CHEIRO DE VIDA

Common place for a long time in the Brazilian music scene were the formations of support bands for artists more renowned. The reasons were of a practical and financial order: having little studio material (and of low quality, sometimes) the groups could freely rehearse and then provided support in the studio for the compositions of solo artists with better equipment, also performing live with this "big-shots". So it was with Som Imagin'rio and Milton Nascimento; Os Braz'es and Gal Costa, among others.

Apparently CHEIRO DE VIDA also started this way. Perhaps the most critical aspect from them was the moving of the band to another state, which may explain sometimes why some bands are not recognized within their territories of origin. What further complicates to be successful on a national level: the bands may not be recognized by listeners from the same location from where they left, and can be seen as foreigners in the places they currently resides! Music was something difficult to do in Brazil for 40, 30 years ago (and still is!).

But let's go to the music: the interesting thing from bands who spend years playing with other artists is that they end up producing a lot of music and practicing well enough. When they can go to a studio to record their own album themselves, what it seems to happen is a flurry of styles, compositions and arrangements of all of what they would have played in the previous period and with a competence that only years in road and studio can bring. That was the feeling I had listening to the only self-titled album from CHEIRO DE VIDA. From a stantard jazz style to Indian music, the album is eclectic as it could be the entire career of a group devoted only to itself. And the nice is that this mixture work from one track to another, and have no single boring melody.

I was so tempted to give the full 5 stars, but I think it would be a bit of an exaggeration. The album is good and it sure can be a great addition to anyone's music library - so, lets go with 4.