EXPRESSO 2222: the semi-official BRAZILIAN MUSIC LISTENING CLUB.

Okay I'm in, this is a great idea and why not just FLOOD THE FREAKIN MARKET with threads like this. But we're only doing ONE album a week, that's the twist.

And we'll start with this one because it has been very much on my mind lately:

http://loronix.net/loronixcontent/capasloronix/E/EA/HermetoPascoalSlavesMass.jpg
Hermeto Pascoal is awesome and I love him; Miles Davis once called him the greatest musician in the world. This 1977 behemoth is probably his mid-period crowning statement.

WHATTAYA THINK?

where can I get this album

It's on Lala.

spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/55yVwJbFIy1OrBBhdCTssq

and yes, it is great!

looking forward to Azymuth sometime soon!

i'm up for this club too, though one album seems wise so I dont lose my job over all these threads. I'd also be happy to suggest stuff for this one.

xxpost : well, good great

Dude don't salt everyone's opinions just yet. There will be a lot of different reactions to this, let's air it out first.

love this album. really good stuff. deep and dark and playful all at once. nice pick.

is this the one with the cannonball adderly (cry for me) track on it

it's super swirly and hypnotic and great

Yes this is the one: "Cannon."

And should we say "Let's talk about this until April 29, at which point we'll have a new one chosen by elephant rob?" Okay, consider it said.

Good choice, I love this album. The Cannonball memorial track is otherwordly, the way he treats all those sped-up voices. And the moment in "Just Listen" when he picks up the mike is both ridiculous and awesome!

hey i actually have this one ... i'll have to dig it out and listen.

If you need volunteers to suggest albums in this club, I'd be happy to do it.

Duly noted, thanks Tuomas. But let's get busy with discussion of the issue at hand first, then I'll make my pick for who gets to make next pick. I'm taking it again the week after Mr. elephant rob, got some filthy stuff.

What's the tune he starts playing in "Just Listen" at 4:30? I'm pretty sure it's a song I have on some other album, but I can't put my finger on it.

Playing now via Spotify

I think the only thing that makes this album short of a flawless classic is that "Cherry Jam" is not super impressive. It's a good jam tune, yeah, but all the other songs are so idiosyncratic and delightful that "Cherry Jam" is kind of a boring way to close the album.

Dude don't salt everyone's opinions just yet. There will be a lot of different reactions to this, let's air it ohavenut first.

― T Bone Streep (Cave17Matt), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:08 (16 minutes ago) Bookmark

my bad. haven't listened to this in a while, and revised my initial opinion until re-evaluated. Will hold on a minute with my thoughts, henceforth!

Tuomas: the song at the 4:30 mark is Gilberto Gil's "Sai do Sereno," off the album this club is named for! Good catch!

No, Tannenbaum, you are correct and I was wrong. Not going to mod every reaction, it's freedom of speech here and everywhere. And you might be right!

I'm listening to "Cherry Jam" now, and actually it sounds better than what I remembered. But what the heck kind of a flute does Hermeto plays on it, it sounds kinda odd... Does it just a have a special mouthpiece or something?

First track very appropriately named--this is dense!

But what the heck kind of a flute does Hermeto plays on it, it sounds kinda odd...

he's singing through the flute, it's a technique where you both blow and sing at the same time - pioneered by Rahsaan Roland Kirk iirc

Yeah, I know that technique, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about the timbre of the flute in "Cherry Jam" where he isn't singing through it - it sounds kinda odd to me, I was wondering if that's a flute at all or something else?

Hmm, I guess it could be a soprano sax, but there's still something odd about the sound.

I guess it's finally time for me to listen to him (rather than assuming he's too avante-jazzy for me based on something I read once).

Btw, the movie doc "Beyond Ipanema" is showing again in W. DC tonight and Thursday.

this actually is a little too avant-jazzy for me tbh

I didn't find it avant-jazzy at all tbh, some of it was quite smooth, but then again whats smooth for me is another guys avantweirdo shit.

I think the avantness is in the use of sound and the somewhat odd arrangements, but if you can get past that the compositions themselves aren't particularly avant, they're actually pretty melodic. There's no "free" playing at all except maybe on "Just Listen".

bump, here's a live video of Escuta Meu Piano
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZynsU8Dpro

Not having much luck finding a copy of this to listen to just lying around online. (I have Cérebro Magnético, but I'm really not into it.)

Incidentally, Matt, do you know of this band--they seem like something you'd like:

http://www.myspace.com/moveis

Hermeto Pascoal meets classic rock, etc. etc.

I know it doesn't have exactly to do with the spirit of this thread, but Hermeto's kinda of gone crazy. Dude met a girl 30, 40 years younger than him and people just can't reach him now. And all decisions about his career must have her approval.

Móveis Coloniais de Acaju. Great live, not so great on record.

x-post:

Haha. That would make me crazy too, in a good way (but better make it twenty years younger). How old is he anyway? I don't think I've ever seen a photo of him in which he didn't look old.

He's 73.

http://www.hermetopascoal.com.br/galeria_detail.asp?id_fotos=7&id_galeria=1

I guess he hasn't changed much since the 70s.

http://www.hermetopascoal.com.br/galeria_detail.asp?id_fotos=7&id_galeria=1

Rudipherous: Go to a place called lala.com dude, this album is just sitting there waiting for you...only one listen, but still.

