Um Corpo no Mundo

When Salvador established itself as the ‘African soul’ of Brazil in the mid-20th century, it was the music of Dorival Caymmi that soundtracked its new status. His simple, poetic, guitar-led paeans to Salvador were the unadorned, rootsy counterpoint to the urban hustle of Rio's samba. Luedji Luna, as with many other Bahian musicians since, seems intent on continuing this legacy. Her music is weightless, akin to floating on calm seas, lost in the sun and the sounds and undulations of the water. Acoustic guitar sets the speed of the tide; its mellifluous grooves and arpeggios, aided by subtly dextrous bass and the flickers of hand drums, give the songs effortless swing. It's the perfect bed for Luna to add her characterful voice, gentle yet present on album opener ‘Asas’ and on the jazz spring of ‘Acalanto’, but showing real bite on ‘Eu Sou Uma Árvore Bonita’ when needing to impose her elegiac words.

Best of all though is ‘Banho de Folhas’. It became an instant summer classic when it was released in Brazil, and it is hard to resist, the addition of axé-style electric guitar and the most effervescent vocal on the album, taking you from calm seas to a beatific beach party to finish things off.