SOLAR (2LP) | VINYL RECORD (LP)

Gatefold 180-gram double LP version. Two years after the 2013 release of his first solo album, Sambadi (FVR 080 CD/LP), acclaimed Brazilian composer Lucas Arruda presents his second album, SOLAR. In 2012, Fabricio di Monaco (Modo Solar) introduced Arruda's music to Favorite Recordings founder Pascal Rioux, and one year later the label released Sambadi, which received great support from many international DJs and media. SOLAR is filled with Arruda's fusion style, mixing elements from his Latin musical background with his genuine admiration for jazz, soul, and funk music. On "Melt the Night," for example, Arruda asked legendary producer Leon Ware for his help, and the resultant track is reminiscent of Ware's 1980's collaborations with Marcos Valle, which perfectly merged sophisticated Californian boogie and AOR with blazing Brazilian rhythms. They also recorded a version of Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye's classic ballad "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" with the help of the beautiful voice of Guida de Palma (Jazzinho). For "Uma Onda," Arruda invited Alex Malheiros, bassist of the famous jazz band Azymuth, for a splendid tribute to their fusion sound and influence on the Brazilian music scene. "Agua" co-written with Arruda's longtime friend Fabricio di Monaco, is a beautiful ballad that perfectly illustrates Arruda's passion for soul music. On top of these great collaborations and a few more surprises, SOLAR also differs from it's predecessor in it's more elaborate production, offering an authentic and warm sound. Mostly recorded at Sala A Studio in Brazil, many drum parts were also recorded at the fully analog Ambience Studios in Finland. The mix was also done in Finland on a Neve 8108 console from 1978, using only analog technology and a Studer master tape to record the final pre-master. The result is a timeless album, which should definitely establish Lucas Arruda as one of the finest and most talented Brazilian musicians these days.