Tropicalia S/D, Classic or Classic, etc.

the comp has been reissued, a few times I think.

Did anybody else buy that Tropicalia box set? It was the first Costa, Gil, Veloso and Mutantes albums, along with the Tropicalia compilation, boxed together with a booklet.

Joyce & Nelson Angela and the s/t Arthur Verocai both are very similar to this.

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dre400/e420/e420463223h.jpg

here's a yousendit of what I think is the best track, "Elaeu"

http://s27.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1ER1QRCEAAYWJ3PDMWH0PPN00Z

(ps, did you ever get in contact w/my friend?)

http://www.slipcue.com/music/brazil/aa_imagesbrazil/aa_comps/68_tropicalia.gif

or here maybe?

http://www.slipcue.com/music/brazil/aa_imagesbrazil/caetano/veloso_68.gif

And I sure wish someone would do an English-language bio of Elis Regina, who's incredibly uneven as a recording artist, but certainly great and worthy of a book? But it's so tough selling those kind of books--I know that the bossa nova book by Castro didn't sell all that well, under 10,000 I think, ditto the excellent Cuba book by Ned Sublette (my friend at A Cappella edited those). And I've worked as a publishers' rep for music-book houses, so I know it's tough myself. Has anyone pitched that 33 1/3 series books on, say, "Gilberto Gil" (1968) or "Elis and Tom" or "Africa/Brasil"? Those all seem worthy. I'm just such a fan of this stuff, and so convinced it's something Americans should be much more aware of, both for musical reasons and for perspective on how bad things can be in a society obsessed with "order" and all that...and too bad that Perrone book is OP, too.

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf400/f414/f41436lfm5j.jpg

i want the other mercury one

Shakey had requested both of the Gal Costa albums, that's why I ysi'd it.

chico buarque construcao from '71 - the tile track is arranged by duprat.

bbc radio 3's mixing it interviews os mutantes sergio dias! - the programme is being broadcast as i type - followed by a gig he played in london last month. the prog is available for another week.

anyway, the Hip-O comp is all the tropicalia any normal person needs, I think; but I have to hear Mutants do "Judy in the Skies." I love Carlinhos Brown's "alfagamabetizado" album; the one after that, "Ahmet Ertegun Man" or whatever, was ultimately a failed experiment in trying to be Nilsson or John Lennon--I mean fascinating in a way, but it didn't quite come across. Big points for audacity. and the Tom Ze albums Se o caso é chorar and Estudando o samba from mid-70s are him at his least "experimental" and just plain charming. Very good.

My current favorites are Milton Nascimento's "Clube da Esquina" and the Arthur Verocai album that was reissued a year or so back.

Walking straight into the wind
Nothing to tie me down, no particular place to go
In the nearly December sun, I'm on my way
The sun scatters into guerillas, spaceships, crimes
Into lovely Claudia Cardinales, I'm on my way
Into presidents' faces, big loving kisses
Into teeth, legs, flags, bombs, and Brigitte Bardot
The sun at the newsstand fills me with joy and laziness
Who reads all this news?
I'm headed into photos and names, colors filling my eyes
My heart full of vain love, I'm on my way, why not? Why not?

She thinks about getting married
I never went back to school, I'm on my way
Nothing to tie me down, no particular place to go
I drink a Coca-Cola, she thinks about a wedding
A song consoles me, I'm headed
Into photos and names with no books or rifles
No hunger, no phone in the heart of Brazil
She doesn't know I even thought of singing on TV
The sun is so lovely
Nothing to tie me down, I'm on my way, empty pockets, empty-handed
I want to go on living love, I'm on my way, why not? Why not?

Over my head the aeroplanes/Under my feet the trucks and trains
And pointing out the highland plains/Is my nose
I organize the movement, too/I lead the carnival; I'm who
Inaugurates the monument in the midwest of a country in a pose

Long live the Bossa-sa-sa! Long live the stra-stra-straw huts!

The monument is crepe paper and silver/The "green-eyed mulatta"
Hides the "backland moonlight" with her hair behind the forest
The monument has no door/An entrance is an old crooked narrow street
And on its knee a smiling ugly dead child sticks out his hand

Long live the forest la-la-land! Long live the mulatta-ta-ta!

