ricardo bomba: eu sei / flutuando
Francisco Espregueira
There’s music that is simply too good to not be released. Mastered by Far Out Recordings from the cassette tapes, Ricardo Bomba’s Eu Sei / Flutuando single might not have its sound quality close to today’s standards, being a jewel of a record nonetheless. These two previously unreleased tracks of glorious Brazilian sunshine music were written and recorded in 1978 by Bomba himself - a pianist, composer, sound engineer, studio owner and former amateur skateboarding champion from Rio de Janeiro. Throughout a varied career, which included a four year stint as bandleader of Jorge Ben’s live show (78-82), Ricardo Bomba had a string of idiosyncratic, underground pop hits throughout the 80s, including the two tracks now released by the London-based imprint.
In fact, “Eu Sei” and “Flutuando” were almost doomed to total obscurity when the master tapes were binned following a ruthless studio clear out. Luckily Bomba kept a cassette tape copy from which Far Out has remastered the release for 7” vinyl/ digital. With the stunning vocals of Mariana Couto, legendary drummer Peninha who has recorded with the likes of Jorge Ben, Lincoln Olivetti or Gal Costa, and Brazilian guitarist Blimba Buarque, “Eu Sei” and “Flutuando” truly are lost gems of the late ‘70s Rio de Janeiro MPB scene. Available on vinyl, for the collectors