Brazilian singer and composer Arthur Melo turns to the ‘70s and ‘80s and the musical greats like Caetano Veloso and Milton Nascimento on his new album Mirantes Emocionais on British label Wonderfulsound. 

Leading with a new song Na Avenida Com Benito, Arthur captures a beautiful retro tropicalia feel with a modern treatment and translates that vibe visually also. It’s a groove laden outing accompanying the chase.

Arthur channels his love of director Brian de Palma and old detective films with his new video, positioning himself amongst a new generation of contemporary musicians.  It is the young composer, guitarist and singer’s return with his second single after a three-year break.

Backed by his band O Ministério da Consciência, Mirantes Emocionais is produced by Kassim (Erasmo Carlos, Caetano Veloso). The album’s title translates from Portuguese to ‘emotional viewpoints’ and has numerous film references (Arthur studied film at University) – visually it also alludes to mafia film favourites of Arthur, like Scarface. Na Avenida com Benito is an ode to the classic Brazilian samba Retalhos de Cetim by the legend Benito di Paula and talks about a broken hearted carnival goer whose girl has left him, yet this time with Arthur as Di Paula’s character,  who instead drinks cachaças at the bar to drown any sorrows.

“The cover and multiple faces represent all the emotions in the eleven tracks: sadness, love, happiness, anger, vengeance, indifference and others. Yet the idea is to observe these emotions that run through us. It’s like when you go to a high point in the city to see all the neighbourhoods from afar. It’s the same principle with the album, you look in to the soul and observe your emotions yet not being affected by them and letting them dominate how you feel”, says Arthur about his new record.

Another single ahead of the album is Alvaro Almeida. The singles’ and album artwork is by street artist DMS.

Arthur Melo, is another breakthrough act making waves from Brazil alongside contemporary artists reconfiguring the sound of the original maestros of bossa nova and tropicalia – like Sessa, Ana Frango Elétrico and Bala Desejo, who have all found a global fanbase. 

Expect more success in 2024 for Arthur and his Brazilian contemporaries, as a tropicalia renaissance continues, following the critically acclaimed albums in recent years of Sessa, Ana Frango Elétrico and Bala Desejo. 

 

Ministério da Consciência are:

André Souza – synth

Arthur Melo – voice, guitar, bass, electronic drums

Lucca Noacco – voice, guitar, bass, electronic drums and synth