In the courtyard there's a swimming pool/With blue waters from Bahia
The coconut trees speak and the Northeastern breeze and lighthouses
In its right hand it has a rose bush/Authenticating the eternal spring
And in the garden the vultures stroll all day amongst the sunflowers

Long live Maria-ia-ia! Long live Bahia-ia-ia!

On its left wrist a Western shoot-out/In its veins little blood runs
But its heart swings to samba's tambourine
It emits dissonant chords/Over five thousand loudspeakers
Ladies and gentlemen, it sets its big eyes on me

Long live Iracema-ma-ma! Long live Ipanema-ma-ma!

Sunday the "Best of Bossa" is on/Monday is blue Monday for him
Tuesday he's down on the farm, however/The monument is very modern
It didn't say anything about the pattern of my new suit
"To hell with everything else" my dear

Long live "A Banda"-da-da! Carmen Miranda-da-da
Long live "A Banda"-da-da! Carmen Miranda-da-da
Long live "A Banda"-da-da! Carmen Miranda-da-da

Tropicalia: A Revolution in Brazilian Culture
October 22, 2005 – January 8, 2006
Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago Avenue

Brazilian art. Design. Film. Dance. Revolutionary music.
Tropicalia, one of the most significant cultural movements to emerge from South America in the last five decades, marked a true revolution in Brazilian music, visual arts, theater, and cinema, while also influencing advertising, fashion, and television. Inspired by the writings of Oswald de Andrade, one of the founding figures of Brazilian modernism, the movement took its name from an installation created in 1967 by the young Brazilian artist Hélio Oiticica, whose work embraced an aesthetic of informality, interactivity, and cultural hybridity. Tropicália also became the title of one of the most celebrated albums in Brazilian music history, featuring Caetano Veloso and others.

This exhibition revisits this seminal moment in Brazilian culture, examining tropicalismo as a true force in popular culture and a continuing source of inspiration for several generations of artists, writers, and musicians. It consists of major works from the 1967 re-creation of the original New Brazilian Objectivity exhibition, and works by numerous artists including Lygia Clark, Lygia Pape, and Antônio Dias; a survey of films; excerpts from concerts by the tropicalist musicians; and examples of advertising, fashion, television clips, and artist-designed theater sets. The historical component is complemented by a contemporary section that assesses the impact of tropicalismo on contemporary art and culture. New commissions by musicians and artists include works by Arto Lindsay, Marepe, Ernesto Neto, Rivane Neuenschwander, and Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, among others.

Guest-curated by New York-based independent curator Carlos Basualdo, this exhibition is co-organized by the MCA, Chicago, and The Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York. The MCA presentation is coordinated by Assistant Curator Julie Rodrigues Widholm.

Tropicalia website

Rogerio Duprat's album isn't that good. well, maybe it is, but it's not really what i was expecting. it's more of a lounge album. there are some tripped out moments on it and some nice funky drums, but i've only listened to it once or twice.

not sure what the Comedia Del Arte thing is you're talking about. if you want some of the freakier tropicalia albums, you should get the second s/t Gal Costa, the Gilberto Gil's
1969" (wicked trippy), or the Os Brazoes s/t cd (backing band on the first few Costa cds)

uh, don't mind me, I had the title wrong: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:q2ja7ia2g78r

"you should get the second s/t Gal Costa, the Gilberto Gil's 1969" (wicked trippy)"

Got those.

"the Os Brazoes s/t cd (backing band on the first few Costa cds)"

never even heard of this...? I don't remember these guys getting a mention in Tropical Truth.

oh, the third mutantes album. definitely pick this up. it's super silly.

you can get the Os Brazoes cd at dusty

Tom Ze - Estudando O Samba
Gilberto Gil - Expresso 222
Gilberto Gil/Jorge Ben - Gil e Jorge
Som Imaginario - s/t and mantaco do porto

I've been devouring this stuff lately. The Soul Jazz comp got me going last year and since then I've picked up the first five Os Mutantes, Rita Lee's second album (possibly pick of the bunch), Africa Brazil by Jorge Ben, Lobo by Edu Lobo, the Som Imaginario, Gil e Jorge, Caetano Veloso's self-titled, Gilberto Gil's self-titled... I think that's about it. It's pretty much all fantastic.

