São Paulo Confessions

<BartGetsFamousMeme.jpeg> Milhouse (surrounded by Bart’s onlooking classmates): “Say the line, Bart!” Bart: [sighs] “Why isn’t Stereolab’s ‘Dots and Loops’ on this list!?!” Classmates: “YAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!”

Mid '90s wine bar music. The Brazilian aspect makes it both a little more interesting AND even more clichéd, somehow. This drifted by pleasantly, but it was a bit too electronic in places to hook me in fully.

I'm taken completely by surprise. I don't understand one word of this album, but it's one of the best recommendations so far! It's not perfect, but some of it is absolutely fabulous! First track was rough, but it picked up quickly. Great chill music.

pleasant but featureless. bumped up a point as it helped me sleep on a plane ride

Pleasant in a really innofensive type of way. A little bland. Wallpaper music for a dull wine bar.

Dark, smokey, sultry. Rainy, late night mood music. Reminds me of Burial, and some of the darker, more ambient projects that came out of vaporwave (see 2 8 1 4). Favorite tracks: "Sereia", "Antropofagos"

Hypnotic and seductive. Interesting atmospheres that are simultaneously textured and smooth.

In the late noughts I knew a guy who loved soft, smooth, relaxing electronica, and made a decent living as a DJ playing this stuff in posh hotels, often on Park Lane in London. Five of us went to see him play in the Dorchester one night, a small bar, and we soon realised that apart from an embarrassed couple next to us, the rest of the patrons were either well-kempt, elderly foreign businessmen or expensively and scantily dressed escorts. A lot of pricey scent was in the air. I remember in particular one white-haired gent, impeccably groomed, silently haughty while he listened to his companion talk to her friend. His companion rubbed her backside onto his front as she talked to her friend, the man impassive and aloof. Writing this, I wonder if he’s still alive, and I wonder if this album was playing.

Det är album som detta som gör listans genomgång värdefull. Så bra... Tanke: Brasilien drar ut det bästa ur typ alla artister... kanske Ny Batteri borde fara dit och skriva+spela in en EP...

Never heard of this or him. Really enjoying it. A little dated, but still sounds great, and nowhere near as dated as other electronic music from this time can be. Reminds me of some of the chill down psychedelic trance circa Northern Exposure, with bossa nova lilts and beats. Gets much more of the latter than the former after the first couple of tracks (although noone can say it's lacking in bossa from the off!), I really dig this. As others have said, good working music vibe also. Getting a 5 because its the first NEW thing this has introduced to me in a while that I've really enjoyed.

Samba-type music - took me back to Rio. Great music for either working to or chilling on the lanai.

Taken me a few days to digest this album, but Iv come to the conclusion this is an absolute masterpiece, no idea what any of the vocals mean but the whole ambience of the album is absolutely brilliant, some of the later songs reminded me of billie ellish, feel this must of be some sort of influence therefore still sounds so fresh in 2022.

Very unique and fun listen

Acid jazz good.

I love Bossa Nova and was thrilled to lean that Suba was the producer on some of my favorites like Bebel Gilberto and Arnaldo Antunes. Cebille has an ethereal voice that brings a dreamy airiness to the tracks. Overall, it leans further into electronic and trance-like repetition for 5 stars for me.

I guessed exactly what this would sound like from the album art and I was exactly right. Very, very of its time, bereft of substance and flatly mixed, but I liked its malevolent, trip-hoppy edge. RIP Suba.

Portuguese Sade. Sounds like she’s trying to cast spells on me.

Haven't heard of this before. A Serbian man making Brazillian music on paper sounds fascinating and I wish I liked it but it's so deeply mediocre. 2/5

OK. A little more complex than your average white noise blockout electronica. 2.5, but rounding down because the first and last tracks are a let-down

Another token samba album

This bored me. It just kept going and going. It never sounded any different, it never changed tempo, it just existed for an hour. It had no right going as long as it did. 2/5.

No not for me Sounds like music you're forced to listen to while on hold to a Contact Centre I've got no idea what it's doing on a list of albums you need to listen to before you die???

They must have been struggling to find enough albums for this list and had to throw this on here to make up the numbers.

I got sidetracked when listening to this album and ended up listening to some of the "Toy Story" soundtrack. That was way better than this shit.

