Caetano Veloso Tropicalia 2 CD

TROPICALIA 2 demonstrates both that Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil bring out the best in each other, and that popular music--at least in Brazil--can be highly politicized and still beautiful and entertaining. The English translations of Gil and Veloso's lyrics provide excellent insight into their political views, albeit tempered with a slightly surrealistic hue.

The music on TROPICALIA 2 features sparser arrangements than that of later Gil albums such as QUANTA. On "Dada," Veloso and Gil sing together accompanied only by cello, acoustic guitars, bass and percussion; the result is haunting and gorgeous. "Cada Macao no seu Galho (Cho Chup)" is a lively and playful romp incorporating an abundance of Brazilian percussion. While TROPICALIA 2 doesn't incorporate many of the fuzzed-out acid-rock touches of Gil and Veloso's work from the late '60s, it does show that these two giants of Brazilian music are still as inventive, vibrant, and radical as they ever were.

Recorded at Nas Nuevas and Polygram, Rio De Janiero, Brazil, and WR, Salvador, from March to May, 1993. Includes liner notes by Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Arto Lindsay.

Engineers include: Vitor Farias, Paulo Junqueiro, Liminha.

Personnel: Caetano Veloso (vocals); Gilberto Gil (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Nara Gil (vocals); Liminha (guitar, keyboards, drum programming, percussion programming); Raphael Rabello (guitar); Pedro Sá (electric guitar); Celso Fonseca (steel guitar); Luciana Rabello (cavaquinho); Marcelo, Ras Bernardo, Perrota, Joao Daltro, Michel, Aizik, Jose Alves, Vidal (violin); Stephany, Jesuina, Arlindo Penteado (viola); Alceu Reis, Lui Coimbra, Marcio Mallard, Zamith, Moreno Veloso (cello); Lucas Santtana (flute); Jose Carlos Ramos (alto saxophone); Raul Mascarenhas (tenor saxophone); Leo Gandelman (baritone saxophone); Bidinho, Marcio Montarroyos (trumpet, flugelhorn); Serginho (trombone); Daniel Jobim, William Magalhaes (keyboards); Nico Assumpçao (6-string bass); Wilson Neves, Carlinhos Bala (drums); Beterlau (agogo); Everaldo (castanets); Nito (claves); Zeca DaCuica (cuica); Carlinhos Brown (djembe, pandeiro, surdo, timbales, snake); Canegal (ganza); Zizinho (pandeiro); Luna (surdo); Marcelo Costa, Firmino (percussion); Ramiro Mussoto (drum programming).

Recording information: Nas Nuvens (03/1993-05/1993); PolyGram, Rio De Janiero (03/1993-05/1993); WR, Salvador (03/1993-05/1993).

Photographer: Flavio Colker.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Jorge; Ramiro Mussoto; Liminha; Raphael Rabello; Armando Marcal; Caetano Veloso; Carlinhos Brown; Celso Fonseca.

Personnel includes: Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil (vocals, guitar); Nara Gil (vocals); Liminha (guitar, bass, samples, programming); Pedro Sa (electric guitar); Moreno Veloso (cello); Ze Carlos (alto saxophone); Raul Mascarenhas (tenor saxophone); Leo Gandleman (baritone saxophone); Daniel Jobim (keyboards); Dadi (bass); Carlinhos Brown (percussion).

Producers: Liminha, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso.

Rolling Stone (8/11/94, p.69) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...they've spit out a rock & roll samba that anyone who wants to know what's going to happen to pop music in the new global culture should be sinking their teeth into..."
New York Times (Publisher) (1/5/95, p.C15) - Included on Stephen Holden's list of the Top 10 Albums Of '94 - "...The songs run from the playful to the poetic."