It is around if you look in some less legit places also. I'm in Canada so lala.com is unavailable. Some of the album is on Grooveshark, enough to get me curious to find the rest. Not to condone file sharing, but it sure would be nice if the licensing legalities would catch up to the reality of the internet already. But that's another conversation. Really digging this album from what I've heard so far.

Week 2

http://loronix.net/loronixcontent/capasloronix/E/EB/JorgeBenATabuadeEsmeralda-FRONT.jpg

Jorge Ben - A Tábua de Esmeralda (1974)

Listen on Lala. Sorry, I don't have access to Spotify--maybe someone else can check?

AMG Review:
A Tábua de Esmeralda (together with Jorge Ben's 1976 album África Brasil) could be said to represent the creative culmination of his astonishing '70s. The music that Ben recorded during this period had tremendous influence on Brazilian musicians at that time and to a great extent helped to ignite the creative explosion that took place in the Brazilian samba rock and samba soul scenes during the '70s. The sound on this particular album is very simple, with the songs being driven by Ben's characteristic acoustic guitar playing together with a bass guitar and percussion. Floating in the background on several tracks are also some nice string arrangements and a double bass. The melodies are magnificently crafted, managing to be catchy and free-flowing without ever feeling banal or predictable. One of many great songs on this album is the upbeat opening track, "Os Alquimistas Estão Chegando," with its funny lyrics about alchemists. Other especially fine moments are the space-themed "Errare Humanum Est," "Zumbi," with its Africa-inspired lyrics, "Cinco Minutos," and "Magnolia." A Tábua de Esmeralda belongs in the record collection of any fan of Ben's music and is also a great starting point for someone who wants an introduction to his work.

I definitely agree with that last point, though I have yet to hear a bad Ben album (I haven't listened to anything past 1976) and funk fans might find Africa Brasil an even more welcoming entry point.

A broader question: this thread hasn't been nearly as lively as the other listening clubs--should we go up to two albums a week? Does only having one album to talk about make this harder?

I'm more interested in this thread than the other listening threads (and I think I might have better things to say on this one than I would on the others), but I just haven't had a good chance to listen to the Pascoal album. Some stuff blew up at work this week and I've been too stressed to feel like listening to try to sit down and give my attention to something unfamiliar that might not suit my mood.

(But that just accounts for me, of course.)

I'm interested in this thread as well but betweeen dayjob, parenting, watching my Capitals choke in hockey, and listening to Baaba Maal and Simon Shaheen, whom I'm writing up for my local alt-weekly with deadlines today, I did not give Pascoal as much attention as I wanted.

I'm interested too, but only just finally found the last album online. That and I was busy watching my Habs beat the Caps.

Ha

sounds good guys, I'm happy with this being the more relaxed listening club!

I definitely agree with that last point, though I have yet to hear a bad Ben album (I haven't listened to anything past 1976) and funk fans might find Africa Brasil an even more welcoming entry point.

album he made after africa brasil is pretty good, too. I think I leonardo'd it at one point, it's not easy to find.

i would also like to add that i'm most excited about this listening club but just haven't had time to get to the first record (which looks great btw). that should be changing in a week or so.

a tabua is a record i've had for a long time and it's awesome, tho if ppl haven't heard africa brasil we absolutely must spend a week on it at some point.

I'm assuming most ppl interested in this thread have heard africa brasil, kinda like kicking off the metal thread with paranoid, but hey I'll talk about that record any day of the week if y'all are up for it

yeah this is the only listening club getting me excited

and I don't mind the leisurely pace, seems fitting and easy to keep up with

remind me one week to post my favorite baile funk bootleg comp, funk cruel vol 10

the followup to africa brasil I was thinking of was actually from '78 - A Banda Do Zé Pretinho

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTuN-BnrKW4

rolling stone brasil's top 100 albums... I start thinking I'm familiar w/ brazilian music but then I see a list like this and I'm like whaaaa

