Review: Brazilian songstress Ceu bring out Gerando na Alta featuring London-based Franco-Senegalese singer anaiis, heralding her sixth studio album, Novela. Released via Urban Jungle/ONErpm, the 12-track album is produced by Pupillo and Adrian Younge, featuring collaborations with artists like LadyBug Mecca, Loren Oden, Jensine Benitez, and DJ/producer Frankie Reyes. Novela is a collaborative masterpiece created without digital manipulation. Recorded with analog equipment, it showcases a raw, authentic sound led by Adrian Younge on keyboards, Pupillo on percussion, and Lucas Martins on bass. The album opens with 'Raiou, featuring Ladybug Mecca, drawing you into a soulful, dramatic world. This is followed by the vibrant 'Cremosa,' with rich chords and hypnotic grooves, and the sultry 'Gerando na Alta,' where Ceu and anaiis explore sisterhood through seamless Portuguese and English lyrics. Tracks like 'Crushinho' and 'Into my Novela' continue the cinematic journey, with suspenseful production and evocative storytelling. 'Mucho Oro' offers a ballad of self-expression and love, while 'High na Cachu' brings a reggae bounce. The project concludes with the solemn 'Corp e Colo' and the anthemic 'Reescreve,' delving into Brazil's turbulent history. Novela is a dynamic and bold effort, blending Brazilian culture with elements of bossa nova, soul and funk.
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