»When I return to Brazil, I feel an energy that I get in very few other places«, Fabiano Do Nascimento said in an interview in 2023. That was when Lendas appeared, for which the guitarist, as now again on Vila, collaborated with composer Vittor Santos. The result is eleven songs that bring together the musical gifts of both Brazilians: Do Nascimento, who also commands seven- and ten-string guitars with virtuosity, and Santos, who as a trombonist and arranger brings experience in shaping tempo, instrumentation and mood – along with a 16-piece orchestra.
Vila is a record full of heart and nostalgia, one on which the love of music is clearly audible. Where on Lendas it was still Do Nascimento’s guitar that took the leading role, with Santos building an orchestral stage around it, on Vila the instruments feel equal. One senses that this musical experiment has succeeded, and that the two virtuosi have brought the full extent of their talent together here on level terms. In places, as on »Uirapurú«, the instruments sound almost as though they are simply moving quietly along in the background.
This meticulously arranged work sounds nostalgic and light, shaped by guitar solos and long-drawn, emotional violin arrangements. Each song has a soul of its own. On »Trenzinho Imaginario«, drama emerges through the exchange between violins and guitars. The track feels mysterious, propulsive. On »Floresta Dos Sonhos«, Do Nascimento’s guitar first gently sets out the melody. A quiet, melancholic mood begins to build, while the high violins recall Japanese Ghibli anime films. In this way, an arc of tension emerges that tells a story without words. A record that shines through detail and precision while still leaving the listener space for reflection.
