Brazil

This blog had previously covered Latin American psychedelia, but as stated in that post it was only scratching the surface.  Here we scratch a little further off the surface, looking at psychedelia from Brazil (with some crossover from the aforementioned Latin America post).  Tropicalia, bossa nova, samba rock, Latin funk and garage rock all find their way into this sample of incredible music, covering both legendary artists alongside obscurities, and some contemporary bands too.

Jorge Ben

Jorge Ben came to prominence as part of the Tropicalia movement in the late 60’s, becoming one of the most iconic Brazilian artists in a decade spanning career that has seen him record all range of genres at an unrelenting quality.  From a review: “his bloc of work from the late sixties to the early/mid-seventies stands as some of the most innovative and beautiful music of its time. Transcending and synthesizing Brazilian and American musical genres, Ben created original and bewitching music that retains every bit of its relevance and easily surpasses the offerings of many contemporary Brazilian musicians in a similar mold.”  Listen to his track Ponta de Lança Africano below, and the legendary album this comes from here.

Gal Costa                 

Gal Costa started playing cool bossa nova music as part of a duet act with her husband, only to change pace in the late 1960’s to become part of the psychedelic musical explosion. Her 1969 album Gal has accurately been described as “the most San Franciscian” of the classic albums of Tropicalisimo, the songs being covers of her tropicalia contemporaries with a more overt North American psychedelic rock sound with Afro-Brazilian influences.   Gal still records and tours to this day, spanning genres and languages in her music.  Listen to the track Cultura e Civilização below, and the album Gal here.

Os Brazões

From a review: “The group first made a name for itself as Gal Costa’s backing band, yet allegedly never recorded alongside her. After seeing the electrifying shows put on by the group, the RGE label soon signed the group to record a single album. Though the influences of Os Mutantes and other tropicália artists of the time are present, what is laid to tape sounds nothing like the group’s contemporaries. The gloss of lush horns and complex arrangements found on Veloso and Gil records from the same era is missing. Found in its place is a wall of fuzz spread across the majority of the songs provided by, simply, Roberto. Layered within is wah-wah-drenched rhythm guitar by Miguel.”  Listen to their track Pega a Voga Cabeludo below and their fantastic 1969 self titled album here.

Tim Maia

Few artists have a life’s story equal to Tim Maia’s, as one bio puts it: “He was the personification of rock star excess, having lived through five marriages and at least six children, multiple prison sentences, voluminous drug habits and a stint in an UFO obsessed religious cult. ”  His music is highly influenced by soul music from the USA he was exposed to whilst living their in the early 60’s, before he was deported due to drug possession. The track below, Que Beleza, showcases his mix of soul, Latin jazz, and the unmistakable wail of psychedelic guitar – listen to the appropriately named posthumous album this comes from Nobody Can Live Forever – The Existential Soul of Tim Maia here

Caetano Veloso

Described as”the greatest Brazilian talent since João Gilberto” Caetano Veloso has been a giant of Brazilian music since his arrival in the late 1960’s with his electrically charged sound.  Like many tropicalia artists he found himself the target of state repression, recording his 1969 self titled album in between being released from prison and being exiled to England. Listen to the track Alfomega from this album below, and the full album here.

Miguel de Deus

Originally one of the Os Brazoes duo, Miguel went on to have a solo recording career, playing psych/funk/soul grooves. His more guttural vocal style works for an interesting contrast with the cleaner instrumentation and backing vocals, in a sound highly influenced by North American funk.  Listen to his track Pode Se Queimar below and the album this comes from here.

Graveola

From a review: “If they had to put a label on it, Graveola is comfortable with “carnival-cannibalism” to describe its musical output. In ten years as a band, they’ve garnered a reputation as a genre-defying ensemble that crafts a unique sound from disparate influences that range from kitsch pop radio to 60’s psych-rock and the iconic folk stylings of their native Minas Gerais. ”  Watch them perform their song Back in Bahia (a title shared with a Gilberto Gil song) below, and their 2016 album Cameleao Borboleta here.

Ava Rocha

A contemporary artist described as ‘post tropicalia’, from a review: “The Rio-born chanteuse is an exponent of her city’s recent experimental music renaissance and as such she co-mingles influences in post-punk, psych-pop, and Brazilian funk with percussive roots to create a unique sound that enhances her music’s themes of the roles women play — mother, single woman, lover, and revolutionary.” Listen to her track Boca do Céu below and the album this comes from here.

Tom Zé

Another original of the Tropicalia movement, Tom Zé was one of the more overtly political artists in an overtly political movement, with lyrics directly criticising the military regime.  Unlike many of his contemporaries, he fell into obscurity following the decline of the tropicalia scene, only to re-emerge in the 1990’s and his music be re-discovered by a new generation of fans.   His musical output has included a more experimental folk and avante garde style, alongside tropicalia.  Listen to his track Escolinhas de Robô below, and the masterpiece album this comes from here.

Rodrigo Amarante

An artist best known for composing the enchanting theme song to the Netflix show Narcos, Rodrigo’s plays a variety of genres, including acid folk that his soft vocal style lends itself perfectly to.  The influence of tropicalia and bossa nova artists is apparent, and Rodrigo has recorded with the likes of Gilberto Gil and Tom Zé, as well as as part of his band Los Hermanos.  Listen to his track Diamond Eyes below, his soundcloud is here.

Liverpool

A 1960’s outfit named after the Beatles’ hometown (and unsurprisingly highly influenced by their sound), the classic psych/garage components are all present – wah wah peddles, distortion, wailing guitars, lofi fuzzy production, combined with more tropicalia style rhythms and melodies.  Listen to their track Voando below, and the album this comes from here.

14 Bis

A band for which a lot of confusion exists on the internet due to confusion and mix up with a name sake Brazilian prog band, the track God Save the Queen below produces at once a classically rock guitar driven sound, layered on top of funky rhythms that chop and change between tempos.  Their songs also delved into more psychedelic folk iterations, see here.

Ronnie Von

The artist responsible for exposing Os Mutantes, Glberto Gil and Caetano to wider audiences in Brazil, Ronnie Von can accurately claim to have changed the course of musical history.  Previously he has been a member of the mod influenced Jovem Guarda group, he used this fame to give other artists a platform, whilst recording his own take on the tropicalia sound as a solo artist in the late 60’s.  Listen to his track Tristeza num dia alegre below, and the album this comes from here.

The Beggers

As well as the tropicalia music being produced in 1960’s Brazil, there was also a very fertile garage/surf rock scene, with DIY bands springing up in the living rooms and club venues across the country.  The Beggers were one of these, playing that classic twangy, ramshackle sound so associated with 60’s garage rock music, managing to incorporate horns into this at the same time.  There track Esses Homens Farrapos below, a compilation of music from this scene is available here.

Brazilian artists featured in the previous Latin America post

Gilberto Gil

Os Mutantes

Boogarins

Novos Baianos

Fan Submission

Hawthorne GH

The project of Gabriel, a musician/doctor from Brazil, and fan of this blog who got in touch and shared some of his music .  In his own words his music is “mixing samba with psychedelic rock” to very good effect.  Listen to his song Dream Samba below, more of his work available on his youtube channel.