After first listening to Arthur Verocai’s self-titled album, I can not get the thought of it off of my mind. This 1972 record became an essential album for me. In his debut, producer, composer, and singer Arthur Verocai combines the sounds of Brazilian folk and jazz while adding influences of pop, soul, and classical music to create a joyous masterpiece that makes you both find peace and want to get up and move.
The album begins with the sound of a gentle guitar to which mellow percussion and tender vocals add to tell the story of “Caboclo,” a farmer, rising with the sun to go take care of his fields. The energy that ends the opening track carries into “Pelas sombras” (Through the Shadows) on which brass is added, brightening the sound, echoing the joy of the mantra “é manhã” that Verocai sings to remind us that there is always another morning to look forward to. “Sylvia” is an instrumental song with a warm groove leading into “Presente grego” which keeps you dancing with its layered harmonies and traditional percussion. Calmly, “Dedicada a ela,” sweeps in, calming you down with a relaxed melody supported by a rich bass line. An alto creates bright whimsy and excitement on “Seriado,” and a chorus takes back the lead vocals on “Na boca do sol” colored by growing and waning synths and jazzy keys. “Velho parente” guides the listener through another gentle story on which the narrator switches from group mixed vocals to swelling horns to vibrant synths. The album celebrates its bossa nova roots in “Que mapa?” before its triumphant closer, “Karina (Domingo no Grajaù).” This fully instrumental track demonstrates that the true star of this album is its incredible instrumentation.
Arthur Verocai is a series of sunrises on warm August mornings. The complex full orchestration captures the immense warmth and joy of this album. The vocals act as only one of the many instruments to create the feeling; they do not play a leading role unlike on many other albums. Each track carries such an obvious sense of love—this album feeds the soul.
This album is for driving beside the coast with your top down and the sunrise beside you.