1. Acabou Chorare (1972), Novos Baianos
2. Tropicália ou Panis et Circencis (1968), vários artistas
3. Construção (1971), Chico Buarque
4. Chega de Saudade (1959), João Gilberto
5. Secos e Molhados (1973), Secos e Molhados
6. A Tábua de Esmeralda (1974), Jorge Ben
7. Clube da Esquina (1972), Milton Nascimento & Lô Borges
8. Cartola (1976), Cartola
9. Os Mutantes (1968), Os Mutantes
10. Transa (1972), Caetano Veloso
11. Elis & Tom (1974), Elis Regina e Tom Jobim
12. Krig-Ha Bandolo! (1973), Raul Seixas
13. Da Lama Ao Caos (1994), Chico Science & Nação Zumbi
14. Sobrevivendo No Inferno (1998), Racionais MC's
15. Samba Esquema Novo (1963), Jorge Ben
16. Fruto Proibido (1975), Rita Lee
17. Racional (1975), Tim Maia
18. Afrociberdelia (1996), Chico Science & Nação Zumbi
19. Cabeça Dinossauro (1986), Titãs
20. Fa-Tal - Gal A Todo Vapor (1971), Gal Costa
21. Dois (1986), Legião Urbana
22. A Divina Comédia ou Ando Meio Desligado (1970), Os Mutantes
23. Coisas (1965), Moacir Santos
24. Roberto Carlos Em Ritmo de Aventura (1967), Roberto Carlos
25. Tim Maia (1970), Tim Maia
26. Expresso 2222 (1972), Gilberto Gil
27. Nós Vamos Invadir sua Praia (1985), Ultraje a Rigor
28. Roberto Carlos (1971), Roberto Carlos
29. Os Afro-Sambas (1966), Baden Powell e Vinícius de Moraes
30. A Dança da Solidão (1972), Paulinho da Viola
31. Carlos, Erasmo (1970), Erasmo Carlos
32. Pérola Negra (1973), Luiz Melodia
33. Caymmi e Seu Violão (1959), Dorival Caymmi
34. Lóki? (1974), Arnaldo Baptista
35. Estudando o Samba (1976), Tom Zé
36. Falso Brilhante (1976), Elis Regina
37. Caetano Veloso (1968), Caetano Veloso
38. Maria Fumaça (1977), Banda Black Rio
39. Selvagem? (1986), Os Paralamas do Sucesso
40. Legião Urbana (1985), Legião Urbana
41. Meus Caros Amigos (1976), Chico Buarque
42. Bloco do Eu Sozinho (2001), Los Hermanos
43. Refazenda (1975), Gilberto Gil
44. Mutantes (1969), Os Mutantes
45. Raimundos (1994), Raimundos
46. Chaos A.D. (1993), Sepultura
47. João Gilberto (1973), João Gilberto
48. As Aventuras da Blitz (1982), Blitz
49. Tim Maia Racional Vol 2 (1976), Tim Maia
50. Revolver (1975), Walter Franco
51. Clara Crocodilo (1980), Arrigo Barnabé
52. Cartola (1974), Cartola
53. Novo Aeon (1975), Raul Seixas
54. Refavela (1977), Gilberto Gil
55. Nervos de Aço (1973), Paulinho da Viola
56. Amoroso (1977), João Gilberto
57. O concreto já rachou (1986), Plebe Rude
58. Antônio Carlos Jobim (1963), Tom Jobim
59. Canção do Amor Demais (1958), Elizeth Cardoso
60. Gil & Jorge: Ogum, Xangô (1975), Gilberto Gil e Jorge Ben
61. Força Bruta (1970), Jorge Ben
62. MM (1989), Marisa Monte
63. Milagre dos Peixes (1973), Milton Nascimento
64. Show Opinião (1965), Vários Artistas
65. Nelson Cavaquinho (1973), Nelson Cavaquinho
66. Cinema Transcendental (1979), Caetano Veloso
67. África Brasil (1976), Jorge Ben
68. Ventura (2003), Los Hermanos
69. Samba Esquema Noise (1994), Mundo Livre S/A
70. Getz/Gilberto Featuring Antônio Carlos Jobim (1963), João Gilberto, Stan Getz e Tom Jobim
71. Noel Rosa e Aracy de Almeida (1950), Aracy de Almeida
72. Jardim Elétrico (1971), Os Mutantes
73. Angela Ro Ro (1979), Angela Ro Ro
74. Õ Blésq Blom (1989), Titãs
75. Tim Maia (1971), Tim Maia
76. A Bad Donato (1970), João Donato
77. Canções Praieiras (1954), Dorival Caymmi
78. Gilberto Gil (1968), Gilberto Gil
79. Álibi (1978), Maria Bethânia
80. Gal Costa (1969), Gal Costa
81. Psicoacústica (1988), Ira!
82. O Inimitável (1968), Roberto Carlos
83. Matita Perê (1973), Tom Jobim
84. Qualquer Coisa/Jóia (1975), Caetano Veloso
85. Jovem Guarda (1965), Roberto Carlos
86. Beleléu, Leléu, Eu (1980), Itamar Assumpção e Banda Isca de Polícia
87. Verde, Anil, Amarelo, Cor-de-Rosa e Carvão (1994), Marisa Monte
88. Nada Como Um Dia Após O Outro Dia (2002), Racionais MC's
89. Meio Desligado (1994), Kid Abelha
90. Quem é Quem (1973), João Donato
91. Cantar (1974), Gal Costa
92. Wave (1967), Tom Jobim
93. Lado B Lado A (1999), O Rappa
94. Vivendo e Não Aprendendo (1986), Ira!
95. Doces Bárbaros (1976), Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Gilberto Gil e Maria Bethânia
96. A Sétima Efervescência (1997), Júpiter Maçã
97. Araçá Azul (1972), Caetano Veloso
98. Elis (1972), Elis Regina
99. Revoluções por Minuto (1985), RPM (Banda)
100. Circense (1980), Egberto Gismonti

Free show at Lincoln Center Outdoors in NYC:

a double bill pairing the seminal krautrock of Hallogallo 2010: Michael Rother & Friends perform the music of NEU! and the visionary Brazilian "Sorcerer" of sound, composer/multi-instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal (August 6);

My favorite Jorge Ben album is África Brasil and originally it was my choice for this week. But 'Tábua' is great. There's a friend of mine who used to tell us how this album helped in a sad period of his life. 'O Homem da Gravata Florida' is sweet and it sounds - in a really subtle way - Jorge was high on pot when he wrote the lyrics.

