First album after the commemoration of
Maria Betânia's 25 years of career. This one brings stronger Northeastern influences than her usual. Opens with the beautiful and heavily Northeastern "Sodade, Meu Bem, Sodade" (Zé do Norte), followed by the Bahian samba with viola de cego "Vida Vã." "Invisível" has exciting flamenco guitars framing the Iberian-inspired melody. The samba of the Carioca hills is represented by "Ilumina," while the samba of the Carioca asphalt is heard in "Medalha de São Jorge." "O tempo e a Canção" evokes the caipira (redneck) feel in a delicate seresta-inspired rendition. The mysterious title track mixes ecology and deity. "Louvação a Oxum" is a song based in the thrilling batuques of the pontos de macumba (music of the ancient Afro-Brazilian sorcery rituals). The doleful "Modinha" (
Tom Jobim/
Vinícius de Moraes) has a dramatic rendition with a beautiful violão interpretation by Jaime Alem together with
Paulo Sérgio (Santos?) clarinet. ~ Alvaro Neder