Press release Simone Moreno ”Planetas”
Brazilian singer Simone Moreno is back with the album ”Planetas” (Soul Dog Records) – a journey into the sun and around the world in a swirling, dancable orbit. The follow-up to the success ”Samba Makossa” features afrobrazilian rhythms, pop, reggae and samba soul mixed with nordic melodies and aims just at one target: a constant, irresistable groove! With all songs penned by Simone with her swedish band Os Lourinhos, there’s a strongly personal mark in the music. Having toured together for more than 10 years, they have formed a heavy percussive sound that circles around Simone’s strong voice, in which there lies a concern that nobody can miss, whether you understand her billowing portuguese or not. On “Planetas”, Simone tells her story about Brazil, about her new life in Europe, about poverty problems, about gods and entities. She speaks of lifegiving water, and of the love that flows through the planetary system and sometimes reaches us here on earth.
“Janaína” brings us to a market in north-eastern Brazil, where the old men bark, the accordions wail and the girls’ feet levitate an inch above the ground. In “Zumbí”, a crazy guitar makes us dance all the way to Africa and in forró-reggae blaster “Vida de cão (Dog’s Life)”, swedish rapper Timbuktu joins forces with Simone, as she snares about a life with no work, nor money. “Cadê você” follows that path, being a mellow and haunting samba reggae groove, speaking of the kids on the streets of Salvador. “Água” was written while a monsoon rain stopped all movements one summer’s day in Bahia.
There’s a song in swedish: “För alltid” (Forever) – a duet with Hofstone, aka Anders von Hofsten, who leads Os Lourinhos and was Simone’s man for 11 years. It’s a separation song and a very special melancholic mixture of Nordic melodies and Latin American groove. “Bambakerê” takes us on a funk odyssey with bubbling organs and surdo drums, that touches down in Bahia, where the boys trance dance in popcorn baths and among saint images and the funky 6/8 groove of the cousin “Oxossi” makes us ride with S:t George on his white horse… “Meu bem” is a samba pop pearl with horns that smell of the 70’s and the title track “Planetas” is a calm and fragile samba love letter. The album is closed with “Galático”, a majestic reggae, guested by South African singer André de Lang.
“Planetas” is modern, yet eternal. Pure pop and a heavy rhythm feast in one. Do not be surprised if it’s found on the moon in 500 years. It’s already out there in the galaxy flying, and ready to dance with you.
“Planetas” was voted album of the year by various newspapers in Sweden and gained top reviews. Most recently, Simone and the album received the prestigious Manifest Prize in February 2012!
Voices from the press: ”Modern, yet eternal and the roots spread over the southern hemisphere and find their way all the way up to the North…”
”A brilliantly put together album with an own mixture of brazilian, west african, carribean and afro american influcences…”
”Sunny samba, crazy reggae, electronic beats and crispy pop – all is gathered in Moreno’s world and creates an obvious and unique style…”
”Moreno sings with a luminous voice”
Contact:
Anders von Hofsten
Von Hofsten Productions
Ada Nilssons gata 8
S-12956 Hägersten
Sweden
Tel: +46-708-492322
Email: hoffstone@hotmail.com