To those with a passion for the lively and gregarious music of Brazil's '70s MPB and jazz movements, the name Marcos Resende is likely to be a familiar one; if for no other reason than the 1978 release of Festa Para Um Novo Rei, a record which stands as one of the most desirable albums of its kind amongst the style's still-fervent collector base.
Much as that album may now stand as a cult classic in its style, awareness of the fact that it was actually the group's second endeavour had been known by only a few of their fans—until recently, that is. For decades, British-based label Far Out Recordings have made it their business to bring great Brazilian music to the west and, through their efforts, Marcos Resende & Index's previously unheard eponymous debut album has at last hit shelves...no less than forty five years after it was recorded.
Taped in 1976 yet shelved shortly after, it becomes immediately clear upon spinning this lovingly-restored release that its lack of issue at the time of its recording was certainly not the result of any artistic deficiencies in the music itself. Indeed, this is prime jazz-fusion; sultry and buttery-smooth—yet never passé—the music that Resende & Index create is truly artful, despite displaying an obvious modesty that the more indulgent of their peers in the global fusion scene could by no means be relied upon to match. The nuance of Brazil's famed rhythmicality underpins these compositions, lending them a ready charm and playfulness that never undermines the gravity of these searching, inspired performances.
Appearing on shelves as a sturdy, carefully manufactured slab of black wax pressed by France's MPO, Far Out Recordings' vinyl release of Marcos Resende & Index is certainly promising in its credentials. And, true to that, it's a great sounding record.
MPO's status as a dependable, popular pressing plant belies their occasional lapses in quality but—in general—their output does indeed tend to be impressive and, in the case of this particular release, they're at their best; our copy has been pressed to high standards, with a low noise floor and clean surfaces free of any audible noise.
We did find that our example had a few instances of factory detritus on its surfaces, but nothing that couldn't be removed with a carbon fibre brush (a must-have accessory for all discerning collectors). Our copy also sits flat on the platter during playback, being free of the irritating warping which can all too often occur with new vinyl pressings. In addition to this impressive degree of quality control, the mastering is likewise striking; it's testament to the care with which the album's master tapes were handled over the intervening decades that the audio remains so crisp to begin with and, here on vinyl, it positively shimmers.
The artwork for Marcos Resende & Index's eponymous debut certainly looks the part; indeed, though the cover itself is of course manufactured to modern standards, it would nevertheless look right at home besides the genuinely vintage rarities of its era. Its aesthetics are striking and, though the barcode printed on the back cover would have been better placed as a sticker on the shrinkwrap, it's hard to find fault in the visual presentation of this release. The cover itself is also well-made, if perhaps not remarkable in terms of construction. A standard-width, non-gatefold affair wrought from midweight cardstock, the cover is sufficiently sturdy in hand to feel substantial. Indeed, considering the very reasonable £16 price point direct from the label, this is a fetchingly-presented title offered at a consumer-friendly cost. Best of all, the record is found in a high-quality generic polylined inner sleeve, a welcome yet frustratingly rare addition which only cements the extent to which Far Out Recordings are concerned with treating their every release with admirable degrees of care.
Those with a love of Brazilian jazz will find Marcos Resende & Index's eponymous debut nothing short of an essential. A long-overdue release of an album that most have never so much as heard of, this collection's lithe presentation and fluid execution are enough to set it out as a truly charming release. Far Out Recording's carefully considered vinyl release, for its part, more than lives up to the precedent set by the music.
