National Collective

Instituto is not really a group, but rather a project put together by producers/electronica artists Rica Amabis, Tejo Damasceno, Daniel Ganjaman, and Rodrigo Silveira, who invited a long list of impressive "guest" artists, mostly from the rap and mangue beat scenes, to contribute to this album. The result is without a doubt one of the best Brazilian records of recent years. The production is excellent; the sound is very fresh; and the mix of hip-hop, jungle, dub, electronica, and various traditional Brazilian music styles is totally fluent and natural-sounding. The styles of the tracks vary with the different guest artists, but still combine to create a very strong and coherent experience. On "Dia de Desfile," Rappin' Hood, in his own elegant manner, mixes hip-hop with samba. "Tabocas" was written by Rica Amabis and Tejo Damasceno, but also counts on practically the entire lineup of Z'África Brasil, who perform some interesting rap lyrics against the somber and powerful background soundscape conjured up by Damasceno and Amabis. On "Na Ladeira," Amabis works together with Pupilo, from the always exciting and much celebrated band Nação Zumbi, to create a mighty beat accompanying Roger Man's vocals. The rapper Kamau, from São Paulo, presents "Poesia de Concreto," with effectively uplifting lyrics about urban self-realization. Fred Zero Quatro, from the group Mundo Livre S/A, stands for strong lyrics and his trademark cavaquinho on "Só Vou Deixar Os Ossos," which also brings some elements of Jorge Ben and the Clash together with the luxurious electronic programming of Amabis. Several tracks are instrumental — for example "Solaris," which was written by Amabis together with several Nação Zumbi members, and sounds like psychedelic '60s rock mixed with dub and electronic samba. The listener also gets a fine sample of the unconventional and good-humored electronica of Flu. Other prominent artists contributing to this album are Otto (fresh from his excellent Sem Gravidade release) and rappers Sabotage and B. Negão. Colecao Nacional has already become a modern classic. ~ Philip Jandovský, Rovi