Grupo Batuque – Samba De Futebol

Those Brazilians really love their football -- just listen to the announcers screaming in the interludes of Grupo Batuque’s album SAMBA DE FUTEBOL. While the tracks themselves are worthwhile, they are, oddly, not as compelling as the insane football babble. A few standouts here and there: the pleasant female vocals and mid-song tempo increase of “E Ruim” or the melodic chorus on “Soberana.” Many of these tracks don’t show the technical polish that would be apparent on their later albums. While this gives them an aggressive, raw feel, it also makes them sound like field recordings (the not-quite on pitch vocals of “Ole Ola,” for example). Many of the tracks lack development, which makes you think of a street party that you’d wish would end so you can get some sleep. The actual field recording interludes don’t help, either. The album doesn’t quite reach its goal.