Ah a Tabua! Love this album. there is an amazing TV clip on youtube of him doing os alquemistas with an awesome backdrop of magicians and bubbling test tubes. I would be most interested to see some lyric translations, if anyone's got any...? I love so much Brazilian stuff, but the language barrier really makes me feel like I'm missing out on so much.

1. Acabou Chorare (1972), Novos Baianos

what is this? never even heard of it. and I know/love everything else in the top 10, so kinda amazed there's something I've never heard of that beats both Joao Gilberto AND Veloso. wtf

oh wait they are on that Brazil 70 comp aren't they

Simply put, Acabou Chorare is hippies doing samba

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oO0ZxrMmjU

Simply put, Acabou Chorare is hippies doing samba

I suppose that isn't inaccurate, but it's an excellent album, especially "Preta Pretinha" and I love Baby Consuela's voice. It's definitely on my mental list of albums to suggest for this club. Though claiming it's the best Brazilian record of all time is definitely a little o_O

yeah I'm sorry Joao should be number one and anything else is heresy imho

Shakey, that video is awesome! The other day I spent an absurd amount of time reading about The Emerald Tablet and Hermes Trismegistus on wikipedia because of this album. I too can't speak/read Portuguese and that fills me with regret (though fwiw I believe "estao chegando" means "are arriving").

this album helped in a sad period of his life

this is kind of why I picked Tabua: it genuinely makes me feel blissful in a way that is unique to this album. If I was forced to choose, I'd probably pick Africa Brasil as the better album, but I'm always better off for having listened to Tabua.

I love Acabou Chorare specially Tinindo Trincando (great guitar part by Pepeu Gomes) and there's nothing wrong with hippies doing samba

glad to hear it! and sorry: too many people I know irl use hippie as an epithet.

xp to Shakey, I doubt many people would disagree with you. That list is pretty much invalidated by #47 being so low; though I admire them putting Construcao so high.

I was literal when I referred to them as hippies. At the time of Acabou Chorare os Novos Baianos formed a hippie community in Rio. But I admit the word hippie tagged to a Brazilian record in ILM may suggest Widespread Panic having a shot at a samba school theme from the last Carnival.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7cmTFwrruo

"errare humanum est" from tabua blowing my mind right now tbh

and that rolling stone list wasn't necessarily posted cuz its ranking is dead-on, but it's got some intriguing mysteries there

can't really argue w/ this tho:

2. Tropicália ou Panis et Circencis (1968), vários artistas

Shin, that video is classic:)

I love Tabua de Esmeralda to bits. Like others on this thread, I am much more familiar with Africa Brasil. But I will have another listen to Tabua this evening and post again when it's fresh in my mind.

yeah, tabua's fantastic and spawned a jorge listening party over here. coming to grips with his discog is a massive and delightful task. forca bruta! ben! so many great albums in there.

Simply put, Acabou Chorare is hippies doing samba

^otm and def not a pejorative. wouldn't put it in my top 10 of brazilian albums but it is really solid and worth seeking out.

Yes, I stand thoroughly corrected on the hippie point: I had no idea they formed a commune!

Forca Bruta comes awful close to being on equal footing as Tabua and Africa Brasil for me. Hell, his first three samba albums aren't crazily distinctive but they are joyous. Whenever he lets loose on his falsetto...damn.

In short: Jorge Ben should be as widely known and loved as say, Stevie Wonder.

anyone found a way to listen to this outside of america yet? may have to *gasp* do it the illegal way.

maybe I've been spending too much time in the SST poll threads but about halfway through this novos baianos jam I start thinking the minutemen learned everything they knew from them

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD2PcMgm-lE

I keep waiting for d boon to start yelling about capitalism

Love that we went from samba hippies to the Minutemen so quickly. Maybe this is the best brazilian album of all time?

Man, what a great moment would be Mike Watt jamming with Pepeu Gomes

Have burned this and will listen to at work :) (Also burned that Starlito mixtape to the same disc) rip my ipod long live my old cd walkman

I've tracked down and listened to just about every album on that RS Brazil list, and I can say that some of them are questionable. I really don't understand Chico Science and Nacao Zumbi, but then again, I don't understand Portuguese either.

Love that Jorge Ben album, would probably be my favorite of his if Gil e Jorge doesn't count, although his self-titled '68 album is almost as good as A Tabua. My favorite track on A Tabua would have to be "Minha Teimosia, Uma Arme Pra Te Conquistar."

Chico Science e Nação Zumbi are the most important Brazilian name of the 90s IMHO

hmmm I don't know either - what are they like?

IMHO, like Red Hot Chili Peppers circa Blood Sugar Sex Magik.

sounds terrible

Really, I don't see any basis for comparing both bands

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAY9VcjxPss

That's on Afrociberdelia, right? I admit I liked that more than Da Lama Ao Caos, which sounds exactly like RHCP any way you look at it: Shouty rapping over funk-rock, which is all I understand aurally, since I can't understand what it is they're talking about. And since the music on either album didn't affect me that much, I didn't care to find out.