Going by what Beta says, this might be post-Tropicalia, but Via Lactea, the follow-up to Lo the Borges sneakers album (how cool is that cover!?), also has some great, great, dreamy arrangements and accompaniment. So good. Also has a different version of Club de Esquina, although I can't say if it's better or worse than the original, as I haven't heard it...

Yeah, Lo Borges and his chums from Minas Gerais were not tropicalistas, but I love love love that whole "dreamy" sound, as you describe it, gnarly. Clube da Esquina 2 (from 1978) by Milton Nascimento is simply one of my favourite albums ever.

I want the sneakers album!
http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/s91649.jpg

Check out Vento de Maio from La Via Lactea... his voice and the guitar, oh oh oh oh oh. Apparently his sister sings on it too.

The sneakers album is going for £95 secondhand on Amazon.

Or $19.99 on ebay.

Hahahaha!

Does Louis Jagger like Os Mutantes?

Nick, if you run across any of the earlier Gal Costa albums, I recommend them as well.

Aye, I've had a browse around but they're either not available or else expensive as hell.

i don't really think Tom Ze fits neatly into any category. i know he was in with the tropicalistas in the late sixties, but i think the connection ends there.
and the lady @ Aquarius spells her name Windy, fwiw. sorry for the nitpick, but i like her name

Os Mutantes are playing Kentish Town Forum July 27th! I'm away that weekend though :(

i'm going to see if i can get the uk gigs recorded. if i can i'll make it available to download.

if you don't mind me asking, how come it is billed as "os mutantes meet jd twitch"? are you collaborating or something? either way it is going to be awesome

i've been working on a track with sergio dias which we will perform before os mutantes play their set. basically i have written the backing and sergio has written lyrics which he will sing and also add some guitar parts. if we have enough time to rehearse beforehand some other members of the band will contribute parts to it too. i will also be playing records.

ps - i kind of wish it hadn't been billed like that. i may get lynched by the tropicalia purists.

nah, they'll love it, stirmonster. sounds great.

can't seem to find the tracklist for the new Universal Latino comp--anyone got it? does anyone else feel as though the (excellent) Soul Jazz comp might get outside of tropicália proper, with the Jorge Ben track for example? the Hip-O Tropicália Essentials is OP, I guess, and a real good one-disc overview.

Caetano Veloso's first three solo albums are self-titled!

Oops, many xposts. to Nick S.

Great thread! I've been looking for more places to branch out in my exploration of Tropicalia music, and this thread has given me a lot of ideas. Like a lot of people, I guess it was the Soul Jazz comp from last year that kicked my interest into high gear (I did already have the first Os Mutantes album, but that one hadn't spurred me on in quite the same way, though it is good). Since then, I've picked up one each solo album by Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso, both excellent. Obviously there's still quite a bit more out there.

Btw, don't know if people have seen this, but it's apparently a clip from Brazilian TV from 1968 with Gilberto Gil performing with Os Mutantes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbv3M-AdxC0

the guy at my fave record store has a copy of the brilliant first album by Secos e Molhados and won't sell it to me. he keeps playing it in store and everyone wants it, but so does he. they're pretty much a funky Os Mutantes. a bit of googling turns up mp3s of their first 2 albums.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrxFusyX6ds&mode=related&search=

Dusty has the CD of the first two albums in stock for $9.99 and yeah, it's excellent.

Brazilian music is really just a bottomless pot of riches. been collecting to stuff for years and still continually find out about new things to investigate ... almost every album I pick up has something to recommend it.

i picked up that first secos e molhados in sao paulo earlier in the year. so good! good to see the 2nd one is on cd.

Another clip of Os Mutantes (and I think there's a glimpse of Tom Ze in the audience):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2EKghlmIyQ&mode=related&search=

Stir - do you know whether the show at the Forum ends at 11 or later? It seems like a lot of stuff to fit in if it ends early.

I'm trying to persuade some people to come and it doesn't seem to say on the trocabrahma website.

it's on until 2am (possibly 3).

