RENATA LU Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Renata Lu is a bit of an enigma. She made a couple of much loved albums in the 1970s and did some backing vocal work on cult records by stars such as Tim Maia and Nonato Buzar. Despite this, she never became a standalone star in the world of MPB and so remains a little known figure. Her self titled 1971 debut album on Copacabana Records was a heavyweight mix US soul and funk with spicy Latin percussion, all dropped over samba and boogaloo beats. It is high energy, with lots of big horns, electric piano riffs and angular bass as well as some swooning strings. This deluxe edition marks a real landmark in the world of funk carioca.

Review: For the latest volume in their essential "Brazil 45" series of seven-inch singles, Brighton-based Mr Bongo has decided to offer up a fresh pressing of MPB star Renata Lu's superb 1971 single "Faz Tanto Tempo". You'll find the title track, a heavyweight fusion of US style soul and funk with added Latin percussion and a touch of easy listening sassiness, on side A, with original B-side "Sambaloo" on the flip. This features Lu singing over a hybrid samba/boogaloo backing track rich in jaunty bass, rasping horns and jazzy electric piano riffs. It's arguably every bit as alluring as the A-side.