Of the '90s stuff, I think I'd pick either Marisa Monte or Sepultura, though this list seems to have a huge blind spot when it comes to the '90s.

x-post

Chico Science died in a car accident at age 30 and Nação Zumbi was his band. Their brand of Northeast Brazil funk, rock, rap, Brazilian percussion and more was known in northeast Brazil as manguebeat.

All of this^^^^ makes me hope someone ventures into the 80s, 90s, and 00s in this club. My knowledge is very much limited to early 60s to late 70s.

Who is up next week anyway? Matt?

I'm gonna write about CSNZ and defend them from the comparisons with RHCP. But before I do this, let me post the video of the true heir of Jorge Ben sound in the 00s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVPPnEs_FZs

Crosby Sills Nash & Zung?

hmmm I don't know either - what are they like?

See now, if you ready Chuck Eddy you would know. He got me interested in them, but I actually lost enthusiasm really quickly (but not before buying a couple of their CDs). "Maracatu Atomoico" is the one I like best, and I also found Da Lama Ao Caos more difficult to get into than Afrociberdelia.

whoah yeah that is some good shit. thx for the tip Shin!!! luv the fuzz. are you Brazilian? how are you up on this stuff...?

See now, if you read Chuck Eddy you would know.

lol I do not read Chuck Eddy because his opinions are notoriously unreliable and wrong

Yes Shakey I am Brazilian but I guess there are other regular posters here more into Brazilian records than me - I spent too much time listening to, I don't know, Sunn O)))

If you liked the Curumin video, this is him in Morning Becomes Eclectic. This is so cool

http://www.kcrw.com/media-player/mediaPlayer2.html?type=audio&id=mb090210curumin

Shin, let me just say that I'm more than willing to hear out what you have to say about Chico Science. I admit that I have huge blinders when it comes to this stuff and am eager to learn more, especially from someone who speaks the language!

But, musically, the RHCP comparison still stands for me.

I'm not saying it's impossible these guys NEVER listened to 'Blood Sugar' and I know they were really into A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul but what sounds like rapping in their records has more to do with 'coco' or 'samba de coco', traditional chant and percussion from Brazilian Northeast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH3FbhEHA-s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv7PttUFAII

Unfortunately, lala is no longer accepting new members and about to shut down. I will look elsewhere, later.

Okay, I am ready. Unlike earlier in this week, or last weekend, this is a good night for me for listening to music. My problem now is I have too many things to check out (this stuff, some of the 90s stuff, maybe some of the jazz listening club albums). But I'm starting with Pascoal, and I'm not going to live blog all my responses, but I will say that it's awfully "proggy," which isn't necessarily a bad thing but then again it tends to be--for me. It just reminds me of the sort of stuff I used to listen to a lot on the radio back in the 80s, lots of prog./fusion kinds of stuff. I think I'm naive enough about Brazilian music that if I had heard this back then, or for that matter, if I heard it now, I wouldn't necessarily recognize it as Brazilian, but might think it was some Euro. jazz-rock-prog band doing ethnic music. Just being honest here. It's not that I really dislike it, but it's a general area of music that I'm not drawn to these days.

Not into the chipmunk voices, or whatever you want to call them. I don't get why he does some of the stuff he does, which just ends up seeming like gratuitous eccentricity.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CYu4EeAdybM/R-A8lYJg6UI/AAAAAAAAAEE/OxqEEKwBkSc/s400/novosbaiano_novosbaia_101b.jpg

novos baianos f. c. > acabou chorare

"Just Listen" is pleasant, but I'm easy to please these days with mildly dissonant piano. Speaking of quoted material, did I hear a bit of a Thelonious Monk tune in part of this track (somewhat early in)? (If so, it's probably something obvious, I just don't know Monk).

Did he record any solo keyboard albums with no, or minimal, vocals? Serious question.

my fav album from hermetos "festa dos deuses"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpnyZi7BFHY

Enjoying this Jorge Ben album so far (not very far into it). This may be the first full album I've heard by him, despite starting a thread about wanting to hear more by him a few years back.

Administratively: Next week's selection will be chosen by talrose, who reserved it via email. (expresso2222 at gmail)

I listened to this Ben album like 3 times last night, it was v. enjoyable :D Surprised by how dubby it was at times, or maybe that was just my walkman being used for the first time in years?

I think 1974 is a little early to be influenced by dub (though I have no idea re: Ben), but there is a lot of really subtle and beautiful echo and reverb on that album, which is a big part of my liking it. I love how some of the songs sort of just dissolve into a very pleasant abstract psychedelia for a few moments. I use to put "Errare" on a lot of mixes for that reason.

heyo dudes this is a great idea

i've listened to "os alquimistas" soooo much. i love that song, like, times infinity.

only one i can't deal with really is that "jesus christ he is my BRO" song

but im jewish so

Is that OK if I do the week after Talrose's?

xp
but if you're jewish then Jesus really is your bro! ;)
actually I'm surprised this is the first complaint about that song. most reviews single it out as the album's only misstep. I actually like it well enough, particularly the way he sings "music" as "music-y," but totally get people's objections to it.