Not sure what this is trying to be but it's not Electronic; it's not Ambient; it's not Jazz; nor is it House, it doesn't fit in the Downtempo category either as much as it seems to try and it isn't 'elevator music' either (too much going on for that) and it certainly isn't Avant-garde or even Samba either. It tries to be all of these styles and more, failing distressingly to the very end. Track #5: Antropofagos almost came close to being something of worth until a three year old was let loose with a $5 violin (I'm unsure if it's synthesized because the intonation is completely off which leads me to believe it's a human playing it), the whole song went downhill drastically after that point. Track #7: Um Dia Comum is the perfect example of throwing shit at the wall but including the parts that didn't stick. This is just little snippets of ideas that would be worth listening to if they had been developed further, instead they're just looped and forgotten about. Track #8: Sereia is another example of an under-developed (or maybe over-engineered?) song. Remove the terrible synth overlay or at best lower its presence through the track, and you could potentially have a great drum and bass track as these are the only two elements that actually work here. Overall a very insipid and wearisome album with very same-y repetitive sounds, uninteresting rhythms and terrible off-key Jazz style vocals. Plenty of tracks make you wish that something interesting would happen, sadly they never do, making this a very difficult listen. tl;dr Avoid like the plague.

Great! I really really love this

Mitar Subotić, better known under the name Suba, was a Serbian-born musician and producer who pioneered electronic music in Yugoslavia before he emigrated to Brazil, as he fell in love with the country and its musical landscape. In what was a short-lived prolific time for him, he produced this album, a single album with fellow Serbian musician Milan Mladenović under the name Angel's Breath, and Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto's acclaimed third album Tanto Tempo. During the post-production of that last mentioned album, Suba's studio caught on fire, and out of desperation, he risked his life to save the recordings. Suba would pass away a few days later, at the young age of 38. I bring all this up to say it sucks for an artist to die tragically at such a young age just as they were starting to realize their potential. I say this because São Paulo Confessions showcased his unique production style effectively. It's an eclectic mix of downtempo, bossa nova, and acid jazz, where the vibes were immaculate. This album offered a fresh electronic spin on Brazilian music that puts me in a trance, where the organic instrumentation and loops are blended into such rich, evocative soundscapes. Pair that with the few singers like Cibelle expressing their desires for freedom and happiness in the spare yet expressive Portuguese lyrics, and the experience is elevated. São Paulo Confessions is an eye-opening record from a man who was just hitting their stride. Descanse em paz.

Mid-90s nouveau samba. Wish I had heard this at the time. Excellent choice for this list.

yassss

Irgendwie erfrischend. Geil experimentell aber auch nicht total ab vom schuss. Housy latin rhythmen lass es mega groovy klingen. Irgendwie viele Gems drauf.

This was quite the beguiling slice of neo-Tropicalia which despite my love for the genre had previously passed my radar. Also love some of the references, nods to de Andrade's Manifesto Antropófago in particular....

This album is great! It even had stephen dancing to its songs. At its worst it sounds like a bad deep focus song, but then the fiddle shows up in Antropofagos and it reminds you why you like this. 5 stars. Listened to it twice.

Amazing!! Can’t stop listening to it. Tragic story, the artist died in a fire the same year was released, just one album, that’s all he left us. So damn good. So perfect. Even caught Jasper’s attention. You feel as if you’re living this album. Perfect atmosphere, reminds me of the Lost Highway soundtrack.

Loved this…would of never guessed they were from Serbia. Lo fi spacy chill theme i would play this at a party!

Dit is wel een ontdekking. Soms is het een zeer creatieve geluidenverzameling, die verrassend goed samengaat, soms trekken we diep Brazilië in en soms voeren de westerse break-beats de boventoon. Het zorgt voor een uniek en interessant geluid. Dit album zet ik zeker nog eens op, maar ik laat er wel wat tijd tussen zitten. Het heeft toch teveel muzikale impact om vaak achter elkaar te luisteren.

