Carlos Careqa is a new composer from Paraná, settled in São Paulo since five years ago, and affiliated to the vanguarda paulistana (São Paulo's vanguard). Several very different approaches are under this umbrella designation, which can really mean radical experimentations (in popular music) with atonalism/dodecaphonism as in
Arrigo Barnabé's work (present in this album as guest singer/instrumentalist), and, as in this case, just unusual mixes of improbable sound collages (kitsch redneck-type melodies/singing style/instrumentation, Indian scales, experiences with bi-tonalism, cheesy Wedding March tenor singing, a
Cage-like track with a broken record noise, etc.) where the disruptive aspect is better represented by lyrics dealing with homosexual love and existential impasses at the face of clashes between God and technology. In spite of some really challenging treatments in several tracks, this album can effortlessly make it to mainstream dance tracks or radio waves, through the use of several contemporary grooves as pop ballads, reggae and funk, and a bit of stylized Brazilian rhythms. "Acho" had good airing in Brazil. ~ Alvaro Neder