I don't like 'Brother' but I guarantee Jorge Ben is no Pat Robertson or whatever

tempted to pick damiao experiencia when I have a turn at the wheel

translation of a tábua de esmeralda

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_Tablet

I'm thinking about picking one of the strangest and rarest records in Brazilian music but I am not sure if everybody will be able to listen to it without appealing to *cough* illegal ways

murder??!

I think you don't have to go that far ;) But I don't want to break any rules here

better to raise the profile of an out-of-print classic than leave it moldering in the dustbin of history imo

otm

Why does he sing "Brother" in English, I wonder? Greater reach for his message? But whatever he believes, he doesn't seem to be a normal Evangelical of any sort with the occult stuff mixed in. (Granted, that doesn't mean he can't still be into evangelizing.) I liked the album overall, but don't have a lot to say about it and need to listen some more. Would this really be too early for a dub influence? I think I hear a dub influence on the last track of Willie Colon and Hector Lavoe's El Juicio, from the same time (in fact, the same year, if I recall correctly), so it may have been in the air. (Yes, I do realize they are not Brazilian.)

Listened on la la to the Ben album. I love his vocal melodies and the acoustic guitar strumming. I'm a fan of the Gil y Jorge album and need to get these earlier ones.

i thought that said "GI Joe" album

better to raise the profile of an out-of-print classic than leave it moldering in the dustbin of history imo

― 鬼の手 (Edward III), Saturday, 1 May 2010 19:34 (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

^^^^this. I have no problem downloading things I'd never be able to buy.

you might as well say what it is tbh

nah, let em save it until it's his pick, why ruin the reveal?

I definitely agree with that last point, though I have yet to hear a bad Ben album (I haven't listened to anything past 1976) and funk fans might find Africa Brasil an even more welcoming entry point

But isn't Africa Brasil out of print or just a super expensive import?

Jorge Ben Jor S/D

Schedule: This week (starting Thursday): TalRose. Next week: Shin Oliva Suzuki. After that...well, we'll see now won't we?

I hereby nominate tuomas, shakey, me for future weeks

But isn't Africa Brasil out of print or just a super expensive import?

I think that's right. I don't work at a record store, but my sense is that something changed in the distribution of Brazilian music over here a couple of years ago. At any rate, back when I was first getting into Brazilian music about 6 or 7 years ago, I could buy Brazilian imports on CD at Dusty Groove for the same price as American CDs. Now they're all at least $20. Water (and Dusty Groove) were reissuing some tropicalia classics for a while, but I'm not sure they're even up and running anymore?

Dusty Groove does not have it now while Amazon.com in the US lists this:

Available from these sellers.

2 new from $282.79 6 used from $32.99 (most are $75 and up used) 1 collectible from $149.95

I can definitely do a week, yeah.

Administratively: Next week's selection will be chosen by talrose, who reserved it via email. (expresso2222 at gmail)

― T Bone Streep (Cave17Matt), Saturday, May 1, 2010 9:56 AM (3 days ago) Bookmark

^ sounds like this might be the process ^

http://i.s8.com.br/images/cds/cover/img1/21659981_4.jpg

Released earlier this year collecting the following albums

1. Samba Esquema Novo (1963)
2. Sacudin Ben Samba (1964)
3. Ben e Samba Bom (1964)
4. Big Ben (1965)
5. Jorge Ben (1969)
6. Força Bruta (1970)
7. Negro e lindo (1971)
8. Ben (1972)
9. Jorge Ben 10 Anos Depois (1973)
10. A Tabua de Esmeralda (1974)
11. Solta o Pavao (1975)
12. Gil & Jorge - Ogum Xango (1975)
13. Africa Brasil (1976)
14. Salve, Jorge! Raridades e Ineditas - Duplo (1963-1976) (rare/unreleased tracks, 2-CD)

Expensive and rare to find, though.

http://i.s8.com.br/images/cds/cover/img1/21659981_4.jpg

Duh

expensive and HARD to find (long day). Available on ebay.

wow!

notice "o bidu" isn't on that. now there's an album that needs a remaster badly.

yeah, I was just talking about the box set over here

Jorge Ben Jor S/D

if it's on ebay I wouldn't call it hard to find, plus it's not that expensive compared to how much it would cost to get all these individually. and the remaster of africa brasil in the boxset is fantastic sounding, not sure why they haven't released it outside the boxset unless it's some bizarre ploy to get people to plunk down for the set.

and s1ocki otm re: o bidu, that is a fantastic album

it was his only non-philips album of the period so that's why it's not on the boxset. I've heard there are a couple different mixes of it floating around, the heavily reverbed one and a more clean sounding one.

He was fun live when I saw him 3 or so years ago. Now you guys have me thinking I need the box set.

nice one GUYS

I really want that box set; would buy it if I had the money.

Very excited to post tomorrow's album. Searched around and found two active links for it, so everyone should be able to hear it!

I guess after you, it's me, right?

Or do I have to email Cave17Matt?

Schedule: This week (starting Thursday): TalRose. Next week: Shin Oliva Suzuki. After that...well, we'll see now won't we?

