GALINHAS DO MATO

Description

Galinhas do Mato, initially released in 1985, is the last album recorded by José Afonso (1929-1987). The label Mais 5 now offers a remastered edition available. Despite his illness, a sclerosis, which prevented José Afonso from singing, the album demonstrates remarkable artistic clarity, great lucidity, and profound maturity. Deeply rooted in Portuguese popular culture, it blends oral tradition, humor, social critique, and poetry in an atmosphere of great creative freedom. The songs of Galinhas do Mato reinterpret traditional melodies and everyday stories, weaving bridges between the rural world and the urban world, between the ancestral and the contemporary. The album becomes a space of cultural resistance and a celebration of the sung word. Produced and musically directed by José Mário Branco and Júlio Pereira, this album also highlights the voices of Luís Represas, Helena Vieira, Janita Salomé, and Né Ladeiras, showcasing a collective work that celebrates the meeting between generations and the diversity of musical languages. As a farewell album, 'Galinhas do Mato' remains an essential testament to José Afonso's legacy – a timely reminder of the importance of preservation, expression, and an unwavering faith in creation, a source of inspiration and renewal.