Brazilian singer Rogê can safely be called a late bloomer. Although he achieved modest success with his album Rogê in 2003, it was mainly within Brazil. In the meantime, the Rio de Janeiro-born musician moved to Los Angeles due to increasing danger in the city. There he ran into producer and guitarist Thomas Brenneck (
The Budos Band), who was eager to welcome him to his newly founded label Diamond
… West. Curyman can be listened to as an anthology of Brazilian music, but also playfully cycles through many other genres. Samba, bossa nova and tropical sounds are abundant, but funk, psychedelia and sing-along pop make this record such an interesting whole. The string arrangements, provided by Arthur Verocai, a veteran who also worked with artists such as Caetano Veloso, give Curyman and nostalgic retro touch. It's a deserved late breakthrough to other parts of the world for Rogê. (JV)more
