Rating:
* * *
Few bands on this earth can go from wild and deranged to smooth and soulful like Brazilian collective Os Mutantes.
Along with musicians like Gilberto Gil and Tom Ze (who contributes beautifully frail vocals here on the lovely sha-la-la vibe of
Anagrama
), Os Mutantes were one of the big names in the late 60s Tropicalia movement out of Brazil which blended psychedelia, rock, pop and experimental elements to create a heady brew of party-meets-political music.
These days, with the only original member being multi-instrumentalist and founder Sergio Dias, the music doesn't quite have the same intensity, but it's just as inventive - and often, just as maddening and joyous.
Haih Or Amortecedor
, the first new studio recording in 35 years, starts off in a wild mood with
Querida Querida
, a lurching and sashaying psychedelic fuzz track, and the yabbering and fruity carney song
2000 e Agarrum
.
But sprinkled throughout are songs like the exotic swagger of
Baghdad Blues
, with a mad and melodramatic vocal reeling off names like Ali Baba, Uncle Sam, and Saddam Hussein; the delightfully moochy keyboard-driven flounce of
O Careca
; and
O Mensageiro
, which starts out as a jaunty folk singer/songwriter ditty before escalating momentarily into a wailing guitar freakout.
And for something completely mad you can't go past the trippy Brazilian prog of
Nada Mudou
and the dark ambient industrial pulse of
Gopala Krishna Om
, towards the end of the album.
Scott Kara
The host has been spotted across the Atlantic post-election.