Documentos do Arquivo Pessoal de Gilberto Gil

Though politics informed much of Gil's writing throughout his career, Gil Luminoso focuses more on the profound poetic vision and spiritual weight of his songs from the '70s. Whether describing man's existence as "A burning wound/ A beauty/ A decay" on "A Raca Humana" or exalting in the moment on "Aqui e Agora" ("The best place in the world is here and now/ Here, someplace undefined/ Now, which is almost when"), Gil reveals a gift for crafting deceptively simple yet dense lyrics that approach the enlightened insight of a Zen koan. Local reissue maven Filippo Salvatore – whose efforts unearthing obscure Italian prog rock for Runt Distribution were documented in an earlier SF Weekly article ["The Italian Job," Aug. 16, 2006] - is also taking a look into the songwriter's past. Salvatore is resurrecting Gil's sole English-only album for its first U.S. release on his Water imprint March 27. Recorded during his London exile, Gilberto Gil 1971 finds the singer playing guitars and percussion with a bass accompaniment in a spare, psychedelic-folk mode. Some of the record celebrates his new surroundings (particularly "Crazy Pop Rock" and an upbeat remake of "Nega"), but the melancholy of exile comes through in "One O'Clock Last Morning" and an affecting version of Blind Faith's "Can't Find My Way Home." "I think it's my favorite [Gil record]," enthuses Salvatore. "It's very contemporary-sounding. I hear similarities to a lot of newer people like Devendra Banhart. Hopefully, if this goes well, we'll reissue three or four more albums [from the same era] by the end of the year." So while Gil's government work may keep him out of the studio for the time being, at least fans will have a chance to revisit some of the best works by one of the world's most important troubadours.