Amanaiara

The second album from Anastacia Azevedo is Brazilian, but it's not. That's where she and partner Zé Eugënio are from, and much of the music has its roots there, but it's overlaid with many different influences, from the rock of "Pe de Coco" to the Stevie Wonder funk of "Faco Amor" (which mixes with a reggae beat that's common in Azevedo's Northeastern Brazil). The couple have lived in Germany for a number of years, which has perhaps diluted the Brazilian feel, but there's still a definite MPB feel to the music here. She's a good, if not arresting singer, with a strong sense of melody, and Eugënio is a dextrous multi-instrumentalist. Overall this is a very appealing record, and while Brazil may be in its heart, its eyes look far outside.