Reivew: Rubel - Beleza. Mas Agora A Gente Faz O Que Com Isso? (Mr Bongo)

Last years' "Seu Jorge" is back with more heralded as sophisticated Latin soul-folk-jazz beach-pop that's even more refined and chilled - could that be possible? 

'Beleza. Mas Agora A Gente Faz O Que Com Isso?' the "difficult" follow-up to 'As Palavras, Vol. 1 & 2' (see review HERE) is a gently good as the first. 

If you know Seu Jorge's 'Carolina' (Mr Bongo, 2002), Rubel's has the antedote in 'A Janela, Carolina’ that's a Portuguese version of 'A la Ventana, Carolina' by Mexico's El David Aguilar (worth check that out for a very nice whistle): what a great re-work it is!

And there's only one other cover version and that's from a similar time, Radiohead’s ‘Reckoner’, from the album 'In Rainbows', 2007 that Rubel transforms with the assistance of "Brazilian maestro Arthur Verocai" adding to the beautiful, melancholic textures through his string thand horn arrangements" - it's a fitting climax as his vocal out-Yorke's Thom's original.  

So what of the other seven tracks on the album that are all Rubel's originals. 'Feiticeiro Gozador' is an absolute dream of a guide as it's drenched in Verocai-ist strings and gentle Jobim to Nacimento vibes.  This level of low intensity is a feature of his compositions with his vocals and acoutic guitar (Ed. the album cover photo almost says it all).

It's all beatiful but if pressed, I'd say 'Noite De Réveillon' is just that bit more with a gentle trumpet solo adding to the softness of the strings whilst, having no knowlegde of Portuguese as a language, I'm guessing 'Carta De Maria' and 'Praticar a Teimosia' are the the love songs of choice.

Not the same as Mr Bongo's last album release, Nina Maia's 'Inteira', the deluxe edition (see review HERE) but there's clearly some Latin American music history links and Rubel is an important addition to it.

BUY LINK: https://mrbongo.bandcamp.com/album/beleza-mas-agora-a-gente-faz-o-que-com-isso

Artist: Rubel

Title: Beleza. Mas Agora A Gente Faz O Que Com Isso?

Release date: 17th October, 2025

Label : Mr Bongo 

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP320

Format : LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Rubel - As Palavras, Vol. 1 & 2 (Mr Bongo)

This new album by has already been heralded as sophisticated Latin soul-folk-jazz beach-pop - this years' Seu Jorge! But can it be that good?

The record label think that this debut album by Rubel is up there with the game changer albums like the debut album's by The Ramones or The Damned.  That said, Antônio Carlos Jobim might call this album nu-waveand as Rubel has gathered together the best of Brazil's musicians like Gabriel do Borel, Liniker, Luedji Luna, Tim Bernardes Ana Caetano and Mr. Bongo's own Bala Desejo (see review HERE) plus legend, Milton Nascimento.

And this talent is spread over a full 19 tracks, none longer than 4:07 ('Torto Arado' featuring Liniker & Luedji Luna) and mostly compact nuggets like the early punk singles, old wave Brazilian 'prog' of MPB has been replaced with Rubel's fusionistic take of MPB, samba, tradition folk and capoeira, baile funk, hip-hop and pop.

But don't worry about the short track length as the whole set is worth the instrumental opener (and later vocal version) of 'Forró Violento' and then it's not a two track album. Everything is a-wash with Brasilian sun. 'Na Mão do Palhaço' (produced by the Ana Frango Elétrico- see review HERE) has the Sgt. Pepper samba-psych of it and whilst Nascimento contribution is perhaps not his very best work ever, his seal of approval is proof that Rubel is one very big talent due for all the things said of this album already. 

Totally different to the Mr Bongo's last album release, Project Gemini's 'Colours & Light' (see review HERE) and their Record Store Day Brazil 45s Mix set from DJ KOCO (check out Gilles Peterson's show with a DJ KOCO mix and Mr Bongo himself, Dave Buttle, at 1hr 45mins in HERE) but as we know, they are the one of the most important purveyors of Latin American music, jazz, world and hip-hop and Rubel is too important not to get.

Artist: Rubel

Title: As Palavras, Vol. 1 & 2

Release date: 3rd May, 2024 

Label : Mr Bongo 

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP306

Format : 2XLP (at 45rpm) / CD / Digital / Bandcamp