Just saw this today:

---

Jardim Elétrico: A Tribute to Os Mutantes

FORMAT: CD
RUNNING TIME: 64' 34''
CATALOGUE: MDCP054
TRACKS: 15
DATE OF RELEASE: JULY 21st, 2007
EXTRAS: Insert poster drawn by Arnaldo Baptista from Os Mutantes, plus booklet by Black Arrow Studio & Press (US).

Since the early Nineties, Os Mutantes finally gained recognition as one of the most original, bizarre band coming from Brasil during the psychedelic era. Thanks to the support of fans like Kurt Cobain, David Byrne and Beck, the Mutantes legend spread and their music, effortless mixing pop and experimentalism that’s both playful and weird, suddenly reaching new audiences.At last the impact made by Arnaldo Baptista, Sergio Dias and Rita Lee on future generations became clear. Now a bunch of musicians hailing from countries as diverse as Italy, United States, Brasil and United Kingdom, gather together on this disc to celebrate the wild imagination and the outstanding power of the Mutantes' songs. Nothing less than a labour of love, "Jardim Elétrico: A Tribute to Os Mutantes" is a way to remind us how great their music is, and how much the work of this band still reverberates through time. Some of the artists on this tribute are well-known, others still struggle in the underground, but what they have in common is an unabashed love for this trio and their crazy, lighthearted passion for fun and experimentation.
Time hasn’t diminished the driving exuberance and the unmistakable vibe that is the real essence of Os Mutantes: they are still alive and kicking, playing out there and probably touring in your country. Look for them and you will even find a Jardim Elétrico!
Trackilist:

Stop The Wheel "Top top"
Jennifer Gentle "Panis et circenses"
Father Murphy "Ave Lucifer"
Sean Lennon and Yuka Honda "Trem fantasma"
White Flag "Mysterious White Roses" (Os Mutantes unreleased song, taken from a 1968 movie)
Tater Toz "Bat Macumba"
Littlebrown "Senhor f."
Residual Echoes "A minha menina"
Wondermints "Arnaldo Said"
Pillar and Tongues "Magica"
Oswald "Dois mil e um"
Gomma Workshop "O relogio"
Franklin Delano/GRES Unidos Do Berimbau "Adeus, Maria Fulo"
The Earlies "Ave Gengis Khan"
Fabio Recco & Bia Mendes (Beto Salmon remix) "Tecnicolor"

"My dear Friends, it's been an honour for us Mutantes to be receiving this kind of warmth and recognition from the youth who's going to change the musical face of this century, we are so very proud of you all, and
so grateful in our hearts for this homage, I wish that our music can always touch your hearts and the magic that you do...this CD is a beautifull gesture, thank you all so very much..." Sérgio Dias, Os Mutantes
Thanks to the support of Sergio Dias and Windish Agency (Chicago, US) Jardim Elétrico will be available as official merchandase at every Os Mutantes show.

For any further information, please feel free to contact Frederico f. (Madcap Collective) feder✧✧✧@malede✧✧✧.i✧ or Marco Damiani (Silly Boy Ent.) sillyboy✧✧✧@hotm✧✧✧.c✧✧

(Marco D. posts here, of course, and can doubtless say more.)

I just got the Secos e Molhados 1st. How come the chick who does vocals for every track didn't get her head severed head a plate for the album cover?? Shame! WTF!! IT'S A GUY! Movel over Michael Quercio!

Anyway, yeah, this is great stuff. Not so keen on the boogie-woogie sounding number (so many good 197-whatever albums tainted by dud boogie woogie number), but then it's followed by that one track with the ridonculous bassline, so it's all fine in the end.

free os mutantes show in the park in SF sunday! :D

Got the tribute album the other day, will listen over the weekend...

Brazilian music is really just a bottomless pot of riches. been collecting to stuff for years and still continually find out about new things to investigate ... almost every album I pick up has something to recommend it.

-- Stormy Davis, Friday, July 6, 2007 12:45 AM (1 week ago) Bookmark Link

so otm

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111616420

Arthur Verocai: Return Of A Brazilian Secret Egon from Stones Throw piece

wo

need to get that s/t

me too

ya heard

huh never heard of him before - sounds great must find

just got the verocai, very nice

i have that Ivan Lins album. picked it up because verocai produced it. it kinda sux. luckily i picked it up for a buck and it sells for 25-35$ (if i were ever to actually sell stuff on ebay)

I saw Os Mutantes tonight. WOW. I actually liked the tracks from the new album the best. What a KILLER live band.