So sweet, love that sound

## In-Depth Review of *São Paulo Confessions* by Suba *São Paulo Confessions*, released in 1999, is a seminal album by Serbian-born producer Mitar Subotic, known as Suba. The album is a rich tapestry of electronic music infused with Brazilian rhythms, showcasing Suba's unique ability to blend traditional sounds with modern production techniques. This review will delve into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and its lasting influence, while also discussing its pros and cons. ### Lyrics The lyrics of *São Paulo Confessions* reflect the complexities of life in São Paulo, a city characterized by its vibrant culture and stark contrasts. The themes often revolve around desire, urban life, and introspection. - **Cibelle's Contributions**: The album features prominent vocals from Cibelle, whose lyrical content often explores themes of longing and the human experience. Tracks like "Tantos Desejos" (So Many Desires) encapsulate these sentiments, expressing a yearning that resonates with listeners. - **Poetic Imagery**: The lyrics are imbued with poetic imagery that paints a vivid picture of São Paulo's nightlife and emotional landscape. For instance, "Na Neblina" (In the Fog) evokes feelings of mystery and introspection, embodying the city's enigmatic atmosphere. - **Collaborative Spirit**: Suba collaborated with various artists, including Taciana Burrows and Arnaldo Antunes, each bringing their own lyrical styles that enrich the album's narrative depth. ### Music Musically, *São Paulo Confessions* is a groundbreaking work that merges genres such as electronic, acid jazz, downtempo, and Latin music. - **Eclectic Soundscapes**: The album features complex beats and intricate song structures that create an immersive listening experience. Tracks like "Samba Do Gringo Paulista" showcase Suba's ability to weave traditional Brazilian samba rhythms into contemporary electronic music. - **Instrumentation**: The use of live instrumentation alongside electronic elements is a hallmark of the album. Percussionist João Parahyba's contributions add a layer of authenticity to the tracks, grounding them in Brazilian musical traditions while allowing for innovative electronic manipulation. - **Production Techniques**: Suba’s production style is characterized by meticulous layering and textural richness. The interplay between organic sounds and electronic samples creates a lush auditory environment that invites repeated listens. ### Production Suba's production on *São Paulo Confessions* is often lauded for its sophistication and innovation. - **Studio Environment**: Recorded at Wah-Wah Studio in São Paulo, the album captures the essence of the city. Suba’s intimate knowledge of Brazilian music allowed him to create a sound that feels both local and global. - **Manipulation of Sounds**: The album exemplifies Suba’s skill in manipulating sounds to create new sonic landscapes. He blends field recordings with studio techniques to produce tracks that feel alive and dynamic. - **Legacy of Production**: Critics have noted that *São Paulo Confessions* set a new standard for Brazilian electronica. It paved the way for future artists to explore their cultural roots through modern production methods. ### Themes Thematically, *São Paulo Confessions* explores several key ideas: - **Urban Experience**: The album serves as a sonic exploration of urban life in São Paulo. It captures both the vibrancy and the darker aspects of city living—temptation, desire, and existential reflection. - **Cultural Fusion**: Suba’s work embodies a fusion of cultures—melding Serbian influences with Brazilian musical traditions. This cross-cultural dialogue enriches the album’s texture and appeal. - **Introspection and Confession**: The title itself suggests themes of revelation and introspection. Each track can be seen as a confession or an exploration of personal truths against the backdrop of a bustling metropolis. ### Influence *São Paulo Confessions* has had a lasting impact on both Brazilian music and the broader electronic genre. - **Catalyst for Electronica in Brazil**: The album is credited with helping to establish a distinct Brazilian electronica scene. It inspired numerous artists to incorporate traditional sounds into electronic formats rather than relying solely on sampled elements. - **Recognition in Global Music Circles**: The album has been included in various lists of essential albums, such as *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die*, highlighting its significance beyond Brazil. - **Continued Relevance**: Even years after its release, *São Paulo Confessions* continues to be referenced by contemporary musicians seeking to blend electronic music with organic sounds and cultural authenticity. ### Pros and Cons #### Pros - **Innovative Production**: Suba’s pioneering approach to blending electronic music with traditional Brazilian sounds creates an engaging listening experience that feels fresh even today. - **Rich Textural Quality**: The album’s layered soundscapes invite deep listening; each track reveals new details upon repeated plays. - **Cultural Significance**: It serves as an important cultural artifact that reflects the complexities of urban life in São Paulo while showcasing Brazil’s musical heritage. #### Cons - **Accessibility Issues**: Some listeners may find the fusion of genres challenging or may not connect with the Portuguese lyrics if they are not familiar with the language. - **Limited Discography**: Given Suba's untimely death shortly after this album's release, listeners are left wanting more from an artist who showed immense potential for further innovation. ### Conclusion In summary, *São Paulo Confessions* is not just an album; it is a profound exploration of life in one of the world's most dynamic cities through the lens of an artist who understood how to fuse tradition with modernity. Its rich production values, evocative lyrics, and innovative sound make it a landmark work in both Brazilian music and global electronica. Despite some accessibility challenges due to language and genre fusion, its strengths far outweigh any drawbacks. This album remains essential listening for anyone interested in understanding the evolution of contemporary music influenced by cultural diversity.

