Dora Morelenbaum // Pique

Dora Morelenbaum has already made her mark as part of Bala Desejo, the shape-shifting band at the heart of Brazil’s current musical renaissance. But Pique, her solo debut LP, is something else entirely. Co-produced with Ana Frango Elétrico, it’s a groove-forward, emotionally rich record that’s sleek, soulful, and fully her own.

The album opens in bliss with “Não Vou Te Esquecer,” a sunlit reverie that sets the tone for what’s to come. From there, Pique moves with remarkable fluidity—slipping into the radiant funk-pop of “Venha Comigo” and the rubbery bounce of “Sim, Não,” then downshifting into the woozy, glassy textures of “A Melhor Saída” and “Petricor.” “VW Blue” injects a hit of jazz-funk virtuosity, while “Essa Confusão” stands out as a luminous and sharply arranged modern MPB anthem. “Caco” takes the cake as the album’s stunning centerpiece.

In Dora’s own words, the album was “made in motion”—and you feel that forward pull. Pique, like all great music, is rooted in tradition, but not tethered to it. It reaches, sways, and soars.

A modern classic? Too early to call. But it’s hard to imagine Pique not being remembered as one of the essential works of Brazil’s current wave; a quiet triumph that reveals new depths with every spin.