Abraçaço

The third and best in a trilogy of stripped-down albums where the Brazilian legend is backed by a young rock trio, *Abracaco* (which means “Big Hug”) follows up 2007’s noisy *Ce* and 2009’s sensual and funky *Zii e Zie*. The new one, which was actually released outside the U.S. in 2012, leans more toward the second album in tone while also referencing some of the imaginative weirdness that marks Veloso’s classic ‘60s Tropicalia work—the rhythmic “Parabens” and the odd-metered and imaginatively arranged “Funk Melodico” in particular. The opener, “A Bossa Nova E Foda,” is more streamlined, and the soft samba rock of “O Imperio da Lei” is pleasant but expected, as is the rock snarl (in the spirit of *Ce*) of “Um Abracaco.” There are also several excellent songs where Veloso’s soft, vulnerable voice gets room to stretch: the intimate “Estou Triste,” the bluesy “Vinco,\" and the droney “Gayana” offer the best of what this combination of voice and a minimalist small band has to offer. This is Caetano Veloso reinvigorated, ending this phase on a high note.

Caetano Veloso's Abraçaço is the final album in the trilogy that began with Cê in 2006 and continued with Zii e Zie in 2010.