What makes Viola Enluarada stand out in the Marcos Valle discography is that his sound is mostly devoid of the joy that typified past releases. There are occasional signs of that signature sunny Brazilian happiness ("Viagem"), however, Viola Enluarada is full of lyrical and musical melancholy. It's an excellent recording with fantastic arrangements that feature great use of piano and occasional participation from woodwinds. Viola Enluarada is a fine choice for Valle's best album, but those who were drawn to his work off the strength of something like the lighthearted "Samba de verão" may be a bit surprised by things like "Eu". "Eu" has Valle and a guitar in an extremely somber settling. The musician is alone in his room, failing to distract himself from thinking about lost love. "Homen do Meu Mundo" is another downtrodden number in which he laments on how the world is plagued with war and sadness. While things are generally quite mellow, early in the album Valle and his then-wife Ana Maria Valle both shine over the rapid piano lines of the addictive "Próton, elétron, neutron". Clocking in at just thirty-six minutes with nothing but great tracks, Viola Enluarada is the peak of the more introspective side of Valle's songwriting.
