This live recording by Lenine, one of Brazil's best singer-songwriters, has little of the delicate acoustics or subtle, lilting rhythms of early bossa nova performers. In short, don't expect the dulcet tones of "Girl from Ipenama." Recorded live in Paris, "In Cite" is a powerful blend of Brazil's northeast rhythms, lovely melodic songwriting and dynamic live performances.
On his last international release, "Na Pressa~o," Lenine worked with a full rock band and used plenty of studio mixing to get a meaty sound. "In Cite" manages to reproduce the same potency, but with only a hollow-body electric guitar, a five-string bass and percussion. Though only a trio, they have the exuberance of a full Carnival troupe.
Over two decades, Lenine's songs have been covered by the likes of Gilberto Gil and Marcos Suzano. It's easy to see why. His lyrics come from the heart and the music is explosive. The songs on this disc range from social protests to explorations of complex relationships, though much of the poetry of the Portuguese might be lost in translation. However, you don't need to get all the nuances of his clever lyrics to appreciate the intensity of the rhythms and his direct, honest expression.
This album should definitely go down as Lenine's best work to date.