as guests like Apollo 9 and Siba. That adds up to some heavy hitters, mixing different Brazilian traditions with cutting-edge rock, hip-hop, and electronica, although they largely subsume their talents for Copacabana-flavored atmosphere here -- indeed, the only thing that stands out as a real Brazilian "song" in the accepted sense is the closer, "Frevo de Saudade," a lovely, light ending to an album that's surprisingly cohesive and satisfying. Subtle layers of rhythm mean there's no doubt about the country of origin, but all the tracks create their own moods, some dark, others warm. With talent like this you'd expect nothing less, but the fact that they deliver something so sophisticated comes as a real bonus. ~ Chris Nickson

Down Beat (p.66) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "From the brassy sound of jacked-up frevo on 'Frevo De Saudade' to the dubby, lilting and seductively atmospheric 'Defenestrando,' Sonantes effortlessly juggles and reshapes familiar and obscure Brazilian forms, boldly threading in generous heapings of hip-hop, rock, electronica and dub."

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