Caetano Veloso: Caetano Veloso (A Little More Blue, Colored Vinyl) Vinyl LP

Third self-titled album by Caetano Veloso. Also titled A Little More Blue based on the title track, Veloso recorded the album in England while he and fellow artist Gilberto Gil were exiled from Brazil by the authoritarian military dictatorship at the time. After the duo were arrested in 1969 for being 'subversive' they were held in prison for three months, followed by a further four months under house arrest (see 'Álbum Branco', the album Veloso and Gil made while under house arrest). Finally they were released on condition they leave the country, so the duo lived out their years in exile in London, England. This somber, homesick album is almost folksy at times, drifting away from the psychedelia of the Tropicalia movement and drifting towards a sound akin to Donovan, Leonard Cohen or Bob Dylan. From the opening line of 'A Little More Blue' Veloso sets the tone of the album: "One Day I had to leave my country, calm beach, palm tree / That day I couldn't even cry.." It's a rare (almost) all English language outing, with tracks like 'London, London' and 'If You Hold A Stone' maintaining a slightly more upbeat framework, while tracks like 'Maria Bethânia' and 'Asa Branca' have slivers of Veloso's more experimental side. It's a seriously solid album through and through, and this Limited Edition pressing (only 500 copies pressed on clear vinyl) is not to be slept on. Put it on during the summer heat or curl up under a blanket and lay it on the table, it'll be a constant play in your collection (as the OG Brazilian is in mine). 7 Tracks in all, released by Lilith.

• Limited Edition pressing of 500 copies
• clear vinyl
• music label: Lilith 2018

reviewed by Ralphy Corduroy 1/2019