Customer Reviews

Na Pressao

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a CD. This is strong, thight, modern Brazilian pop music, a fresh and interesting mixture of traditional songwriting with modern sound architecture. Perhaps in this latter respect 'Na Pressão' owes some credit to Arto Lindsay or Caetano Veloso (in his Tropocalismo period). The opener was already released together with Fernanda Abreu on her 'Raio X' album, but the version here is much more powerful.
Additional hint: Don't forget to get yourself a sub-woofer before you listen to this. It's much more fun with a strong bass.

I agree with the reviewer below me. The lyrics to most of the songs are culturally-literate and progressive, in the Tropicalia tradition; it's a shame that most people in the States who hear this won't understand them.

Cross-cultural fusions date back to the beginning of human cultural interaction, so it's only natural that Lenine would filter his songs through some beats and textures borrowed from Stateside hip-hop and R&B. For the most part this mixture is pleasant, but one or two of the tracks, such as "Meu Amanha", are rendered bland by the smoothness and lack of dynamism. But the production team's use of sampling is highly inspired in spots, particularly when there is just enough tension between the sampled parts and the live instrumentation to create a dynamic meaning and feeling.

If NA PRESSAO could use anything, it would be a little more energy. In fact, Lenine and Carlinhos Brown, the current spearheads of the younger cannibalistic Brazilian pop, could create a massive opus if they put together their skills: Brown's energy and manic eclecticism would enliven Lenine's music, and Lenine's lyrical pointedness would correct for Brown's polyglot absurdities, which are ultimately pointless.

NA PRESSAO (Under Pressure) deserves a Stateside release - with lyric translations.

Lenine is another practical genius from brasil. This CD has inspired all that hear it. The song Jack Soul Brasileiro is a masterpeice as are many other cuts. I have heard Lenine live and on recording , and he is simply devastating with just his awesome guitar and passionate voice. I am a fan of all kinds of music , and it is obvious he is too. His weaving of different groove traditions is arguably genius. ...Definetly on the cutting edge When i first heard "Olhos de Peixe" I listened to , and shared it more than any brazilian music in the last 10 years. Na Pressao is by all means on the same level..."overproduced" or not!

If you are a fan of progressive Brazilian music, or simply a world music fan searching for another aural gem to add to your world music collection, Lenine's Na Pressão is the CD for you. Honestly, I could easily use the thousand words allotted for this review to praise this CD, but I shall be succinct.

Music: Great depth, breadth, eclectic scope, and complexity - powerfully dynamic. The virtuosic mixture of contrasting instruments, driving rhythms, chord progressions, and musical and recording styles creates one of the most fulfilling and well-crafted CDs I've heard in several years: meaty, electric bass backing classical, acoustic guitar; a squeaky hook setting the rhythm for acoustic and electric drums, acoustic and electric guitar, electric bass, and synthesizer; indigenous Brazilian and world acoustical instruments contrasted perfectly with traditional electric instruments, as well as piano, accordion, etc.; simple home and street recordings prefacing and backing well-engineered studio recordings; vocals ranging from a single voice, to rich, multitrack harmonies. The closest references I can come up with, regarding style, are a blend of Carlinhos Brown (where we all hoped he was going - but didn't - after his first CD, Alfagamabetizado, times ten), Nine Inch Nails (in textures, rhythms, and scope of timbres), and a tiny pinch of Peter Gabriel's Passion. Even these references don't come close to fully encompassing Lenine's musical vision and style shown in Na Pressão. There's not a weak track on the entire CD.

Text and Lyrics: All in Portuguese. Unfortunately, I don't read or speak Portuguese. Therefore, I can't give a report on the CD's lyrical subject matter or Lenine's, et al., lyric-writing abilities. I can only guess that they are as well conceived and written as the music.

For more information on Lenine, and to hear excerpts from Na Pressão, see and listen to Marco Werman's interview with him at Public Radio International's web site PRI's The World, archive date 12/02/99.

One of the best singers/songwriters from Brazil. From the funky "Jack Soul Brasileiro" to the heartbreaking "Relampiano", a consistent delivery of innovative sound. I disagree with Julia on the "overproduced" criticism (btw, he was not playing solo in the NYC Festival. Marcos Suzano, the outstanding percussionist from Rio, was performing with him). But if you are looking into a pared down version of Lenine, buy his first CD "Olho de Peixe", also excellent.

~This is a wonderful album and it occupies a position of honor in my music collection. Since first hearing Lenine I have tried to spread the word to my friends and family in the US. Being as the word is in Portuguese it is a little easier said than done, but most recognize the transcendant artistry in Lenine's music. I don't think this album is overproduced, merely textured; from the beautiful liner notes and artwork therein to ambient, but not irrelevant, noises in the tracks, this disc is~~ striking in its presentation and cohesion. It kind of reminded me of a Brazilian, and far more poetic, version of Morcheeba's "The Big Calm" which I also really appreciate and am by no means demeaning here. All in all, I, too, would love to see Lenine receive more international acclaim since he is clearly deserving of it, as amply illustrated by the music within this disc.~~~~~

la musica de brasil no deja nunca de asombrarnos. Su riqueza es dificil de igualar. Lenine es una nueva y encantadora muestra de ello. Con un estilo muy distintivo y diferente de lo "clasico brasilero" con una mezcla de tropicalia con musica nordestina (forro) y algo de rock,nos enseña como la musica de este pais evoluciona permanentemente, sin dejar de ser "tipica y unicamente" brasilera. Lenine es uno de esas apariciones musicales que nos llenan de placer. Bellas canciones , bien tratadas, ritmo contagioso, en fin un cd y un musico que hacen honor a su origen y que deben poseer todos los que gusten (alguien no ?)del asombroso universo musical de brasil

I'll always think of New Year's Eve, 1999, when I hear Lenine's "Jack Soul Brasileiro"...the first time I heard this killer dance track was on the afternoon of December 31, introduced by Marco Werman, on NPR's "The World". (which, incidentally, is a fantastic place to stay up-to-date on world music) I was instantly transfixed. Can you dance while driving a car? well, I did. Samuel from Tokyo is right: I can't stop my hips from moving either. After a 2 month wait, I finally recieved my copy of "Na Pressao", and, guess what? The rest of the disc is just as good. It's an irresistable blend of danceable grooves, juicy guitar playing, really cool samples, and first rate, melodic song-writing. About my only gripe about this disc is that I can't understand the lyrics because I don't speak Portuguese! Even without the benefit of knowing the words, the music alone is well worth the price of admission. If you can't get this disc from Amazon.com, SEARCH till you find it! You'll be glad you did.

Jacksoul Brasileiro , playful , ironic , but must of all the work of a genius, on march 2002 a new work from Lenine will be available , and Olho de Peixe will be reissued on march 2003.
Lenine it's a great admirer od Jackson do Pandeiro , he uses the Maracatu , samba , rock , whatever he has near as a vehicule , Lenine's poetry and specially to play with words ( try , meu amanha )
its amazing poetry.
He is a composer , writer , guitar player , and the voices.
Lenine has toured Europe , Japan , Mexico several times , last year he was the artist that the record label BMG invited specially
to cannes to perform there in their international meeting.
hope that the US will have the luck to have a Lenine US Tour....
as we are pushing to have Lenine on Southamerica on his 2002 world tour.
Lenine the new fresh wind from Brasil.

The lyrics, as well as the music on this CD, are great.Lenine's songs are creative,playful and intelligent.You might want to learn Portuguese after hearing this CD.Lenine has soul!