There was much hype and expectation around this solo debut by
DJ Dolores, who follows in the footsteps of artists like
Mundo Livre S.A.,
Nação Zumbi, Stela Campos,
Otto, and
Lenine, who all have built their careers on mixing traditional music from the Nordeste region of Brazil with contemporary styles like drum'n'bass, rap, rock, and electronic dance music. To a much higher degree than most other artist in this genre,
DJ Dolores on this album succeeds in producing a fluent and natural-sounding fusion between the modern and the traditional. The mixture of styles never comes across as forced, unnecessary, or out of place. Northeastern styles such as maracatu, coco, and forro, with their typical beats, instruments, and feminine choirs, are ever-present features of the album, together with the modern-era electronics. Two of the most interesting and direct songs of the album are the danceable "Dança da Moda" and the drum'n'bass-spiced "Samba de Dez Linhas." Although the upbeat, groovy dance music dominates the album, there are also a few down-tempo tracks, as for example the cool "Subúrbio Soul," which is also one of the album's best moments. ~ Philip Jandovský