Atmosfera suave com textura sonoras impressionantes.

This is #day37 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge and here we are with "an album by the Serbian-born musician Suba—his musical account of life in that humid, foggy, and manic megalopolis". Hell, yeah, that's the album description to get me sold on. Not to mention the album title and the artwork. What else do you need? Oh, wait, the music? It's dark and sultry, with a touch of wickedness to it... It kind of sounds like Sade Adu accompanied by a supergroup consisting of Amon Tobin and Bohren & der Club of Gore, peppered with Latin and Samba, though. During the listen, I raised my eyebrows a couple of times. That was fun. I'm giving it a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day38.

Very smooth, and very groovy. A seamless mixture of classic MPB and turn-of-the-century downtempo. What I like most about this album is its willingness to push the boundaries of its sonic palette, and to take both genres to a depth that hasn’t been seen in quite this way before. Masterful.

Nice record! I like that this one focuses more on Brazilian music than Wayang which is also a great record.

Remarkably cohesive album, despite its obvious contrasts. Bossa nova is blended with electronic music, warm vocals and acoustic instrumentation with metallic FM synthesis and distorted drum machines. Weird in parts and yet still relentlessly listenable? I love it.

Absolutely blown away. What an interesting combination of sounds. I plan on returning to this one.

the funkiest I've ever felt while cleaning the kitchen. I really got into the groove :D

First impression: "6495 monthly listeners" 🤔. Second: yes, I'm one of them! I don't think this is my absolut first exposure to this album - I bought quite a bit of circa this downtempo/experimental/nujazz/fusion records around the turn of the centuries and the cover looks familiar? - but it's a first active listening experience. And an excellent one! Time tends to not be kind on ~that~ music from the era, usually, but 'São Paulo Confessions' with its vibes, textures, restrained funk and noise is way above those pastiches from similar sounding German or British producers. I read how Suba likened his experience of living in São Paulo to something out of a tropical 'Blade Runner' and this album seems like a proper expression of that. Held up beautifully and definitely derserves a spot in here. (Now do Amon Tobin, 𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵!) Faves: the whole run of the first 3 tracks, Sereia.

I really loved this. As a bassist it kills me that the best part of this is...the drums haha nice Brazilian treat.

Most songs Nice and relaxing to listen to

What a fantastic record. I have no idea how this never came to my attention in 2009.

Mid-90s nouveau samba. This is around the time of Bebel Gilberto’s crossover, and Towa Tei’s bossa nova sound. DJ lounge music was big. You can hear elements of Bjork and Tricky in this album. This downtempo sound was the counterpoint to the harder techno and electronica sound at the time. Mushroom jazz was just emerging in San Francisco. Really enjoying this one. Wish I had heard this at the time. Excellent choice for this list.

There is something about this album that sucked me in from the first 30 seconds. I ordered a physical copy so fast I could have been dreaming.

ok this is a really cool album. not the most sophisticated electronic music ive consumed this year but some really fantastic blending of brazilian jazz and techno elements. listened to this record twice today because it is so soothing and interesting to listen to

One of the most beautiful electronic albums I have heard. Had a great time with this one 9.5/10

surprisingly beautiful

This evokes its title for sure. It feels very city, very Brazilian. It is a smooth sound pleasure.

I felt pretty cool listening to this one.

Mostly delicate and mesmerizing and then occasionally fuzzy and noisy. I loved it.

More enjoyable Brazilian fare from the 1001 list… this really is a modern twist on those Brazilian sounds. Really nice and a great soundtrack for the day!

Biiig White Lotus theme energy on Antropofagos, me likey. This bloke died while trying to save newly recorded material from a fire in his studio, what a tragically incredible way for a musician to go.

I really enjoyed this. It's kind of like atmospheric world jazz or something. Pretty smooth.

Good groove for working.

Really fun and easy listening. Fantastic Brazilian flair. Nothing negative to say about it.

