Alaíde Costa - O Que Meus Calos Dizem Sobre Mim [2022]

Published on Sounds and Colours

Alaíde Costa has been singing bossa nova and samba tunes for a long time and is extremely good at it. The Brazilian's recording career dates back to the late 50s, and the slight rasp that age has given her voice works in its favor throughout O Que Meus Calos Dizem Sobre Mim. The majority of the album, which has production courtesy of Marcus Preto and Emcidia with the musical direction of Pupillo, is composed of songs written specifically for Costa. The fantastic horn and woodwind arrangements stand out in particular. Thanks to Costa's gorgeous singing, this album would still be successful in a more sparse format, and the elegance of the arrangements greatly enhances the material.

Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You [2022]

Since most albums are not even an hour these days, it's easy to look at the relatively long 81 minutes of Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You, and ask, "why?". Big Thief answers that question with their best and most diverse collection of songs. There is no clear connecting thread among these songs. The album plays like a suspiciously incredible jukebox full of folk, americana, and country-tinged music. The twang of "Spud Infinity," wherein Andrianne Lenker sings as if she always operates in country-adjacent music, shows an endearingly playful side of the band. The country of Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You reaches its apex in the sweeping melodies and fiddling of "Red Moon," a very vibrant song with a notable moment of unbridled joy ("That's my grandma!").