In 2009, Mia Doi Todd traveled to Brazil to perform a handful of shows, immediately finding an affinity for the South American landscape, culture and one of its most respected musicians, Mauricio Takara. Returning to Brazil five years later, Doi Todd and Takara assembled a band of young Brazilian musicians to record a tribute to some of their favourite regional songwriters. The resulting album, Floresta, is a ten-track covers record, featuring tracks written by Tropicália and MPG legends like Caetano Veloso, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Tom Zé and Milton Nascimento.
Much of the material on Floresta translates well to Doi Todd's indie folk delivery, as guitarist Fabiano do Nascimento's seven-string sits upfront with the L.A. singer/songwriter's vulnerable voice, providing these covers with lovingly warm overtones. Given that each song was chosen due to its themes of nature and the environment, coupled with the sanctity of the stock material, Floresta is an album that runs deep with respect, devotion and awe.
(City Zen)Much of the material on Floresta translates well to Doi Todd's indie folk delivery, as guitarist Fabiano do Nascimento's seven-string sits upfront with the L.A. singer/songwriter's vulnerable voice, providing these covers with lovingly warm overtones. Given that each song was chosen due to its themes of nature and the environment, coupled with the sanctity of the stock material, Floresta is an album that runs deep with respect, devotion and awe.