I'm hoping to see the DC area show in October. How many original members are in the group?

I saw the re-formed Os Mutantes a couple of years ago in NYC. They were great. The Baptista brothers are there from the original line-up. No Rita Lee - they had the singer Zelia Duncan sort of taking her place.

I'm seeing them TONIGHT in Vancouver! Really stoked by the positive comments. If anyone's going tonight note the venue has been changed to the Rio.

the Verocai is nice, not really very tropicaliaish tho (or very funky - kinda surprised at its DJ cachet tbh) Nice orchestral stuff

really digging this one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAAFzOUYgc0&feature=related

It's only one of the Baptista brothers now. But whatever. The band is EXCELLENT. And the main dude is one of the best guitar players I've ever seen in my life.

So much positive energy and awesome jamming. Loved it.

Secos & Molhados - Sempre. Dusty Groove has this, but as far as I'm aware, the group only put out two albums in 1973 and 74. Anyone know what this is?

I have a comp with both albums on it, maybe its that...?

I'm pretty sure it is a new "best of" - google found me a list of 14 tracks, which appeared to be a mix of the two albums. MAybe remastered or something.

There is also a live album of the original line-up, and I think one that was cut by the two other guys after Ney left that came out under the Secos name.

I think I am that Trend Person who goes around professing general love of Tropicalia based on having one compilation where he can't remember any of the tracks or artists other than Os Mutantes.

congrats

seeing mutantes on saturday

Last month's Mutantes show I was at was a real rave-up. What a band!

oh god this was awful.

no rita lee = gtfo imo

they played a new song called "baghdad blues" :( :( :(

Just saw the movie doc "Beyond Ipanema: Brazilian Waves in Global Music" last night at the AFI theater in suburban DC (the movie's showing just one more time there--Thurs. Oct. 8th). In it one of the guys from Os Mutantes says (and I'm paraphrasing)"I contacted Rita Lee when we were reforming the group, she said she wasn't interested." So they moved on and hired someone else.

As for the movie, its goal seems to be to show every non-Brazilian artist who has espoused an interest in Brazilian music since the 1980s. So you get interviews with members of Theivery Corporation,MIA, Diblo, and mentions of Os Mutantes performing at the Pitchfork festival. The movie does offer some cool old footage(Carmen Miranda, tropicalia, beach shots) and some interesting interviews (author Ruy Castro), and Harlem kids playing samba, but there's way too much Devandra Barnhart saying "wow, man I love tropicalia," David Byrne talking about buying records, and some guy badmouthing that damn kids music like the Rolling Stones that was so clearly less challenging than bossa nova (kinda funny I guess). Trying to cover Brazilian music in 90 minutes is impossible of course and so it's easy to name performers who were left out of this flick. I'd reccommend seeing it anyway, but just don't expect much.

Os Mutantes live, in English, in color in 1969 with an orchestra on French TV

Wow, thanks!

one of the other tropicalia threads
Tropicalia

Just discovered that a movie doc called Tropicalia is showing at the American Film Institute Theatre in Maryland near Washington DC tonight and Sunday

TROPICÁLIA
"What was the message we were sending to everyone? Be free! And that was extremely subversive at the time." Tropicália was a relatively short-lived but hugely influential movement in Brazilian arts and music during the late 1960s. This playfully expressionistic documentary delves deep into the Tropicália story, including amazing archival footage of Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Os Mutantes, Maria Bethânia, Gal Costa, Elis Regina, Tom Ze, and Jorge Ben Jor, among many others.

DIR/SCR Marcelo Machado; SCR Vaughn Glover, Di Moretti; PROD Paula Cosenza, Denise Gomes. Brazil/US/UK, 2012, b&w and color, 87 min. In Portuguese with English subtitles. NOT RATED

No passes accepted.Fri, Sep 28, 10:00; Sun, Sep 30, 7:15--note new time!

http://www.waxpoetics.com/music/new-music-blog/gilles-peterson-sonzeira-brasil-bam-bam-bam

SONZEIRA – THE COLLECTIVE

Elza Soares:

Brazilian Samba singer – now in her late 70s – she emerged into the Brazilian music scene from her favela upbringing after winning a talent contest in the 50s. She is one of the seminal Brazilian voices and it was a major thing for Gilles to have recorded with her on this project.Very well known in Brazil yet not as much international recognition as many feel she deserves . Discovered by Ary Barroso who wrote ‘Aquarela do Brazil’ the song she sings on the album .

