Hailing from Pernambuco, Nando Cordel is a popular songwriter also known as a modernizer of the Northeastern forro style, and particularly for his collaborations with accordionist Dominguinhos. Many top MPB artists have recorded Cordel's songs, although I have to confess I haven't heard anything yet which has really captured my attention. Here's a quick look at his work.
Nando Cordel "Folia Brasileira" (RCA, 1987)
A poppy hybrid of forro and other styles... Mostly this is alright; the accordions are good throughout (including some nice work by Dominguinhos), but the electric guitar work is fairly standard-issue, and some of the stylistic choices are questionable, particularly the bland, big-drum machine samba-reggae. Still, not bad for the style or the times. I don't know anything about this guy, but this seems okay to me. Besides, anyone who can get Martinho DaVila to guest on their album has to have something on the ball.
Nando Cordel "Grandes Sucessos" (BMG-RCA, 1998)
Really pretty horrid. As this best-of set (covering 1989-91) shows, Cordel's brand of northeastern-tinged pop became increasingly formulaic and boring; the accordions shifted to the background while a particularly annoying and uninventive synthesizer took over. I mean, I don't have anything against keyboards and synths per se, it's just that if you're going to use them, maybe you could do something more interesting than this... It's just the same, flat wheee-whush-whahh on every song. And the songs themselves aren't terribly interesting or dynamic either. Very skippable.
Nando Cordel "Serie Popular Brasileira" (BMG, 1998)
Nando Cordel "20 Supersucessos " (Universal, 2000)
Nando Cordel "Eu So Quero Um Forro" (BMG, 2000)
Nando Cordel "Serie Millennium" (Universal, 2000)
Nando Cordel "Folha, Rama, Cheiro E Flores" (Ariola, 1982)
Nando Cordel "Estrela Afoita" (Ariola, 1983)
Nando Cordel "Nando Cordel" (RCA, 1985)
Nando Cordel "E De Dar Agua Na Boca" (RCA, 1986)
Nando Cordel "Folia..." (RCA, 1987)
Nando Cordel "Puro Prazer" (RCA, 1998)
Nando Cordel "Jogo De Cintura" (BMG-Ariola, 1989)
Nando Cordel "Dengo" (BMG-Ariola, 1991)
Nando Cordel "Armadilha" (RGE, 1991)
Nando Cordel "Paixao Latina" (RGE, 1992)
Nando Cordel "Amor E Folia" (RGE, 1993)
Nando Cordel "Bateu No Dodoi" (RGE, 1994)
Nando Cordel "Jambeiro" (RGE, 1995)
Nando Cordel "Doce Harmonia - Meditacao - Projeto Instrumental" (Aconchego, 1995)
Nando Cordel "Azougue" (RGE, 1996)
Nando Cordel "Doces Cancoes - Relaxar - Projeto Instrumental" (Aconchego, 1997)
Nando Cordel "Me Chamo Nando" (RGE, 1997)
Nando Cordel "Especial" (Aconchego, 1998)
Nando Cordel "Doce Paz - Meditacao - Projeto Instrumental" (Aconchego, 1998)
Nando Cordel "Doce Luz - Meditacao - Projeto Instrumental" (Aconchego, 1998)
Nando Cordel "Doce Natureza - Meditacao - Projeto Instrumental" (Aconchego, 1999)
Nando Cordel "Dedicado As Flores - Meditacao - Projeto Instrumental" (Aconchego, 1999)
Nando Cordel "Acustico" (Aconchego, 1999)
Nando Cordel "Dedicado A Vida - Meditacao - Projeto Instrumental" (Aconchego, 2000)
Nando Cordel "Dedicado A Beleza - Meditacao - Projeto Instrumental" (Aconchego, 2000)
Nando Cordel "Bote Fe!" (Aconchego, 2001)
Nando Cordel "Tempo Bom" (Atracao, 2002)
