Kassin+2

Alexandre Kassin, <a href="spotify:artist:57IX1XTNL4DPilyY5pQsaK">Moreno Veloso</a>, and Domenico Lancelotti form a musical trio, which might very well have been called a group, if it weren't for the fact that they, in rather unorthodox fashion, focus on each individual group member instead of the group as a unit. Thus, at the release of the trio's first CD in 2001, with <a href="spotify:artist:57IX1XTNL4DPilyY5pQsaK">Moreno Veloso</a> as singer, they called themselves Moreno+2. In 2003, it was Domenico's turn to stand in the limelight, and the trio called itself Domenico+2. Subsequently, with their third CD release in 2006, the trio adopted the name Kassin+2. Whatever they call themselves, Kassin, Domenico, and <a href="spotify:artist:57IX1XTNL4DPilyY5pQsaK">Moreno</a> have come to be seen as one of the hippest and most creative songwriting teams of the so-called modern MPB from Rio de Janeiro. With many variations, their music is based on the mix of bossa nova and MPB with modern pop and electronica. Of the three, <a href="spotify:artist:57IX1XTNL4DPilyY5pQsaK">Moreno Veloso</a> (who of course is the son of the much celebrated Brazilian music legend <a href="spotify:artist:7HGNYPmbDrMkylWqeFCOIQ">Caetano Veloso</a>) has proved to stand for a more "serious" and organic kind of music, while Domenico has an aptitude for irony and an obvious interest for pursuing experimental sounds. Kassin+2 lies somewhere in between the two on that scale. The Moreno+2 record was dominated by <a href="spotify:artist:57IX1XTNL4DPilyY5pQsaK">Moreno</a>'s acoustic guitar and tender yet dramatic voice. Traditional and acoustic MPB was mixed, or clashed if you will, with theremin, electronic percussion, and sound effects from a portable video game, with an often surprisingly captivating effect as a result. The CD was released by <a href="spotify:artist:20vuBdFblWUo2FCOvUzusB">David Byrne</a>'s Luaka Bop. On the Domenico+2 record, the traditional MPB took much more of a back seat in relation to modern electronica and a high degree of experimentalism. The album also offered brief appearances by illustrious artists such as <a href="spotify:artist:7HGNYPmbDrMkylWqeFCOIQ">Caetano Veloso</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0rSTXALHu0EKAawPLBdODH">Marisa Monte</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7oEkUINVIj1Nr3Wnj8tzqr">Gilberto Gil</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:6gk4ierjjSVPoZep27VfZz">Bebel Gilberto</a>. Then, in 2006, with Kassin as frontman, the album Futurismo was released (for unclear motives in three different versions, with the Japanese release being the best and most extensive one). Kassin, Domenico, and <a href="spotify:artist:57IX1XTNL4DPilyY5pQsaK">Moreno</a> also toured with singer <a href="spotify:artist:72f733zGuCPEzCSLs9wOVi">Adriana Calcanhotto</a>, then calling themselves Adriana Calcanhotto+3, and Kassin has become one of Brazil's most praised producers, working with several of the country's most legendary artists. ~ Philip Jandovský, Rovi