Brazil has never sounded better. Even though Celso Fonseca's second album RIVE GAUCHE RIO starts on the minor key and quietly icy electronics of "O Rio Para Trás," summer quickly sets in by "Por Acaso, Pela Tarde." As always, Fonseca's vocals are solid and never forced. The instrumentation, especially the steady guitarwork, sound impeccable. The deep strings of the bass on "Un Mundo Estranho" give that track a dark beauty, while the vocal duet on "Don de Fluir" makes it as light as chiffon. Even the heartbreak of "My Broken Heart" is put into a bright and airy room by Fonseca's clear vocals and gentle guitar plucking. Simple without ever being simplistic, this album shows that Brazil is still the place to be.