Tropix

Tropix
- Perfume Do Invisvel
- Arrastarte-Ei
- Amor Pixelado
- Varanda Suspensa
- Etlica / Interldio
One of the persistent challenges facing artists is keeping things fresh. Brazilian singer CÃ©u seems to have no problem with this, however.
In her quest for a more upbeat, rhythm-driven album, she employed the production help of French native HervÃ© Salters, aka General Elektriks, who cut his teeth playing keyboards for Femi Kuti and playing with Blackalicious and Lyrics Born, and Pupillo, drummer of one of a longstanding Brazilian feature, NaÃ§ao Zumbi, as well as his country's most in-demand producer.
Working with them was a dream come true, says CÃ©u. They were able to translate her
vision into reality with Tropix, which she says is a combination of 'tropical' and 'pixel'. 'Somehow the pixel became an inspiration,' she says. 'A pixel is a small part of a big thing defragmentation as a concept. That s also why the album has a lot of arpeggiator keyboard, to capture that sound.'
Utilizing Salters keyboard mastery, CÃ©u has redefined her sound once again. She's never been purely an electronic artist; her global temperament, combined with a deep love for Brazil's indigenous sounds, shines through on every record. Tropix is no different. Any programming only adds to the organic nature of her unique style.
And that style is the result of being brought up in a musical family. Her musicologist and composer father introduced her to an array of musical forms: Root Samba, Afrobeat,
Reggae, Jazz. CÃ©u was later taken with artists like Billie Holiday, Erykah Badu, and Ella Fitzgerald. In her own music she pulls from whatever she can use to create a distinct sonic repertoire.
The SÃ£o Paulo native has received four Grammy nominations and has stormed into Billboard charts on a number of occasions, proving both her lasting power as well as her immensely attractive songwriting skills.
The arpeggiator has the honor of kicking off the record with a subtle line supporting CÃ©u's melody on 'Perfume do InvisÃvel'. The song tells the tale of one women telling another what she would do if she were invisible, inspired by Italian comic book cartoonist Milo Manara. Manara has made a career of fusing the popular with the imaginative: he's worked with famed movie producer Federico Fellini and penned covers for Marvel Comics, though he's best known for his unforgettable erotic drawings.
The beat-driven 'Arrastarte-Ei' begins with a roving bass line thanks to Lucas Martins before expanding into a Questlove-esque rhythm. Again her poetry flies into the fantastic.
'It's a love song', she says, saying that I can transform myself into the sea when my beloved is coming back from a journey.'
The emphasis on keyboards and lack of guitar a staple instrument in her catalog
allows Tropix to play with the listener's imagination in new ways.
The poppy 'Varanda Suspensa' recalls a veranda on a SÃ£o Paulo beach that she spent many hours sitting on in her youth, 'beside my grandpa, watching the landscape change the colors, looking like a tropical expressionism painting'.
Not that there aren t any guitars. One kicks off a beautiful tribute of a cover from postpunk band Fellini, also from SÃ£o Paulo. The 1989 original Chico Buarque Song honoring the legendary singer, writer, and cultural critic is frenetic and driving with a strong touch of Joy Division. CÃ©u sits back on the groove, keeping the eighties vibe intact with a well-placed synthesizer, crooning in English over the exploding harmony.
Born with such a passionate love for the music and cultures of the planet, CÃ©u has taken it all in and returned it with one of the twenty-first century's most distinctive voices. Tropix is a stunning effort created by a woman who truly knows no boundaries.
Country USA
Brand CD
Manufacturer Six Degrees
Binding Audio CD
ReleaseDate 2016-03-25
UnitCount 1
UPCs 657036123526
EANs 0657036123526

Country	USA
Brand	CD
Manufacturer	Six Degrees
Binding	Audio CD
ReleaseDate	2016-03-25
UnitCount	1
UPCs	657036123526
EANs	0657036123526

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