After the Carnaval

Zuco 103

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 7, 2008)
• Original Release Date: May 26, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Six Degrees
• ASIN: B001FBSLL8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #113,662 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

XLR8R

"After the Carnaval is Zuco's big breakthrough."

Product Description

Zuco 103, founders of the sound they dub Brazilelectro, have done it again with their newest album, After the Carnaval. The bond between Rio-born vocalist/lyricist Lilian Vieira, keyboard man/producer Stefan Schmid (Munich) and drummer/producer Stefan Kruger (Amsterdam) goes back to 1998 and still results in some of the freshest Brazilian electronic fusion in the world.

In their years together, Zuco 103 have seen it all: from performing at the prestigious North Sea Jazz Festival to Bumbershoot in Seattle. They have toured the world, performing everywhere from Moscow to Tokyo.

The unique Zuco 103-sound lies in their choice of additives (Afro-Cuban, drum 'n bass, Ethiopian, West-African and dub sounds fill their compositions). On After the Carnaval, the group has moved away from sample-based music to a warmer more organic, band based sound. The new album starts with the energetic 'Nunca Mais', grooves on with

"Beija a Mim" (Kiss Me), rocks with "Pororoca", gets lightly melancholic on "The Same Way", declares love in "Cria", confronts you with "She", balances out with "Fulero", gets sensitive in "Madrugada", world-ish in "Ginga de Crian", brings you straight Brazilfunk in "Back Home", nostalgic with "Espero" and finally leaves you in a tender mood with the touching ballad "Volta".

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zuco 103 does it again, January 20, 2009

By	Jeremy Fisher "Jman" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: After The Carnaval (MP3 Download)

Once again Zuco 103 has produced an album that is an incredibly distinctive amalgamation of various music styles with a solid base in it's brasilian roots. With a much more pop influence on many songs this album has a much greater chance of wider appeal as many songs are, in my opinion, radio worthy. I'm not sure if this was intentional, however, it's greatly appreciated. Hopefully with some more exposure they will be able to tour more extensively in the US.

This album is rooted in the great brasilian rhythms and melodies that have marked their work to date. I could list the strongest tracks, however, I'd pretty much be listing 75% of their songs. It's obvious that many of these songs are just crying out to be remixed by many of the world's premier electronic composers and producers. Begrimed, with it's heavily syncopated drum track, will need a drum n bass makeover very soon. London Elektricity awaits.

Their acoustic instrumentation on this album are especially noteworthy. Fulero features a prominent melodic bluegrass lick (i've always been eager for more producers to make use of more american folk instruments). Ginga de Crianasa is dominated with a very aggressive berimbau accompaniment. It's got some attitude.

All in all a solid album from start to finish.