Emanuelle Araujo:

Singer and soapstar / actress. Gilles first came across her and her vocal talent on an Orquestra Imperial rehearsal when he was in Rio previously. She provides vocals on the “Southern Freeez” cover, “Xibaba” and “Brazil Pandeiro”.

Lucas Santtana:

Singer, composer and producer contemporary artist electronic fusion music. Plays concerts in Brazil itself and internationally.

Mart’nalia:

Singer and songwriter – she is the daughter of prominent sambista Martinho da Vila and singer Analia Mendonca [her name is a blend of the two]. She vocals “Mystery of Man” on the Sonzeira record. Very popular live shows within Rio where she can command big audiences but not internationally known, making her interesting to work with for this project.

Wilson Das Neves:

Drummer,vocalist and percussionist. Has played with international artists and many Brazilian big names. Still making music with the Ipanemas with whom he has recorded since the 60s – check him in the film ‘Brasilintime’.

Arlindo Cruz:

Songwriter, composer and musicians – he began age 7 learning the cavaquinho [small guitar] – he works in the samba and pagode styles of music. In 2012, Arlindo Cruz recorded ‘Tatu Bom De Bola’ the official song for Fuleco the Armadillo the official Mascot of FIFA 2014 World Cup. He has his own TV show in Brazil.

Marcos Valle:

Key player of Brazilian music – especially in terms of export to the UK etc – he is a prolific writer [over 20 albums] and his career spans over 50 years. His record Samba 68 features English language versions of some of his tracks. He has collaborated with Sarah Vaughan and in his later career Leon Ware and Chicago. He performed at Gilles’ Worldwide Awards 2013.

Alexandre Kassin:

Producer and musician. Released his own album recently that Gilles featured on his 6Music show. Has played as part of “Plus 2s” and “Orquestra Imperial” amongst others .Was once thought to be a member of the Ramones after having his picture taken with them and it appearing in the national paper.

Nina Miranda:

Brazilian vocalist living in London; released music under the name Smoke City and various collaborations. Appears on “Mystery of man” and “City of Saints”.

Seu Jorge:

Singer and Actor that gained international reputation when he appeared in ‘Life Aquatic ‘ the Wes Anderson film. He lives in LA and Gilles had to go there to record him. He is probably the most famous Brazilian in the world today …excluding Pele, maybe.

Gabriel Moura:

Nephew of Paulo Moura very well known samba musician and singer. Friends with Seu Jorge since Paulo Moura ran a programme to help youths in the area, one being Seu Jorge .They were both in the influential group Farofa Capioca too.

Nana Vasconcelos:

Seminal percussionist , together with Airto became the face of Brazilian percussion internationally. Has worked with big names all over the world. His work with guitarist Egberto Gismonti has been in great demand. Originally from Bahia has lived in New York, London and Paris.

Sean O’Hagan:

Artist and string arranger for this record. Deep knowledge of Brazilian music; played guitar and arranged strings on “Mystery of man” and “Aquarela do Brazil”. His bands “Stereo Lab” and “The High Lamas” have provided some of the most innovative and moving music of recent times.

Wowie... what a group.

A Night in 67 (Uma noite em 67) (Brazil, 2010)
Directed by Ricardo Calil, Renato Terra.
Brazil’s music “festivals” of the mid-1960s were boisterous, televised competitions akin to American Idol today. One such show in 1967 was a particularly raucous affair that sparked a revolution that forever changed Brazilian music. Captivating archival performances by Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Os Mutantes and Chico Buarque—alongside contemporary interviews from the key players—helps recreate the night when the still-forming Tropicália movement was introduced to the public. DigiBeta, b/w & color, in Portuguese with English subtitles, 85 min.

