Cassiano - Coleção

All Music Guide

Cassiano is one of Brazil's most important soul artists, and Coleção is a compilation of songs from the three albums he released during the '70s. The tracks drawn from Cassiano's first album are inspired by the late-'60s Motown sound, but most of the songs here are from his two following albums, and they have a sound that's more reminiscent of Marvin Gaye's music during the '70s. Some of the best songs on this compilation are from Cassiano's classic 1976 release, Cuban Soul. The beautiful ballads "Salve Essa Flor," "Coleção," and "A Lua e Eu" (a huge hit in Brazil when it was released) are all fine songs from Cuban Soul. Other standouts are the psychedelic "Casa de Pedra" and "Melissa," another beautiful song, which Cassiano wrote for his daughter. Most of the tracks are ballads, but there are some faster funk-dance songs too (e.g., "De Bar em Bar"). On the whole, Coleção is a very good introduction to the often brilliant work of Cassiano. Sadly though, some of Cassiano's best funk-oriented songs, such as "Central do Brasil" and "Onda" from Cuban Soul, are missing.

- Philip Jandovský, All Music Guide