Hey folks,

Finally, the moment you have been wishing for all summer is almost upon us!

What do you mean, 'What?'! It's the return of Journeys, of course!

This week's show sees us travel to the 'City of God' for a delve into 1960s and '70s MPB.

Música Popular Brasileira (MPB) started out in the mid 1960s as a left-wing political and artistic as well as musical movement, in opposition to the prevailing political elites of the time. These elites were characterised by military dictatorship, concentration of land ownership and good old-fashioned imperialism. Artists' criticisms of injustice, corruption and repression had to be veiled (at least thinly), as governments of the time sought to control all media output, including the arts. So a brand of popular national music was developed, that sang of love and fraternity and made abstract references to freedom and equality.

Pretty quickly, however (and despite the poverty and inequalities remaining), MPB became less synonymous with left-wing politics, and referred more to a certain aesthetic quality in the music, which blends (in various quantities) influences and elements as diverse as bossa nova, samba, traditional Brazilian 'Indian' music, Catholic plainsong (imported by the Portuguese colonisers since the 15th Century), European classical, and also contemporary American pop, soul and funk.

I'll be playing a selection of old-school MPB, featuring artists such as Gilberto Gil, Copa 7, Caetano Veloso, Tim Maia, Elis Regina, Arthur Verocai and as many more as I can squeeze in.

The Spotlight this week is on Jorge Ben. One of the greatest songwriters of all time, Ben is, rightly, phenomenally famous in his own nation, but, criminally, barely known outside. In a career that kicked off in the early 60s, Ben has released around 40 albums, combining bossa nova, samba, soul and funk (and a myriad of other influences) - and is still going strong. I'll be playing a few of my favourite tracks of his.

In a new feature, called 'Pick Your Own', I am looking for listeners' picks from within the week's theme. So if you have any favourite Brazilian tracks or artists that you want to hear... let me know! Either here and now, or by getting in touch during the show. If I like the sound of the suggestion and I have it to hand, I will play it out - otherwise I'll do my best to get hold of it for the next week's show.

I'll be playing MPB from the beginning of the 60s up to the end of the 70s, but, of course, MPB didn't stop in 1979, and the Weird But Wonderful choices this week reflect that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2QBbNyvWdY

1. Bossacucanova Feat. Adriana Calcanhotto - Previsao

Released in 2006, Bossacucanova update the traditional bossa nova sound. Ably assisted here by Adriana Calcanhotto's sultry vocal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsfMrxg5Fd4

2. BiD Ft. Seu Jorge - E Depois

Seu Jorge is well known to anyone who has seen 'The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou', where he plays Pele dos Santos (and memorably sings Life On Mars in Portuguese on the soundtrack). He also pops up in 'City of God'. BiD (Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist) collaborates with him here in 2004.

To decide which one plays the show out, get in touch during the live broadcast: [email protected] or text 'subcity' then your message to 07766 40 41 42.

If you are on Facebook you can now join the 'Journeys Radio Show' group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=51132174165

Journeys. It's a trip!

http://www.subcity.org Sundays 12-2 PM

Journeys Homepage @ Subcity Radio: http://www.subcity.org/shows/journeys

If you want to suggest a Journey get in touch!

Stu.