Review: Alcides Neto - Amú (Music In Exile)

Music In Exile have found another Brazilian multi-instrumentalist that's fallen in love down under with Alcides Neto's album, 'Amú'.

We love a new Brazilian superstar, whether it be from the regional models of Gilberto Gil, Tom Zé, Milton Nascimento, Seu Jorge or even the Naarm/Melbourne influenced Don Glori (he of 'Paper Can't Wrap Fire' - see review HERE).  

Well, who knew that Alcides Neto was on said album, 'Paper Can't Wrap Fire' albeit in a limited role.  So it was great to hear the singer/songwriter's single 'Canforá' that's set the the pulses racing with it's Rio-cool soul/jazz easy groove.

Having said that, we're told Neto grew up in the distinctly none coastal São Paulo and you get the idea of his influences when Alcides explains “'Canforá' comes from the camphor tree. My grandma used to keep camphor leaves soaking in ethanol next to her bed and would offer it to me for lots of different purposes. The lyrics playfully talk about how powerful camphor is and how it can heal anything. Like many of my compositions, this one is also inspired by my grandmother.”  

This all sounds a little 'Hermeto Pascoal' but that's no bad thing as on ''Carmariô' the percussion moves ya feet and the sax frees the soul (guaranteed to be coming to 'Another Sunday Afternoon at Dingwalls' soon).  And even though Neto says that the eight track album is aimed to "capture the simplicity of childhood", tracks like 'Ari, Serigio, Melo, Marco, merda' do hark to the sound to a non-Portuguese speaker like me of troubled/exiled 60s Tropicália (Caetano Veloso, Nara Leão, Gal Costa, Os Mutantes et al), especially 'Darebin' (probably?) and the magical 'Chão'.

In fact, theres's more than a couple percussive and Latin jazz-funk dance vibe tracks like 'Essa Noite',  'Chão' and 'Amuleto' which, of course, I'm going to say are too short: and you can bet they're going to get more than a few remix requests down at Music In Exile HQ for these tracks.

But wait for it,the modal/almost instrumental jazzer that completes the album, 'Role de Imigrante', is the best of the lot as it showcases the whole band even more than the rest of the album. 

And for an album that inspired by 'childhood', this is a most mature album with its release perfectly timed for his appearance at WOMADelaide Festival in Adelaide on 6th-9th March. Not currently on the WOMAD 2026 Line-up (Lineup 2026) but there's more to be annonced so you never know.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://xelon.ffm.to/amu

Artist:  Alcides Neto 

Title: Amú

Release date: 27th February, 2026

Label : Music In Exile

Catalog Number : TBC

Format:  12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp  

Alcides Neto - guitar, percussion and vocal
Ben Vanderwal - drums
Cheryl Durongpisitkul - saxophone
Hong Yang - piano
Mestre Val Boa Morte - percussion
Steve Hornby - double bass
Yael Zamir - flute

All tunes written by Alcides Neto.