MÁRIO NETO: SETE CIDADES

3,5 stars, really. Although labelled as a Bacamarte album, this is really a solo work from their guitarist and leader Mario Neto. So far he only did this album in 1999, playing most of the instruments with a help from Roberio Molinari on the keyboards. It does not remind me much of the original Bacamarte official release, the cult classic Depois do Fim (recorded in 1978, but only released in 1983), even if there is one track in common with it, Mirante das Estrelas. I must say that I liked this CD more than I initially thought I would, specially because I´m not fond of instrumental solo works from virtuosi instrumentists. Listening to most of them is like hearing recorded exercises of explicit displays of technique, very boring. This one, however, is not so.

Mario Neto actually proves that he can write quite melodic and pleasantly listenable (mostly) instrumental music. His style is a mix of classical, jazz and rock influences plus a bit of brazilian flavors to spice it up, sometimes sounding like the great Toninho Horta. The vocals are ok, I guess, he is not a bad singer, and the short tunes are also interesting, but the best staff are the long pieces like the opener Portais, Espírito da Terra, the aforementioned Mirante das Estrelas and the 11 minute closer Canto da Esfinge. All very well written, performed and produced, and this is quite impressive specially when you think that this complex pieces are all played by two people.

In the end I found this album to be quite good. It´s unfair to compare this one to the only "real" Bacamarte album, I really don´t get why the name of the band is on its cover. But if you like good guitar (with a few nice, short, synth solos) this is an album to consider buying. It´s better than 90% guitar players solo albums that I have heard through my life. A nice little surprise.