Ce

Cê is at least the 40th release by Ceatano Veloso and it’s clear the 64-year-old Brazilian legend is hardly slowing down creatively. Featuring dreamy ballads, discordant funk, and angular, slashing rock, this is a delightfully diverse and clever batch of songs that alternates between soothing and edgy, often within the same tune. The lineup is straightforward — guitar, bass, and drums, with some scattered keyboards — but the song arrangements are anything but. Veloso bends traditional pop forms into unique shapes, aided by trio of sympathetic musicians a generation younger who help bring his ideas alive. The guitar work of Pedro Sá is particularly stunning, especially on “Outro,” with its sharp tempo shifts, the aptly entitled rave-up “Rocks,” and the driving “Homem.” Veloso’s vocals (sung in Portuguese) are as expressive as ever, moving from wavering falsetto to gentle croon. Cê proves that this unpredictable veteran still has a few tricks to teach the kids.