“Memory doesn’t age, it always remains the same.
“Memoria” is an album about my memories, my hometown, the scent and
flavours of my childhood, things I’ve read, movies I’ve watched at the cinema
and my love for music. It’s about going back home, re-establishing a link with
the past and recalling cheerful and happy memories.
“Memoria” refers specifically to the regions of Minais Gerais and the Brazilian
northeast, its hot climate, the religiousness of the people and its faith in
miracles, calling to mind images of mysterious and surreal popular tales, where
time flows slowly in an intimate dimension.”
Toco
T
Toco‘s words briefly depict the musical content of Memoria. This work
represents his artistical growth from the previous album “Outro Lugar”, which
was partially recorded in Rio de Janeiro with Roberto Menescal and other
musicians from the carioca scene and highlighted elements of bossa and
samba jazz from the 60s. “Guarapiranga”, a song from that album, has been
recently featured in the soundtrack of the movie “Silver Linings Playbook”, which
received 7 nominations and one award at the 2013 Academy Award ceremony.
In this album the artist doesn‘t abandon that tradition nor his passion for Rio De
Janeiro and its pictoresque musicians, but explores the musical world of artists
that influenced him and had inspired his artistical path: Edu Lobo, Milton
Nascimento, Arthur Verocai, Geraldo Vandre, Sergio Ricardo e Dorival Caymmi.
“Minas”, a poetic hommage to Minas Gerais, opens this magical chapter,
followed by gems recalling the life in the northeast, the geographical distance
between the inland and the litoral as the distance of an old friendship or a lost
love. “Cigana”, “Versos Perdidos”, “O Tempo è Aqui”, “Vendeval”, Rainha”: here
is the inner Brazil, far from the sea and not always jolly. Toco brings us on a
journey that ideally culminates in “Divino” and “Bate”, intimate and romantic
original compositions.
But he reminds us that Brazil means party as well, samba, joy of life, with tracks
like “Meu Rio”, “Manè”, “Sem Par” and “Breque Bom”.
The artist banded together with several musicians from his country: Robert and
Eduardo Taufic from Natal, a city located in the northeast of Brazil, Mauro
Martins, Edu Hebling, Marquinho Baboo, Ligiana Costa and Selton. Nina
Miranda, already known to the public for her collaboration with Smoke City and
Da Lata, joined this cast of amazing artists.
The album has been produced by Stefano Tirone, the mind behind S-Tone Inc.
After the previous collaborations on “Instalaçao Do Samba” (Schema, 2004)
and “Outro Lugar” (Schema, 2007) this album confirms the artistical
compatibility and affinity between the two artists.