― T Bone Streep (Cave17Matt), Tuesday, May 4, 2010 1:11 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark

^ think you're all set

Week 3

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nXL1xrjzwNw/R7QNDMz1l6I/AAAAAAAADso/U-ePidXqQ50/s320/karma-front.JPG

Karma-Karma 1972

Though I was sort of eager to change up decades, I HAD to post this as my first entry into the ILM BLC. I first heard about this on the Brazi1ian Nuggets blog (and it's still there; it's also still up on Mutant 50unds), and it blew me away like none of the other albums on the blog did. The best I can say about this is that it takes almost every hallmark of '70s folk-pop and illuminates them. Gorgeous vocal harmonies, billowing woodwinds, incredible acoustic guitar playing, and deep cellos give this a very identifiable sound, but one that this group really nails in a very distinctive way. In some parts, the music reaches the heights of mid-late '60s Beatles. A totally overlooked, radiant gem.

Another bonus: On iTunes, this precedes Pharaoh Sanders' Karma, and the albums sound great when played back-to-back.

nice, can't wait to check it out

sounds interesting!

never knew about the pharaoh sanders connection

wow yeah super-Beatle-y harmonies on this. nice!

also sorta Secos y Molhados, a bit? without the glam/prog rock overtones

This is pretty fantastic! It reminds me of some other Brazilian stuff, but also this Chilean group Congregacion's album "Viene". It's a lot more melancholy than this, but I think you might like it.

Haha, just noticed the dude with the triple guitar in the stained-glass cover art.

this isn't on Spotify :(

I had no problem getting it from the Mut4nt S0unds blog.

Jorge Amiden is like the Brazilian Syd Barret. And he founded O Terço, I guess the most popular Brazilian prog band

Not getting into this album at all. I haven't been able to make myself listen to the whole thing even.

well, it's no Space Jam sdtk

That's not the one I voted for anyway.

It's more languid and droopy than I'm in the mood for at the moment. This jamming on "Blusa de Linho" just drags.

Sorry, I really can't listen to this. Maybe I shouldn't be in any listening clubs at all as I am very comfortable with making snap judgments these days and turning things off, deleting things, on impulse.

Do I have to give back my listening club t-shirt?

no you can just stop posting

It's languid in a good way--that 60s psychedelic feel, the harmonies...

think I'd enjoy it more if I like the beatles

it does get better as it goes on

liked

Do you want your listeners club t-shirt back also?

Hey, if you don't like it, then that's ok. Thought I'd post it because it's a '70s-era Brazil pop album that's not by anyone on a Soul Jazz comp and, for me at least, is very good. Personally, I'm surprised at the comment about "endless" jamming since the song times are rather brief in comparison to a lot of other psych music from this period.

I like it and would probably never have heard of it otherwise, so thanking u

Ok, I'm using special privileges for being Brazilian and I'm picking two records this week (I know Cave17Matt won't be very happy but it will be for a good cause).

The first one is 'Os Afro-Sambas' (1966) by Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes.

From Dusty Groove America:

Os Afro Sambas -- a record that completely transformed the sound of Baden Powell's music, and showed the world he had much deeper talents than just simple bossa guitar! The session was done in collaboration with poet Vinicius De Moraes, with additional vocals from Quarteto Em Cy -- and the sound is a completely captivating blend of rootsy percussion, airy guitar, and poetic vocals -- held together with a unique magic that was hardly ever duplicated again! There's a genius here that's hard to peg, but which is apparent from the very first note -- and equal credit should possibly also be given to producer Roberto Quartin, who managed to make the whole thing happen with an echoey brilliance that's almost as important as the music itself. Titles include the original version of "Canto De Ossanha", plus "Tempo de Amor", "Tristeza E Solidao", "Lamento De Exu", "Bocoche", and "Canto De Xango". (Note: there is a slight dip in sound on the first minute or so of the record -- and this is a tragic flaw in the original mastering, and not in this pressing.)

http://beto.ziriguidum.fotoblog.uol.com.br/images/photo20080311075521.jpg

My other choice is Lula Côrtes & Zé Ramalho's 'Paêbirú' (1975). This is probably the rarest and the most expensive vinyl record in Brazilian Market ($ 2000 for a good copy). I can hear Luiz Gonzaga, Cecil Taylor, heavy psychedelia and even Nick Drake in it! But since my English is not that good there's a good review about it from Stylus:

http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/lula-crtes-e-z-ramalho/pabir.htm

What of history, and context? What if Astral Weeks and There’s a Riot Goin’ On had never been given a chance carve their place in the pop music landscape? Such is the case of Paêbirú, a 1975 collaboration between Brazilian artists Lula Côrtes and Zé Ramalho. With most copies purportedly destroyed in a warehouse fire, Paêbirú has remained a holy-grail for collector’s willing to shell out the cheddar (like, 1,300 cheddars) for this psychedelic opus. And while it’s a stretch to assume any album can run with the luminary discs mentioned above, it’s tempting to dream that every once in a while history will uncover a lost classic and drop a fully-formed world-beater into our grubby little hands.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a7/Paebiru.jpg

very interesting!

be prepared

That's funny, I just listened to Os Afro Sambas this morning; what a beautiful album! My CD of it also comes with Powell's "A Vontade" from 1963--it's interesting that that recording (on Elenco) actually sounds "nicer" or higher fidelity at least than does "Os Afros Sambas".