SHREDS

Great jem

This is marvelous, i can't believe this exists

Very Island Outpost. Very Samba. This is such a snapshot of like the electronic, chillwave, house music scene of the late 90s. It is retrofuturistic, and oddly optimistic. 5 stars no comment.

5, nuts

Funky Latin fusion!

I very much enjoy the alt rock scene coming out of South America but it’s mainly been surrounding Argentine, Chilean, and Peruvian groups so a Brazilian group was such a refreshing change of pace paired the bossa nova and samba influences on this album make it an easy 5/5 for me!

Awesome, jazzy, dark-ish beats.

Loved this - never heard it before -

This was cool. Very unique and fun. I liked it a lot.

Don't judge a book by its cover or whatever but this album cover is beautiful, and the music doesn't stray either. Perfect for in the background listening

Mä toivon, että joku on samplannut tätä liquid junkassa. Tää kuullostaa jo valmiiks ihan siltä -rummut. Siistiä soundia, elektronista mutta silti tosi perinteistä. Parhaat: Tantos Desejos, Um Dia Comum (Em Sp), Sereia, A Noite Sem Fim

Psychotropidelic

Nice Latino-esque groove on this. A number of the songs were a bit too repetitive, but I get what he was going for. It was... fun, you know? Enjoyed this a good del, but some of the songs went on too long. Top tracks: "Tantos Desejos," "Antropofagos"

Ein spannender Mix aus brasilianischer Musik und Elektro. Angenehm zu hören. Die Stimmen der Sänger/Innen passt sehr gut in die Atmosphäre. Das Album ist mir vor einigen Jahren schonmal positiv aufgefallen. 4/5

sick beatz

oh yeah baby bossa nova!!!

Never heard of Suba or any of the other artists on this album. Really enjoyed it, more so on the second listen.

I missed this one when it came out, although it would have been right up my alley. Then again, the mid 1990s were brimming with spectacular seeming experiments in electronics, beats, breaks, bass and dub effects. Not to mention the whole drum&bass hoopla and what was happening in hip hop. Still, this should / could have been bigger. Whether that warrants a place on the "1000 albums you need to hear before you die" list might be another question, given the plethora of release both from Brazil and by producers on similar paths as Suba. But should these confessions come your way, have a seat in the confession box. It should be worth your while.

good chill vibes. musica piano bar/ brasiliana

I quite liked this album, very funky fresh and felt pretty timeless. Probably wont listen to this a lot but great background music and probably club music too.

Nice and different, pretty unique. Kinda long

This was a fun one. I definitely feel like I am transported to Sao Paulo. It's very trippy and transcendental. It almost gives me a little air of Tame Impala plus like Brazil and other influences that I can't put my thumb on. I couldn't understand a word of it but I feel like I got the vibe.

Superior background sounds

Great discovery! An enjoyable fusion of Brazilian beats, traditional instrumentation and dance infused electronica. I don’t listen to many “chill out” albums these days, but if I did I would definitely consider this. A solid contender for inclusion on a Sunday morning set list at Cafe Kelvinos .

Exciting tropical sounds mixed with a fresh array of wild new tones

started slow but i liked it? this is a trip hop sampling dream

I will keep this in mind when I need beats

Pleasant background music for sitting in the sun

I have no idea what or who this is. I snuffle this sort of thing up though, so I very much enjoyed. It’s probably too long, but it’s such a vibe that I didn’t really care.

Great samba music, interesting mix of musical styles (piano, tech, percussion, etc.)

Espectacular. Me ha encantado el disco y entristecido al leer la historia de su creador y su final. Me he guardado Voce gosta y Samba do gringo paulista. Le voy a poner 4 estrellas para subirle la media.

Very cool, I loved the vibes great experiencw for my earholes

very cool spin on electronic music! I'm just rating everything a 4/5, I need to think more ...

Slightly confusing but a good listen

Solid listen, and great exposure to something different. Kind of a crazy backstory with the composer/artist dying right as the album was released, but the music stands in its own. It’s not a genre or style that I would typically listen to repeatedly, but I feel like it’s compelling enough to revisit.

Chill electronic Latin American grooves

Na Neblina is cool. I like the combo of Latin rhythm and electronica. Not a lot of notes about individual songs, but I love the energy and overall sound.

Of classy lounges Mixed with modern techno sounds Genre crash success