Artist: The Ways

Title: Casual

Catalog Code: NAFG0038

Genre: Rock

Production Year: 2010

Label: Na Music

Recorded in Belém and Mixed at Mosh Studios São Paulo, the album has the melodic “Donde Estas” as overture. Title and chorus were written and sung in Spanish and the remaining lyrics are in English. Sui Generis? It can be. However, noticing the guitar riffs and the drums arrangements both based upon genuine rock and roll beat, enhanced by a Latin feel of percussions and bass lines, the whole thing will sound fitted and even natural. Pororoca’ Surf gives a Dick-Dale-like guitar riff .It is nervous and fast. Lyrics describe the feeling of surfing the most enduring wave of Earth: the Pororoca. There are also incidental effects from Amazon birds singing during the bridge. After this sonic avalanche, we have got the minimalist “Tulip Fields” a classical instance of the saying “Less is more”. The concept behind this tune is making us to think about what kind of world we are leaving to the next generation. The musical mood is shaped by using fretless bass and gentle guitar chords, progressions and overdubs. Relativity led us to imagine what it would be like if Pet Shop Boys plays a rock ‘n roll tune. At the end of the song we go deep into Brazilian roots by the addition of dozens of “Tamborim”, a native samba percussion instrument. Next song is “As it rains” a mix of Sade, Tim Maia (i.e. well-know Brazilian soul singer) and jazz, if it is even possible. Cycles engraves a progressive touch along with rhythmical ideas from “Forró”. A surprising musical encounter. After that the album is closed by “Big as Life” where we can feel a Genesis “invisible touch” along with a RAP vocal concept.  

Guitar Player Magazine has described the first Cd of The Ways - “FIRST WAY” - as “Eleven surprising songs with  good taste in arrangements, quality of musical ideas, elaborated melodies and capability of creatiing special feelings that give us distinct musical experiences in every tune”. In fact, the statement reflects the goal of the band of coming up with no boundaries music. This is the unique band’s goal. Critical praises like these has helped The Ways in the making of its second studio work entitled “CASUAL” where we can find tunes that explore musical cultures of a globalized XXI century. International rock references bump into Brazilian and Latin concepts resulting in a mix where ingredients do not stand out right on our face, they come up in a soft manner, instead.     

Gravado em Belém e mixado no Estudio MOSH em São Paulo, o CD abre com a melódica Donde Estás? Título e refrão em espanhol e letra em inglês. Sui generis? Pode ser, porém ao ouvir os arranjos de guitarra e bateria calcados no melhor do rock, galvanizados por uma percussão e linhas de baixo latinas, tudo parecerá adequado e natural. A próxima música, Pororoca´s Surf, traz o riff de guitarra no melhor estilo Dick Dale, surf music nervosa e acelerada cuja letra descreve a emoção de surfar sobre uma das ondas mais longas do planeta. Depois dessa avalanche sonora, vem a minimalista Tulip Fields, exemplo clássico da máxima de que "menos e mais", esta música, cuja a batida hipnótica remete-nos a Bruce Springsteen, leva-nos a refletir sobre o mundo que estamos deixando para a próxima geração, clima reforçado pela melodia de voz, guitarras sutis e um aveludado baixo fretless. Relativity leva-nos a imaginar como seria se o Pet Shop Boys resolvesse tocar rock, música cujo final surpreendente, explode numa bateria de escola de samba contagiante. O CD segue com As it Rains, melódica e repleta de swing, e encerra com o rock progressivo com toques de forró de Cycles, seguida de Big as a Life. Há também o bônus track que é o vídeo clip da música Sad Song (do 1º CD The First Way), cujas locações incluem cenas gravadas na belíssima praia de Atalaia, no litoral paraense.