Has anyone seen this? It was shown in Los Angeles last year, and is gonna be shown in DC next weekend. parts of it seem to be on Youtube without English subtitles.

no but would watch a DVD

At one point the whole thing was on either youtube or vimeo or something. I watched most of it and it was pretty cool.

I will keep an eye on youtube and vimeo, thanks for the tips!
From my blogged Pazz & Jop '14 comments:
Tom Ze, Vira Lata na Via Lactea: Tropicalia maestro & friends in fine vox, tight & tuneful, unfazed by maze(gtrs snares etc customize it). Not one of his big avant etc projects, but contemplative and witty, in that seemingly casual, but always on point A-to-Ze way.
I've seem him called the Beefheart of Brazil(!), but in sets like these, if there must be a comparison, Cole Porter as quirky socio-poitical (incl sexual politics) pop-rocker (of Brazil!) would be a relatively closer fit.

I know this Arthur Verocai album isn't properly tropicalia, but fuuuuuck it's good.

Have somehow missed out on him. Will check him out

http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2013/11/arthur-verocai-a-brazilian-original

Me too

there was a really great mixtape on soundcloud or something of songs he arranged. super recommended.

Just finished with Veloso's autobiography, which is very helpful on understanding the cultural background against which the proper tropicalistas were operating. He spends a lot of time on his English records and practically none on his white album; gives some good insight on what he was going for on Araca Azul. Also an entertaining passive-aggressive take on his relationship with Chico Buarque.

That book was super interesting but there was something about Caetano's tone that sort of rubbed me the wrong way.

I've become semi familair with teh first run of both Gilberto gil and Caetano Veloso lps alongside the Os Muttantes stuff plus a couple of the Gal Costa ones. The one with the psychedelic cover at least.

Not heard any Tom Ze as far as I'm aware. Was looking at the Mr Bongo version of his first lp as well as teh Os Brazoes set & I think they back him on some of that lp.

Not sure what else I need to look out for.

Still a good place to start, less esoteric than some:

I will keep an eye on youtube and vimeo, thanks for the tips!
From my blogged Pazz & Jop '14 comments:
Tom Ze, Vira Lata na Via Lactea: Tropicalia maestro & friends in fine vox, tight & tuneful, unfazed by maze(gtrs snares etc customize it). Not one of his big avant etc projects, but contemplative and witty, in that seemingly casual, but always on point A-to-Ze way.
I've seem him called the Beefheart of Brazil(!), but in sets like these, if there must be a comparison, Cole Porter as quirky socio-poitical (incl sexual politics) pop-rocker (of Brazil!) would be a relatively closer fit.

― dow, Friday, 6 February 2015 23:40 (1 year ago) Permalink

Luaka Bop's Ze collections also are excellent gateways, and they've got several of his original releases too---xgau's got pretty good takes on all those, and some on other labels:
http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Tom+Ze

I'm not into Ze's more avante stuff

Nor I

I picked up the Mr. Bongo reissue of Ze's first s/t album (aka Grande Liquidacao or summat), I really dig it.

Caetano V. jammin thee funk (ouch)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeWG-SviVUw

if i had to name a "beefheart of brazil" (which i wouldn't) it'd be somebody like arrigo barnabe.

by the way is there a vanguarda paulista thread? it seems to be going through a pretty big revival lately with records by elza soares, jucara marcal, meta meta...

It may be a bit of a stretch and maybe too rootsy, but Luiz Bonfa might be included for his fine acoustic guitar from the 1950s. Those early bossa nova grooves suggest a cool breeze on a summer day, where Tropicalia nods more towards "sweltering" heat.

Love that one album cover with a picture of his hand playing a stretchy chord. Which, iirc, is a closed major seventh chord.

No, major seventh chord not stretchy enough. Simply a seventh chord.

is this a seventh chord?

http://kanji.zinbun.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~yasuoka/Bonfa/PHM200-087.gif

hurts, just looking at it...

http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0000/581/MI0000581599.jpg?partner=allrovi.com

That's the one I was thinking of. Other one I'm not sure what to call it.

Maybe some kind of inverted thirteenth.

