A pleasant record from the smooth hand of Jobim. Frequently mimicked, but seldom replicated. The orchestra lends itself to the music easily and helps to broaden the sound. The LP hold instrumentals and songs sung in both English and Portuguese. Teller of tales and maker of melodies Jobim always plays from the heart. Cave paintings, symbols and the feel of a childs hand guiding the creation of the cover art.
(TralFaz-Archive)
Though this is one of the more obscure Jobim albums, it did introduce what some believe is Jobim's masterpiece, the hypnotically revolving song "Aguas de Marco" (heard here in Portuguese and English versions). Mostly, however, the record lets listeners in on another side of Jobim, the Debussy/Villa-Lobos-inspired creator of moody instrumental tone poems for films and whatnot, with the instrumental colors filled in by Jobim's old cohort, Claus Ogerman. This was supposed to be a breakthrough for Jobim, bursting out of the bossa nova idiom into uncharted territory, yet a lot of this often undeniably beautiful music merely treads over ground that Villa-Lobos explored long before ("Train to Cordisburgo" especially). In any case, Jobim would explore his serious muse with greater success later on.
(by Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide)
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