Soprem Bons Ventos

Pedro Ricardo, Portuguese multi-instrumentalist, DJ and producer, explains that his debut album represents “an ode to the past, to those who came before me, connecting with my present and imagining the future.” Ricardo is currently based in Berlin, which may have inspired the album title, Soprem Bons Ventos (Fair Winds Blow in Portuguese). The overarching tone of these nine tracks is one of positive energy, but also sometimes tinged with saudade, the melancholic longing that infuses Portuguese fado music.

It's an interesting collection of tunes, which generally follow the same structure: they start with one instrument, then introduce more as the rhythm and tempo build, before dying away to return to the original refrain. Although the simple melodies are quite repetitive, some have an Indigenous, chant-like feel, such as ‘Cantar das Kandakinhas’; others have a jazzy, improv feel, such as ‘A Marcha Que o Monte Parou’. And they all feel dreamy, gentle and reflective, fitting Ricardo's own description.

My only gripe is that, at just under 36 minutes, the album is a tad short. Especially as one of the tracks (‘A Marcha Que o Monte Parou’) features twice, with a radio edit version. But that's positive criticism, isn’t it? Please, Ricardo, next time, give us more!