album rating: ★★★★☆
Genre: MPB / tropicália / psychedelic folk / jazz / funk / bossa nova. Índia is the fourth studio album by Gal Costa (born Maria da Graça Costa Penna Burgos, Salvador, Bahia, 1945 – São Paulo, November 2022), one of the founding figures of tropicalismo and one of the great voices of Brazilian popular music. Alongside Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Maria Bethânia and Tom Zé, Costa was part of the nucleus of the Tropicália movement from 1968 onwards. Índia was released by Philips Records in July 1973 and was recorded at Studios Phonogram in Rio de Janeiro and Eldorado in São Paulo. The production direction was by Guilherme Araújo — Costa's long-standing producer, who had given her her stage name ('Gal: Guilherme Araújo Limited') — with studio direction and coordination by Edu Mello e Souza. The musical direction was by Gilberto Gil, who had recently returned from years of forced exile in London following his clashes with the Brazilian military dictatorship. The principal arranger is Arthur Verocai (tracks including 'Presente Cotidiano' and 'Pontos de Luz'); additional arrangements by Gil himself. Among the musicians: drummer Robertinho Silva, electric guitarist Toninho Horta, bassist Luiz Alves, percussionist Chico Batera, accordionist Dominguinhos, organists Tenório Jr. and Wagner Tiso, and bossa nova architect Roberto Menescal on guitar in 'Desafinado'. The Uncut review notes that the Fond/Sound blog describes the album as Costa 'finally giving herself this unique identity as the promoter of indigenous looks and sound.' Songs include the lush title track (written by Paraguayan composer José Asunción Flores and poet Manuel Ortiz Guerrero, with Portuguese-language lyrics via José Fortuna), Caetano Veloso's 'Relance', 'Volta' and 'Da Maior Importância', and the Jobim bossa nova standard 'Desafinado'. Also included are 'Milho Verde' by Portuguese folk-protest songwriter José Afonso, 'Pontos de Luz' and 'Presente Cotidiano'. The original cover — a photograph of Costa semi-nude in indigenous Brazilian dress — was censored by the Brazilian military government. Copies were sold wrapped in a plain blue plastic bag. Costa released the uncensored cover in 2015 via Instagram; a reissue with the original artwork was released by Mr Bongo Records in 2017.
Label: Philips Records (Brazil), released July 1973. Later reissued by Mr Bongo Records (2017).
Producer: Guilherme Araújo (production direction). Musical director: Gilberto Gil. Arrangers: Arthur Verocai, Gilberto Gil, Rogério Duprat.
Recording studios: Studios Phonogram, Rio de Janeiro; Studio Eldorado, São Paulo.
Critical reception: Índia received widespread critical acclaim. Pitchfork wrote that 'with 1973's Índia, Gal Costa cemented her status as one of Brazil's biggest and most defiant stars.' Uncut described it as a record that 'embraced the experimentation of her earlier albums but framed this within a more naturalistic setting', praising Costa's 'preternatural ear for a great, appropriate melody.' Rate Your Music reviewers single out 'Pontos de Luz' — which was sampled by Kaytranada on 'Lite Spots' — as well as 'Relance', 'Volta' and 'Índia' as highlights. The Slipcue guide calls it 'highly recommended', noting the arrangements 'at times restrained enough to sound almost like French musette', praising contributions from Dominguinhos, Arthur Verocai and Roberto Menescal.
Commercial success: Índia was a major success in Brazil and consolidated Costa's standing as one of the country's preeminent popular artists. In 2011, she received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked her at number 90 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. The 2017 Mr Bongo reissue and the 2022 and 2023 anniversary editions have introduced the album to new audiences internationally.
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