Where do you go After the Carnaval? Home. That’s where Zuco 103 headed following a decade of celebratory invention with its eclectic Brazil-ectro twists – home literally for Rio-born singer Lilian Vieira and home musically for her Amsterdam-based partners. The trio spent several weeks in Rio splitting their time between working with children living in the harshest conditions of the slums and garbage heaps of the sprawling city, soaking up the local ambience and channeling all that into their music.

Zuco 103 has moved away from sample-based music, which gives this album a natural, acoustic sound. Peaceful. Produced almost with a tough kind of carelessness.  After the Carnaval is a much more accessible, spontaneous and varied album than the group’s four previous releases.

After the Carnaval skillfully blends acoustic and electronic textures with elements of funk, soul, pop, rock and tropical rhythms for a fun and danceable experience.