Weber Iago "Os Filhos Do Canto: Children Of The Wind" (Adventure Music, 2004)
Highbrow "smooth jazz," led by pianist/composer Weber Iago, played in small trio and quartet arrangements. The music is a mix of gypsy/Roma melancholy and more standard jazz themes, with a dash of Brazilianness in there as well... This album springs from work originally commissioned for flautist Keith Underwood, but Iago leads on several songs, and in general I prefer his solo passages. His piano work has a lush, classical-romantic core to it that adds resonance and depth... The flute work tends to meander and sound noodly (which may just be because I don't like the timbre of the instrument...) At any rate, while this isn't really my kind of music, I recogize that this disc is a cut above, and a bit weightier than the smooth jazz norm... Worth checking out, if you like the soft stuff...
Ile Axe "Calypso Samb' - Percussions Bresiliennes" (Playa Sound, 1990)
This disc opens with a sizzling Afro-Brazilian percussion number, simply called "Batucada," then slides into an interesting mix of Brazilian and Caribbean music, including several tracks with steel pan drums and voudou-style chanting. Some songs, like their theme, "Ile Axe," featuring some saxophone and jazzy reed work that's downright freaky. This album's an interesting experiment, and even if sometimes I wish it were "more Brazilian," it's still pretty groovy.
Os Incriveis "Para Os Jovens Que Amam Os Beatles, Rolling Stones e... Os Incriveis" (RCA-Brasil, 1967)
Plenty of fuzzed-out, surfy guitar on here, and a nice teenybopper feel. Includes not one, but two, songs referring to the Beatles and the Stones, the second being a medley of "Twist And Shout" and "Satisfaction." Os Incriveis came into the jovem guarda scene kinda late, but they seem to have made a real stab at being a credible psych/garage band, although admittedly with a heavy covers orientation. Some cool, kitschy instrumentals, as well as Brazilianified covers of popular US/UK rock songs.
Os Incriveis "Os Incriveis" (RCA-Brasil, 1969)
Oddly uneven, semi-psychedelic effort by this late-blooming '60s "beat" outfit... Many of these songs start out with muscular performances -- a Meters-y soul riff here, a cool acid-rock riff there -- but the band doesn't seem to be able to sustain the hard edge, inevitably slipping into softer pop mannerisms. They obviously can play the hard stuff (and have heard a lot of it) but seem restrained somehow, most likely by some studio producers hired by the label. This is okay; it's certainly a notch or two above most of their jovem guarda contemporaries... Mostly, though, this album works only as kitsch, and probably won't feel that satisfying to fans of real garage pop.
Os Incriveis "Os Incriveis" (RCA-Brasil, 1970)
A bit stronger than their previous album, or at least a little more cohesive. The individual songs don't shift around so much between different stylistic tones -- the soft pop leanings are still there, but when they set out on a psychedelic or soul tangent, they keep it up for most of the song... Highlights include the opening song, "Adeus Amigo Vagabundo (Tributo A Jimi Hendrix)," which ends with a predictably "crazy" hard rock flourish. Low points include an only-adequate English-language cover of the Moody Blues hit, "Question" (which might have been more fun if they'd sung it in Portuguese...) An interesting album, worth checking out, although it probably won't drive most folks wild.
Os Incriveis "Isso E A Felicidade" (RCA-Brasil, 1975)
Really goddawful. Sounds like old Italian pop music -- perky, bland, and without an ounce of soul to it. Earlier albums by this group may have more character, but this is pretty icky and dull. (A CD reissue, perversely, couples this with an off-kilter soul album by Eduardo Araujo... go figure.)
Os Incriveis "...E Seus Maiores Sucessos" (RCA-Brasil, 1993)
A good representation of their early, surfy rock material... These guys were, arguably, edgier and and more "rockin' " than other bands in the jovem guarda scene, but most of the stuff on this collection doesn't do much for me. It's too derivative and the songs all sound the same... That being said, the song "Sem Vergonheira" is a nice, fat slice of funky psychedelic good vibrations. Worth checking out, but don;t expect too much.
Inocentes "Arquivo Warner: Panico Em Sp/Adeus Carne" (Warner Brothers, 2001)
Reissue of two early albums by this seminal Sao Paulo punk band...
Inocentes "Panico Em S.P." (Warner, 1986)
Inocentes "Adeus Carne" (Warner, 1987)
Inocentes "Miseria E Fome" (Devil Discos, 1983/2001)
Second-string "hardcore" punk, midway between the fast hardcore of the '80s and the sludgy grindcore stuff kids started playing towards the end of the century. There's a hint of the Misfits in there as well, but not enough to keep my attention. I'll pass. Apparently, BRock legend Cazuza was in this band as well, between his Barao Vermelho days and his solo career, although I'm not sure if he was on this album. (He's not listed in any of the credits, so I'll assume not until I hear otherwise...)
Inocentes "Inocentes" (Warner, 1989)
Inocentes "Estilhacos" (Cameratti, 1992)
Inocentes "Subterraneos" (Eldorado, 1994)
Inocentes "Ruas" (Paradoxx, 1997)
Inocentes "Embalado A Vacuo" (Abril, 1999)
Inocentes "Garotos Do Suburbio" (RDS, 1999)
Inocentes "O Barulho Dos Inocentes" (Abril, 2000)
Inocentes "20 Anos Ao Vivo" (RDS, 2002)
Inocentes "e-Collection" (Warner Brothers, 2002)
Inocentes "Dois E Dmais" (Warner, 2000)
Inocentes "Labirinto" (2005)
Os Ipanemas "Os Ipanemas" (CBS, 1975/Mr. Bongo, 1997)
Another re-release from the UK "acid-jazz" scene -- this is a jazz band, sort of along the lines of Sergio Mendes' early bossa nova work. I wasn't terribly taken with this disc, but it also isn't offensive in any way.
Ira! "Mudanca De Comportamento" (Warner, 1985)
Ira! "Vivendo E Nao Aprendendo" (Warner, 1986)
Cool stuff! They're kind of like a Brazilian version of the Jam -- jittery, jangly, ska-tinged and consistently engaging in a fun, punky way. The CD reissue includes five bonus tracks, including two songs that weren't included on the original album (and demo versions of three that were...) If you're looking into Brazilian indie/alt rock, you'll want to check these guys out...
Ira! "Psicoacustica" (Warner, 1988)
Ira! "Clandestino" (Warner, 1990)
Ira! "Meninos Da Rua Paulo" (Warner, 1991)
Ira! "Musica Calma Para Pessoas Nervosas" (Warner, 1993)
Ira! "7" (Paradoxx, 1996)
Ira! "Voce Nao Sabe Quem Eu Sou" (Paradoxx, 1998)
Ira! "Isso E Amor" (DeckDisc/Abril, 1999)
Ira! "MTV Ao Vivo" (DeckDisc/Abril, 2000)
Ira! "Entre Seus Rins" (DeckDisc/Abril, 2001)
Ira! "Acustico MTV" (Sony, 2004)
Ira! "e-Collection" (Warner, 2002)
A 2-CD set of hits, demos, one-offs and rarities... and all very cool. One of the best and most convincing punk/post-punk bands from Brazil, these guys ranged all over the map, musically... They cover the Beatles, (on a pleasantly crunchy version of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds") and pay homage to the Clash (on a version of "Should I Stay Or Should I Go"), but it's the band's original material that makes the strongest impression. There's a clear Jam influence, but also a bit of Stiff Little Fingers and various earnest pop-punkers... Not many Brazilian bands sounded like this, and fewer still did it as well... Sometimes they get a little slick or overly mainstream, but for the most part, this is definitely recommended!
