by Philip JandovskFor this album Ney Matogrosso surprised fans and critics by engaging in collaboration with the little known Rio-based group Pedro Luis e A Parede, which brings a modern but folk-inspired sound to the music. The singer and front figure of the group -- Pedro Luis -- also does some singing, although most of the vocals are left to Ney Matogrosso. The opening track, "A Ordem é Samba," by Jackson Pandeiro, sounds very similar to the Brazilian "golden oldies" that Ney interpreted on his three previous releases between 2001 and 2003. But the best tracks on this album are the two composed by the extremely talented, though somewhat eccentric and unorthodox artist Itamar Assumpo: "Transpirao" and "Finalmente." Though very different from each other, they both seem to have been tailor-made to suit Ney's unique voice and elegant and (in a good way) melodramatic style of singing. Also very nice is the version of "Assim Assado," a song that...