Estudando o samba

"Rising to prominence in the mid-'60s, alongside the Tropicálistas - his song "Parque Industrial" was a highlight on the initial "Tropicália" album - Zé's solo releases revealed his interest in "sung journalism", placing thoughtful lyrics over spare, experimental arrangements that utilised plunky, dissonant guitars and off-piste components - odd percussion, broadcast clips, typewriters - records considered challenging rather than commercial. But this album, with Zé casting his surreal eye over variants of the samba rhythm, feels like his most accessible so far ... If you're au fait with Jorge Ben's "Ben" long-player of the same period you'll recognise the brand of economy, invention and hookiness here. It's a great record, out again on CD and vinyl".

"Wherever you stand on [Zé's] placing in Brazil's musical and social pantheon, one cannot deny the astonishing boldness of Estudando o Samba, Zé's 1976 album here reissued by Mr Bongo. The influence of tropicália on this album is unmistakable but the key standout feature is the imbuement of Zé's spirit ... There is so much to be enjoyed on this album. As the title suggests, this is a 12-track study of samba, featuring everything from the sparse, groove laden trio of a samba de roda (dance circle) to the exquisite deployment of dread-inducing, foreboding samples of cries and screams. Estudando o Samba is a rare breed, simultaneously of, and ahead of its time. Learning seldom sounds this good".