Reviews page 1

1. Reviews from 2004 to 2005 on page 2
2. Hih - BBC review online by Lara Bellini - 24th January 2008
3. Hih - The Guardian by Robin Denselow - 25th January 2008
4. Hih Vortex Club review
5. Hih - Songlines by D J Cliffy
6. Hih - The Times by David Hutcheon - January 26th 2008
7. Hih - Mojo by Andrew Perry - 06/2008

Mônica Vasconçelos, Hih

Every artist appreciates a good endorsement, and they don't come much better than this: "Celebrate the arrival of this beautiful vocalist to our shores... bringing us the dance and deep song of Brazil," writes Robert Wyatt on the cover of the album - and he himself appears on the album as a "special guest".

Mônica Vasconçelos is not exactly a newcomer - she has been living in the UK for 15 years - but she is certainly worth celebrating. Along with the more experimental Cibelle, she is among the most successful Brazilian musicians based here and her sixth album is predictably classy and varied. Best known for her work with Nóis 4, she is now backed by a trio led by the pianist Steve Lodder, who helped write the songs: a mixture of finely sung, jazz-edged ballads with upbeat tracks that show off her cool, easygoingst style and the rasping edge to her voice. Then there is a song by the veteran sambista Martinho da Vila, and - best of all - two duets with Wyatt. Out of the Doldrums and Still in the Dark (You Are Not My Sunshine) are gently thoughful fusions of Brazilian and British influences that are as intriguing as they are original.

"Mônica Vasconçelos, Hih" by Robon Denselow - 25th January 2008

Vortex

Seventy-two minutes of softly wafting yet propulsive Brazilian music from its leading UK-based practitioner, including two tracks involving Robert Wyatt and Alfie Benge; all this adds up to Mônica Vasconcelos's most attractive offering yet.

Her voice is pure, strong and flexible, her band ­ centred on the versatile keyboards of Steve Lodder, the muscular but sensitive bass playing of Dudley Phillips and the intelligently judged percussion of Adriano Adewale, but augmented as necessary by soloists such as saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and violinist Felipe de Souza, plus backing vocalists and additional percussionists ­ is discreet and sensitive but vigorous and exuberant where appropriate, and the songs, mostly in Portuguese with the odd dash of English, constitute Vasconcelos's strongest recorded set to date.

The two Wyatt/Benge songs are particularly memorable, both for the poignancy of their lyrics and for their pleasantly insinuating melodies, and overall this album should not only delight existing admirers but attract new ones to Vasconcelos's winsome, airy, wholly accessible music.

Vortex

Songlines

From the first few notes of her sixth album Vasconcelos leaves us in no doubt that she is one of the most sophisticated Brazilian artists to have made the UK's shores her home. During her 15 years there she has carved out a highly rewarding nicke with her jazz-orientated take on MPB (popular music of Brazil), her understanding of Brazilian music perhaps even sharpened by the geographic distance she has put between herself and her homeland. Her voice remains as charming as ever whilst displaying further nuances that come with maturity. The opening track, "Nega Deleite" is a fantastic example - a lovely 'sambossa' groove is overlaid by her playful vocals, and you just know she is having a great time singing this music.

Throughout the album she weaves an intricate lyrical tapestry - the title-track being a fine example - whilst her Anglo-Brazilian band drive her music forward with no danger of becoming over-sentimental. Later in the album she is joined by Robert Wyatt, a musician who utterly transformed the late 60s psychedelic scene, for two mixed-language collaborations, "Out of the Doldrums' and 'Still in the Dark'. Vasconcelos' latest album is her most self'assured and accomplished to date.

"Hih" by D J Cliffy

The Times

With her sixth album, the London-based native of Såo Paulo continues her expanding the pallette of bossa nova into jazzier territory than most contemporary Brazilian albums that make it to this side of the Atlantic.

Last hear singing on Robert Wyatt's Comicopera, she returns the favour here, with the Englishman adding vocals to Still in the Dark and Out of the Doldrums. More upbeat, Nega Deleite powers along on scat singing, while Arquitetura is jazzily underpinned by the pianist Steve Lodder. But just as you think you have the measure of the album, Coisa De Fome appears, with a poppy melody that sticks in your head. A fair attempt at being all things to all people.

"Mônica Vasconcelos:Hih" by David Hutcheon January 26 2008

"Hih" UK-resident Brazilian songstress's sixth.

Vasconcelos sang the long suffering wife's lament, Just As You Are, on Robert Wyatt's Comicopera, her vocal tones free of mannerism, almost boyish - it took a few plays to realise it wasn't Wyatt himself singing.

On her own turf, the Brazilian opens up her staggering range. Nega Deleite overtures on a sultry bossa nova tip, before Arquitetura shoots off into dissonant jazz, pianist Steve Lodder challenging both her, and listener, with some fearsome phrasing. Later on, she tackles Tropicálist pop (Fogo E Sal) with summery ease, and late-night piano balladry (Lágrimas Negras) with torrid emotion.

Recorded between London and Såo Paulo, and lyrically bilingual to boot, Hih boasts two co-writes with Wyatt and his wife, Alfie Benge. Still In The Dark finds Vasconcelos and Wyatt harmonising ambitiously about the loss of a life partner, while Out Of The Doldrums exquisitely celebrates music's healing power. The whole album's soaked in it

Andrew Perry - 06/2008 - Mojo