SONHO REAL

2001 is a good moment to shed some light upon Lô Borges. Recently covered by pop artists like Ira! (Um Girassol da Cor do Seu Cabelo), Sideral (Para Lennon e McCartney) and Patrícia Coelho (Tudo Que Você Podia Ser), besides being hyped by Skank leader, Samuel Rosa, the singer and songwriter makes a media comeback, and has been offered an album –Feira Moderna - with new versions of his songs, released early in the year on Sony. The project is alright, but if justice should be made to the Clube da Esquina member, the re-release of Sonho Real, on Dubas (owned by partner Ronaldo Bastos), is a more adequate initiative. Recorded in 1984 on Barclay/Ariola and produced by Ronaldo, it features Lô in good shape, making a type of pop music that has aged more gracefully than that of his Clube colleagues.

Sonho was an ambitious project, well taken care of. The title-track features nice orchestra arrangements and Toninho Horta’s magnificent guitar, besides Maurício Heinhorn’s unmistakable harmonica. Getting inspiration from American folk music, The Beatles, progressive rock and roots music from Minas Gerais State, other good tracks follow. Nenhum Mistério was arranged by Wagner Tiso. Even when he sounds pop, like in Vagas Estrelas, Arma Branca and Você Fica Bem Melhor Assim (with its dreaded new wave arrangement, common at the time), Lô gets satisfactory results. But it is wiser to stick to tracks like Feliz Aniversário or the instrumental Fios D’Água. Sonho Real might not be a Clube da Esquina classic, but it carries the best features of the movement. Remastered and with a new cover, it’s irresistible.

(Silvio Essinger)