Album Notes

Led by the enchanting voice, direction and performance of Aline Morales, Nunca Antes is a percussion and performance troupe that primarily plays the music of the Maracatu Nations of Recife, Brasil. Their greatest school of influence is Maracatu Estrela Brilhante de Recife, yet various groups and traditions also inspire our approach, the maracatus, afoxés and côcos of North East Brazil complemented with their own homegrown styles and sensibilities. In a multi-cultural world, Nunca Antes’ brings their raw energy and acoustic dub to the city streets. Aline Morales, native brazilian and from a family of performers, has been at the forefront of Nunca Antes’ percussion since their beginning in late 2002. Community-oriented and artistically focused they are a living sound system, manifesting themselves through song, rhythm, beat, movement and excitement.

Nick Storring in his blog “End of World Music” writes: “It is at once taut and loose, fearsome and fierce yet sensuous and effusive, militaristic yet celebratory, even (dare I say) simple and direct yet complex... Experienced live it's like a cross between the apocalypse and losing your virginity”.