On the road since 2016, with 4 EPs and 4 singles released, the Recife duo Sargaço Nightclub decided that it was time to produce their first album. The album "Istmo", which can be heard on the main digital platforms as of September 11, has the participation of new and promising talents from the always fertile music scene in Pernambuco. D Mingus, Blera Alves, Jonatas Onofre, Sam Silva, Goerge Dupreux, Rogério Lins, Fernando Arroyo, Marlon Silva and Fernando Alakejá enriched the final result with their voices, instruments and creative inspirations.

Formed by Marcelo Rêgo and Sofia França, the duo Sargaço Nightclub had the desire to record a more complete work during the recording sessions of the single “Hibakusha”, in January 2019. The idea took shape and thus began to gather other songs that already they were playing live and adding tracks celebrated by the public, in live versions.

What is “Isthmus”?

A narrow strip of land that connects two parts of a continent. This is the concise definition of the word "isthmus". It can also be understood as a watershed, a path.

The opening song, “Vem pra Rua”, makes an ironic reference to the popular right-wing movements of 2016 that ended up in the current situation of the country. Inspired by Mutantes in “2001”, when they mixed country music with rock, Sofia and Marcelo created a kind of psychedelic country folk to give musical lightness to a deep political criticism. The Spanish musician living in Recife, Fernando Arroyo, makes a special appearance playing the harmonica.

"Hibakusha", the first single on the album, comes next, transporting the sound to Japan. The atomic incidents that left deep marks on the population serve as a theme. Oriental drums and vocals à la new age 80's produce an epic tone that matches perfectly with the lyrics.

“Nunca Mais”, the first song composed by Sofia França for Sargaço Nightclub, gets its plugged version here, the way it is when played at concerts. Here two great partners make their participations: Fernando Alakejá with strident solos from his Gibson SG and Marlon Silva, who had already shared vocals with Sofia in several live performances, prints his private interpretation. Marcelo Rêgo concludes with several guitar modulations during the song, as well as AD Luna and Igno Silva play drums and synths, respectively.

In sequence, “Além do Bem e do Mal” is one of the few tracks on the album that were never played live and is the result of the partnership of Marcelo Rêgo with the composer, musician and singer from Pernambuco, Sam Silva. It is undoubtedly the darkest moment on the disc. George Dupreux's sax recalls the memory of the mythical North American band Morphine and Arthur Azoubel's drums of incredible timbres are right for the occasion.

“Distante”, a song composed with Theo Araújo (Sargaço Nightclub's first guitarist) for the lyrics of Fábio Cordeiro is one of the songs that have been part of the band's repertoire since its beginnings. The most intimate moment of the disc coincides with the intertwining of the voices of Sofia França and Marcelo Rêgo, the duo's trademark. The participation of the musician and music producer D Mingus in the synths, results in a post-punk revival atmosphere.

Going further in her personal history, Sofia França brings the unprecedented “Vida em Abstract”, with a lyrics that talks about post-maternity life. The new reality when there is no more control over the situation and it becomes necessary to relearn how to live and question yourself and your past in the new condition. The ballad signals the ‘beginning of the end’ of the collection of songs recorded in the studio and features Blera Alves’s exquisite participation on vocals and the beautiful ambiences of Arthur Azoubel’s synths.

The closing takes place with “Rua da Saudade”, a song by Marcelo Rêgo that brings a love story tempered by the ‘hauntings of Recife Velho’. The composer Jonatas Onofre enriches the recording with his piano lines broken in half of the song by Marcelo Rêgo's guitar and AD Luna's drums, when the lyrics ask “so explain to me why I would turn my back on death to be able to nest ? ”.

All studio songs were captured at SB Music Studio (neighborhood of Casa Forte, North Zone of Recife) by Sammy Barros, who gave a fine finish to the instrument's tones adding elegance to the sound of the project. Editing and mixing were done by Sammy Barros in partnership with Marcelo Rêgo. The mastering was in charge of Vinicius Aquino, from Carranca Studio.

“Aquarius”, “Jeitinho Brasileiro” and “O Mundo sem Nós” - which close the album - were recorded during a live session that took place in November 2019, at Estúdio Apollo 17 (Bairro do Recife).

With this device, Sargaço Nightclub goes out in a caravan towards the crossing of this “Isthmus”, facing the dangers of the way, aiming to reach other seas and transmitting through music a message that seeks to have the dynamics and diversity of life itself as a compass .