Dora Morelenbaumの初ソロアルバム『Pique』は、ブラジル新世代音楽を牽引する彼女の真髄を凝縮した作品。Latin Grammy受賞バンドBala Desejoの一員としての活動を経て、ソロアーティストとして新たな一歩を踏み出したDoraが、ディスコ、MPB、ソウル、R&B、ジャズといった多彩なジャンルを融合させた一枚だ。共プロデューサーのAna Frango Elétricoがもたらすインディ・ポップの感性も絶妙に加わり、伝統と現代を結ぶ橋渡しのような音楽が展開されている。

冒頭を飾る「Não Vou Te Esquecer」は、陽光に包まれるような穏やかなトラック。その後、ファンクの躍動感が際立つ「Venha Comigo」や「Sim, Não.」が続き、DoraとAnaの創造的な化学反応を実感させる。他にも「A Melhor Saída」や「Petricor」で見せるリラックスしたムードや、「VW Blue」のジャズファンク、「Pique」の輝かしいMPBなど、楽曲ごとに異なる魅力が詰まっている。

洗練されたホーンやストリングス、ファンキーなベースライン、遊び心のあるギターワークとプロダクションが絶妙に絡み合い、アルバム全体を彩る。Bala DesejoのLucas Nunes、Julia Mestre、Zé Ibarraら仲間たちが参加し、Doraの両親であるPaulaとJaques Morelenbaumもバックヴォーカルやアレンジで貢献。世代を超えた音楽の交流が、この作品に深みと新鮮さをもたらしている。

Gal CostaやBanda Black Rioを彷彿とさせつつ、Anaのプロダクションによる現代的なアプローチで新境地を開いた『Pique』。これからのブラジル音楽を語るうえで欠かせないクラシックとなるだろう。

A1. Não Vou Te Esquecer
A2. Venha Comigo
A3. Sim, Não
A4. Essa Confusão
A5. A Melhor Saída
B1. Caco
B2. Vw Blue
B3. Petricor
B4. Pique
B5. Talvez (As Canções)
B6. Nem te procurar

Pique is the sensational debut solo album from Dora Morelenbaum, one of the key talents spearheading Brazil’s new musical wave. A member of the Latin Grammy award-winning band, Bala Desejo, Dora showcases a new side to her solo productions on this special LP. Whereas Dora’s first solo EP, Vento de Beirada, was a leap of faith, Pique sees her soaring as one of Brazil’s standout stars, emboldened, emphatic but ever elegant. Building bridges between past and present, it’s a funkier, more groove-based affair, weaved together with those signature, slower, celestial tracks. Touching on disco, MPB, soul, R&B and jazz, the album is enriched with an indie pop aesthetic courtesy of fellow Brazilian star and co-producer, Ana Frango Elétrico. 

With an ethereal, enveloping air few can match, Dora’s gift shines through both the serene and the spirited songs contained within. The blissful, sun-soaked ‘Não Vou Te Esquecer’ opens, before the funk-fuelled, feel-good ‘Venha Comigo’ and ‘Sim, Não.’ give a glimpse of the creativity bursting from the production partnership between Dora and Ana Frango Elétrico. Elsewhere, the album reclines into hazy lean-back realms via ‘A Melhor Saída’ and ‘Petricor’, virtuoso jazz funk in the form of ‘VW Blue’ and radiant MPB through the album’s title track ‘Pique’.

The drumming is tight, fresh and swung, the horns and strings deftly arranged, as funk-driven basslines and strutting guitars mesh with playful production touches that give an added vibrancy to the record. It is an album that exhibits every side of Dora and one she has been involved in from the ground up, from the songwriting, singing, arrangement and production to booking the studio time and sourcing the artwork designer, Maria Cau Levy.

An exchange of musical ideas powers every great scene and Rio’s contemporary landscape is no different - a family of interconnected musicians and friends that collaborate on each other’s productions. Pique is graced by a wealth of these leading Brazilian lights including her Bala Desejo bandmates Lucas Nunes, Julia Mestre and Zé Ibarra, as well as Guilherme Lirio, Alberto Continentino and Tom Veloso to name just a handful. This exchange crosses generations merging tradition with modernity. In a full circle moment, Dora’s parents Paula and Jaques Morelenbaum, who featured in countless recordings from Tom Jobim's Nova Banda and Ryuichi Sakamoto to Gal Costa and Gilberto Gil, join on the album through backing vocals and arrangement.

As Dora explains, “Pique was an album made in motion and ended up being about just that. From the beginning, it was an album that sought to build new textures that are part of the sound landscape I envision ahead. And from these colours and textures, it builds bridges between a more traditional universe, sonically and poetically speaking, and a new perspective on songs.”

Pique sees Dora embrace a freedom through fresh forms, showcasing the depth and diversity of her creative artistry. An infinitely listenable release that nods to Brazilian greats like Gal Costa, Banda Black Rio and Lincoln Olivetti, fused with the indie pop edge of Ana’s production. The result is truly unique and sure to be a future Brazilian classic.