A Cor do Som sounds like a high-definition summer in Rio de Janeiro. It is music that feels physically warm, characterized by the bright, singing tone of the Bahian guitar and lush, cascading synthesizer lines. The rhythm section is a masterclass in Brazilian syncopation, blending the drive of rock drumming with the intricate, multi-layered textures of regional percussion like the pandeiro and agogô.
What makes them truly distinctive is their ability to be technically demanding without ever feeling cold or academic. While they share the complexity of 70s progressive rock, they replace the genre's typical gloom with a radiant, post-Tropicalist optimism. The interplay between Armandinho's mandolin-influenced guitar work and Mú Carvalho's inventive keyboards creates a sonic palette that is uniquely Brazilian yet globally accessible.
Start with their 1978 live album from the Montreux Jazz Festival to hear the band at their most explosive and improvisational. For a more polished, song-oriented experience, 'Frutificar' captures the moment they successfully translated their instrumental virtuosity into massive radio hits without losing their experimental edge.
A Cor do Som ("The Color of Sound") is a Brazilian musical group that spun off the backing band that supported Moraes Moreira following his departure from Novos Baianos. Originally this was the name of a side project of Novos Baianos itself which members lived together and experimented with music that blended elements, from Bahia state or samba, rock, frevo, choro and baião. The name of the group was suggested by Caetano Veloso and inspired by a song by Moreira and Luis Galvão.
Shares jazz fusion, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, live recording (subgenre)
Shares jazz fusion, ocean, progressive rock, absent (signature)
Shares jazz fusion, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, absent (signature)
Shares jazz fusion, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, live recording (signature)
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