Marcos Valle - Sempre (2019)

The original Rio beach boy returns in style, with a new record of unabashedly feel-good Brazilian party music. Featuring Azymuth bassist Alex Malheiros (responsible for some of Brazils all-time funkiest low-end licks), a horn section including Valles go-to high-trumpeter Jesse Sadoc, and percussion master Armando Marcal, Sempre has all the masterful composition, exceptional musicality, and forward-thinking ideas youd expect from the Brazilian titan, and its fresher than a fruity caipirinha in the Copacabana sunshine. Updating Marcos Valles seminal boogie-era sound, Sempre spans ecstatic disco, cosmic samba, and late-night jazz-funk, drawing obvious comparisons to some of Valles late-seventies and early-eighties output. Estrelar (1983), for example, an ode to the joy of exercise, has become one of the biggest Brazilian disco hits of all time. But lyrically the new album is more closely reminiscent of Valles progressive early seventies releases. Heralding love, tolerance and living in the present, while satirising political corruption, the new release recalls a time in which Valle, together with his brother Paulo Sergio, was writing subtly subversive lyrics in order to bypass the censorship imposed by the military dictatorship, which ruled over Brazil between 1964 and 1985. The album marries compositional genius with pure pop perfection. From the blistering brass arrangements on up-tempo disco hit Olha Quem ta Chegando and the infinitely classy Vou Amanhã Saber, to the nine-minute synth heavy instrumental funk stepper Odisséia, which gradually morphs into an interplanetary samba jam, the songs are tightened and given an extra coat of gloss, by London based producer Daniel Maunick (son of Incognito frontman Bluey). More moments of boogie delight come in the form of Minha Roma (a musical nod to the famed Estrelar), and the sunshine anthem title-track Sempre. Translating as Ever, Sempre is a testament to the continual drive for development and reinvention that has defined Marcos Valles astounding six-decade career. Ever changing, ever moving forward, he began as one of the second-wave of early bossa nova composers in the sixties, writing the world famous bossa standard Summer Samba (So Nice) for his sophomore album Samba 68. After a brief stint in the States, Valle returned to Brazil, and the early 70s saw the release of four ground-breaking Valle albums which incorporated progressive rock, psychedelic influences, pop, jazz, soul and cinematic arrangements. These albums would see Valle work alongside a number of hugely influential Brazilian bands, including Milton Nascimentos backing band Som Imaginaro, the prog-rock band O Terco and jazz funk legends Azymuth. Returning back to the US in 75, Valle resided in LA, writing music for the likes of Eumir Deodato, Airto Moreira, Chicago, Sarah Vaughn and Leon Ware, before returning to Brazil once more, where after releasing a handful of hit pop records, he took a hiatus from recording. Since the mid-nineties, Marcos Valle has been experiencing a renaissance with London based label Far Out Recordings, where his approach to music has remained, as always; decidedly open to new influences, possibilities and technologies. Sempre is Marcos Valles fifth album for the label, following 2010s critically acclaimed Estatica. Just in time for summer, Sempre is out on Vinyl LP, CD and digitally 28th June 2019 on Far Out Recordings, and Marcos Valle and band will be touring Europe in May /June (see below for dates).