Except for parts of "Soy Loco Por Tí América", Caetano Veloso's self-titled debut album was entirely sung in Portuguese. It's an exceptional record, full of strings, horns, and a distinct, somewhat quirky atmosphere that is very representative of the Tropicália sound of the sixties. Transa has Veloso leaving much of this past style behind, opting for a much less orchestral presentation and much more English lyrics. The strings, horns, and Tropicália psychedelia are gone, replaced by a relatively traditional band: acoustic/electric guitar, bass, and percussion.
Transa is Veloso's most intimate and raw album. It's very stripped down - at times it sounds like it could be a private acoustic concert between Veloso and the listener. The album features Veloso at the peak of his singing and songwriting powers. On the infectious "Nine Out Of Ten", skillful electric and acoustic guitar interplay supports Veloso as he describes his love of London's vibrant Portobello Road. "Nine Out Of Ten" and other songs on Transa such as "You Don't Know Me" make great use of a mix of English and Portuguese in a way Veloso had never done before. One of the two tracks sung only in Portuguese, "Mora na Filosofia", is a hypnotizingly melancholic number with an impressively pained and passionate vocal performance. Transa is a stellar album. It is a shame that Veloso was exiled to London due to the oppressive Brazilian Military Dictatorship, but he clearly made great use of his time.
