Marcos Valle’s 1983 self-titled hybrid of boogie, bossa nova and A.O.R. gets a welcome repress! Often referred to as Estrelar for the fact that Valle has at least two other self-titled albums (that we know of) to his credit, and because track 1 “Estrelar” is a total banger. Boogie specialist Leon Ware assists Valle on what are incidentally the album’s most soulful tracks: “Dia D,” “Mais Que Amor” and the aforementioned “Estrelar.” Also check out breezy ballad “Fogo do Sol,” swinging Rio funk almost-instrumental “Naturalmente” and the funky update of Valle’s own 1964 bossa nova tune “Samba de Verão" (aka “So Nice” or “Summer Samba”) which had become a full-blown bossa standard in the interim. This great-sounding and gorgeously packaged reissue served up by Mr Bongo is quite a breath a fresh air, as original Brazilian pressings typically trade hands for over a hundred bucks (at time of writing, there is one for sale on ’scogs for over a thousand dollars…). Recommended.

• black vinyl pressing
• original release year: 1983
• music label: Mr Bongo 2025

reviewed by hannibal chew 10/2017