APKÁ!

Brazilian singer Céu's output is not so prolific given her well-established profile over more than 15 years. This is only her fifth album, co-produced in São Paulo with drummer Pupillo and keyboard player Hervé Salters, who both play in the core band. Minimalist electronics, low-level bass and guitar frame Céu's atmospheric vocals, most of her songs involving slow flotation, with subtle synth abrasiveness lurking around the edges and in the corners. There's a soft vocal-backing surround, with a gradual increase in pacing and activity as each song drifts along.

Seu Jorge and NYC guitarist Marc Ribot make guest appearances, but their presence is subtle. There are also a pair of specially commissioned songs, by Dinho Almeida (of Boogarins) and Caetano Veloso. The latter's ‘Pardo’ is as much influenced by French pop as Brazilian tradition, while the former's ‘Make Sure Your Head is Above’ is sung in English, and has Ribot on guitar. ‘Corpocontinente’ heads to an evocative place, illustrating how Céu's songs tend to involve twinkling mood rather than snagging melodies. Many of this album's songs have a gentle sonic nature, failing to ensnare the listener inside a purely ambient realm but also coasting on too low a level to engage as up-front compositions. The end result can sometimes sound dreary rather than dreamy. The strongest exception is ‘Fênix do Amor’, with its compulsive funk guitar figure and incessantly snicking hi-hat sound, offering a touch more bite.