I guess Bonfa's music for the film Black Orpheus, which made something of an international art house splash, might have been favorably regarded by proto-Tropacalia kiddies, at least for finding its way into a groovy new context---though when I finally saw it, thought it was a basically basic, Cliffnotes tracking of the original myth, albeit in an enjoyable Carnivale setting, not something that turns up in the movies all that often, and as close as I'll ever get to the real thing. (Think it was John Litweiler who claimed that LB's theme for the flick was real close to an earlier Sun Ra melody.)
I've got a Bonfa album on the Chesky label: pretty perky, although it's one of those overly faithful digital recordings, with every squeak of the strings. The one that really gets me is his collab with Stan Getz, Jazz Samba Encore! He really gets Getz to soar, or something does (new drug score?). I know that Airto M. claimed that Stan's Brazilian fans loved his non-bossa nova albums, but tended to regard those as "comedy records"---but I wonder if even they wouldn't hear this set as transcending his limited understanding, and/or creative misprision. Placebo or not, Thanks LB!

But Baden Powell might be a more appropriate guitarist to mention here; seems like he just played whatever the hell he wanted.

Will look into Powell, thx -- For Luiz, i'll take Solo in Rio 1959 anyday day of the week.

Bonfa chord is Ab13, can't tell if it includes the 5th or not

(er the first one is, not sure what the second one is)

Bonfa chord is Ab13, can't tell if it includes the 5th or not

(er the first one is, not sure what the second one is)

Some Brazilian-style players of my acquaintance think Baden Powell is the best

Speaking of xpost vanguarda paulista, these two comps of Sao Paulo's remakes/remodels of post-punk etc. are really worth checking out (pretty fair intro, esp. consid word limit):
http://www.villagevoice.com/music/two-new-compilations-document-a-so-paulo-scene-you-never-knew-existed-6403283
And yeah, like the previous poster mentioned, Jucara Marcal's come back pretty strong===check Encarnado on her site! Ncao Zumbi's s/t is very engaging too, as written and played although I think I'd think it was missing some vocal authority, even if I didn't know their albums with the late great Chico Science.

JUst ain't right really. Why can't you get Tom Ze's 70s stuff on cd as in full lps. I just found the Estudando o Samba on flac on an old hard drive. But I think I probably need everything on physical disc. Actually thankfully just discovered this was the 2fer cd version with the lp after it. Think I've spent too long going through the drives already , so hoping i haven't missed the other set somewhere.

Have you heard the first of hisseveral on Luaka Bop? Goes back pretty far, and well-described by xgau:

Brazil Classics 4: The Best of Tom Zé [Luaka Bop/Warner Bros., 1990]
These '73-75 songs catch a poor Brazilian (albeit a Brazilian who says his dad won the lottery) on his way from pop tropicália to leftist jingles and instruments constructed from household appliances, only unlike his buddy Caetano Veloso, he puts the rebellion and satire out there in the music for benighted English speakers to hear. Zé delivers his portion of lulling lyricism, but it's his jarring rhythm-guitar hooks that you've never heard before--and will notice so fast you'll make sure you get to notice them again. The overtly pop-avant moves would have garnered desperate if imprecise Beefheart comparisons in their time, and the Arto Lindsay translations have the makings of international legend. Paul Simon should be so smart. Not to mention postmodern. A+

Not heard that as taht at least did just listen through Estudando o Samba and see that that had been oputon a 2fer cd which was the version I was listening to but seeems to be out of print and expensive now.
But may pick that up.

Just surprised taht nobody has that 70s stuff out currently. Is Mr Bongo working teir way through his catalogue or anything?

I have Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil cds that were pretty recent remasters when I got them aout 5 years ago. Is there a reason why they'd be done and not Zé?

This may fit here, video of Maria Bethania with Bossa Nova Brazil from Oslo in '72
http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=566405

may not be overly 'delic though so9 may not be quite tropicalia but she does have direct links with that scene

Love her

Reminds me: here's Olof Arnalds introducing and singing "Maria Bethania", written by her brother Caetano Veloso while in exile: "She has sold her soul to the Devil and bought a flat by the sea" sounds like "Good for you, Sis." Pretty cool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf9wRViJehQ

How come I never heard of this album Mande Um Abraço Pra Velha before?

Seems like a comp, so most of it I’ve heard, but still might be useful