Celso Fonseca – Turning Point

Celso Fonseca

Turning Point

(Wrasse Records)   

On this new album, Fonseca who of course served fruitful time in Gilberto Gil’s band from the early 80s stretches out, collaborating with Erika Ender and others. The notion is to mix and blend the acoustic side of Celso’s oeuvre with electronic touches.

Mais Perto De Mim sets sail on moody piano, a husky vocal cruising over the steady tempo. It sounds as though it’s looking for a film to open. Rippling electric guitar slides into the mix but somehow the bass is held back giving a touch of hesitancy as if this is a prologue. Odd snare bursts threaten a full-blooded pitch but not to be. A gently haunting tune. Next up, Like A Bossa Nova with it’s going-on-holiday feel, the soft vibraphone adding to the sway and the vocal delivery is kept light and easy. A cool electric piano takes the topline for a while. A nice airy wisp of a song.

When You Came is a romantic ode, pattering along with neat percussive touches and gentle singing mixed with synth motifs on delay. There’s a hint of Bacharach in the progression and one can envisage Ms Warwick getting hold of this. On to Yem Pra Cuidar De Mim which goes for midnight ambience, acoustic guitar being the frame and a definite slow dance interlude. The melody sounds as though it has been around for ever. Would have made a great male-female duet with say, Gal Costa ?

Desliga A Luz is a tad busier on the rhythm, with ghostly synth and a fabulous Erika Ender vocal contribution, over insistent bossa guitar. Probably my pick of the tracks in this programme. But I would have added trumpet, on delay ! Inutilidade has an element of Leslie’d guitar against chippy acoustic and the tempo is a step away from the other material here. The beat doesn’t quite settle giving an edgy feel, but the vocal is not affected. Turning Point ups the tempo and electronics and the words reflect a social crossroads of sorts. A rather winsome item, but catchy nonetheless. A much fatter bass tone would have helped the dynamic here but it all has a wispy charm.

Sparks is a song from an act we detest. Fonseca is better than this wimpy school poetry but maybe has his reasons for venturing here. O Que Move Essa Cancao evokes a dark wood, with its spooky reverb sounds. The melody hints at Eleanor Rigby ! As the tempo solidifies it takes on an effective feel but boy is it chilly. Quando Tudo Parece Quieto finds Celso’s voice at its very best, creating a highlight in the set. A rather obvious melody, perhaps but so well delivered it just works. Finally, Delicadeza floats us away on a pulsing, trippy softbeat. It’s a nice farewell.

Whilst the use of electronica gives an icy vibe too often, these beguiling melodies and Fonseca’s pleasant singing make this set a satisfying experience.

Pete Sargeant