AMG Review of Belô Velloso

Alvaro Neder
All Music Guide

Belô Velloso is a younger singer which counts in her opening album with the important support of her uncle Caetano Veloso and her aunt Maria Betânia (which may have the opposite effect, due to the confront between the experienced ones and the novice). Belô has a beautiful timbre of voice, very similar to Marisa Monte's, as is her interpretation. The album has the merits of escaping from the stylistic dictatorship which ravages Brazilian pop music with meaningless electronics and abusive copies of American grooves. Escaping from comparisons, seven tracks out of the total of ten are unpublished material by unknown new Bahian composers. An interesting album with sensitive arrangements and a cool delivery from a singer who has a good taste for repertory, still in search of her personal expression. The album was awarded by APCA in the "Revelation" category.