Caetano Veloso

The Caetano Veloso CD finally arrived from Play.com over the Christmas period. The first CD seems to have been lost in the post, but Play’s no quibble policy soon had another copy on its way to me.

My first reaction was of disappointment. Probably foolishly, I selected the ‘Definitive Collection’ album, which seems to be an odd mix of material, from his earliest to his latest. As an album it doesn’t really work, but then ‘best of’ albums seldom do.

Having listened to it a few times now though I’ve found it has grown on me. Veloso has an interesting voice, not quite perfect in the way we’re used to our manufactured and highly produced music being and some of his interpretations of the Bossa and Samba rhythms are truly original. My preference though is for the later, more mellow songs, such as Odara and Coisa Mais Linda which suit Veloso’s voice much better.

If only I could speak Portuguese! Here's the critically acclaimed version of Cucurucucu, Paloma which Veloso sang in 'Hable Con Ella', the Pedro Almodovar film which first brought him to my attention.

All in all though I’m glad I stumbled across this guy.

Volver

I seem to have watched a lot of Pedro Almodovar films recently, so when Volver came on the TV I felt I was obliged to see his latest work. I was not disappointed. Another terrifically thoughtful story line, well acted, and very Spanish! The plot unfolds beautifully as the film progresses and the viewer slowly understands the intricate connections between the story lines, rather than the sudden ‘reveal’ often found in less well crafted productions. A highlight for me is that Penelope Cruz proved that she is able to play stronger women, rather than the weaker type she is normally cast as, and her performance is one of the best parts of the film.

All in all, this is possibly less jarring and deals with less contentious issues than some of Almodovar’s other films, however, it’s not a fairy tale and has the trademark non-gloss reality of films made outside the USA. Well worth watching.

Talk To Her

I watched the last of my Pedro Almodovar DVD box set last night. Talk To Her. Like the other Almodovar movies, this one deals with a difficult issue. It's the story of two men who love women who are in a coma. A compelling piece, powerfully acted, which certainly makes the viewer re-assess things. I recommend it to you - particularly if you're a fan of indie movies as a refreshing change from Hollywood gloss.

One of the great parts of the movie was the performance by Caetano Veloso singing at a party. I'd heard of this guy, but I don't think I'd ever really listened his work before. It was sublime. That's another CD on the way from Play.com!!