GAL COSTA レコード& CD

Review: Gal Costa is rightly considered one of the leading lights of Brazil's tropicalia scene, not least from her golden period in the late 60s, and the legacy of the late singer lives on with this reissue of one of her finest albums by Mr Bongo. India was Costa's fourth album, originally released in 1973 and instantly courting controversy after the Brazilian military censored the cover due to the shot of Costa's bikini and little else. Of course such imagery is comparatively tame these days, and instead we can focus on the music which is some of the finest MPB and tropicalia you could ever wish to hear, all led by Costa's mesmerising voice and backed by true Brazilian greats including Gilberto Gil.

Review: Last reissued in Brazil over 10 years ago and last reissued on vinyl over 20 years ago, legendary Brazilian singer Gal Costa's sixth album is a tropicalian odyssey. Reflective, soulful, touching and dynamic, Gal guides us through a sunset story of ballads ("Volta"), bossas ("Milho Verde") blues ("De Maior Importance") and beyond with an all-star troupe of musicians including Gilberto Gil, Arthur Verocai and Dominguinhos. Remastered to a touch and complete with the original cover that was banned by the Brazilian dictatorship at the time, this is the first time India has been reissued with care in decades.