Paêbirú is one of my favorites, but as I think pfunkboy is alluding to above, it is definitely not going to be everyone's cup of tea. It does, as you say, touch on an amazingly broad number of reference points while also being entirely its own thing. This would have been one of my picks for the club for sure (maybe I'll pick something else from the Cortes/Ramalho axis).

no, it was a joke about the scouting movement founder :)

ha, I'd forgotten about that nominal connection! (and only just noticed on Wikipedia that he's named after the scouting founder; jokes: I understand them after doing research)

so far this thread is a fave of mine. keep 'em coming!!! and thanks!

os afro sambas is one of my all-time faves. great choice!

best makeout album ever?

also i want to say that jorge ben in the 70s rivals stevie wonder in just releasing a slew of the best shit ever made

― david foster ballaz (m bison), Saturday, March 13, 2010 8:41 PM (2 months ago) Bookmark

In short: Jorge Ben should be as widely known and loved as say, Stevie Wonder.

― elephant rob, Friday, April 30, 2010 10:10 AM (1 week ago) Bookmark

hi 5

rite now, i am feelin like africa brasil's highs are unparalleled but end-to-end, Ben is song after song amazing

I dunno about this Lula Cortes album - I'm not saying its bad, I just find it perplexing. veers rather wildly from one thing to another

haven't listened to the whole thing but was digging what I heard

Shit, I need to spend MORE time on ilx, these days.

http://loronix.blogspot.com/

yeah that blog is bananas

This week's pick for me:
Antônio Carlos e Jocáfi - Cada Segundo

http://www.garcianeto.net/2009/09/antonio-carlos-jocafi-discografia.html

Also, Emilio Santiago's 1975 self-titled has gotten a fair amount of play, lately

OH!, also:
Osmar Milito - ...E Deixa O Relogio Andar! (1971)

http://300discos.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/cg02-osmar-milito-e-deixa-o-relogio-andar1.jpg

How do I make Osmar Milito - ...E Deixa O Relogio Andar! semen rapide?

http://www.filestube.com/3b5f4c6b51c0d5fa03ea,g/Osmar-Milito-E-Deixa-O-Relogio-Andar.html

hi 5

yes!

veers rather wildly from one thing to another

undeniably true. This is definitely a YMMV kinda album. I got into it through the quieter, less spazz-guitar parts: the piano stuff at the end of "Omm", the Indian-influenced raga-type stuff. For me the whole thing only cohered after repeated listening and now I love the whole mess.

Need to listen to these latest offerings this weekend. Thanks y'all

This week's pick for me:
Antônio Carlos e Jocáfi - Cada Segundo

Rapper Marcelo D2 (and producer Mario Caldato - yes, the Beastie Boys one) sampled Antonio Carlos e Jocafi's 'Kabaluerê' in 'Qual É'. Both songs are beyond awesome for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfj9YQOhUvk

Nevermind the 'Jobim', dude who uploaded the video must be nuts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL-1Ss2srvE

producer Mario Caldato - yes, the Beastie Boys one)

Surely you mean the Young MC one!

Too many people make the mistake of thinking it's Jobim & Jocafi.

Man, the Beasties are cool.

that black rio comp is rly awesome

In re: Paebiru; this reviewer seems like kind of a dick but basically he sums up my feelings about it.

you think it's a hoax?

What this guy's saying in PopMatters is complete bullshit. And did you read what he writes at the end of the article?

* This is said purely for dramatic effect. I do actually believe that this record came out, albeit briefly, in 1975. However, if it turns out that this is a massive hoax, this note is null and void, and I want credit for discovery.

By the way, there's a Paêbirú doc in the making

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LvQD5O8v24

Shin, that's kind of a weird reaction considering a) The "dick" in question says that he likes the album you posted, and b) the end part is a footnote and obviously a gag. Otherwise, I'm enjoying your picks from this week. I'd never heard the Powell and de Moraes and think it's pretty hot.

I was just saying that the 'hoax theory' is absurd. Sorry if it sounded like overreaction.

praise for those Black Rio comps seconded, great stuff

My hackles went up when i started the review too, but I guess all he's saying is that it's hard to believe that a record of such genius almost totally vanished. Personally I don't think it is hard to believe, given how much amazing stuff came out of Brazil in the mid-70s, and once you hear other records from the Pernambuco psych scene, Paêbirú doesn't sound quite so completely out of the blue.

Also, just so you know, I AM THAT DICK WHO WROTE THAT REVIEW. And yes, I love the record, and yes, it was supposed to be kind of a joke.

I AM THAT DICK WHO WROTE THAT REVIEW

^^^oh new board name plz

I've been a bit absent from this listening club, but I just wanted to say I love love love Os Afro-Sambas, though I'm a bit torn whether I prefer the original 60s album or the new recording of these songs that Baden Powell made in the 90s. On the one hand, the original album has a cooler "psychedelic" sound and better backing vocals, but on the other hand, the 90s Os Afro-Sambas obviously has better sound quality in general, and I prefer Baden Powell's own vocals over Vinicius's... He has such a sweet and frail singing voice that it's always pleasure to listen to it. Also, while Baden Powell is not the best singer in the world technically, he certainly is better than Vinicius.

The other album is totally unknown to me, but I'll give it a listen and post some more thoughts later on.

Btw, I'd still be willing to do a week in this club, do I need to send an email or something? There were some instructions but I can't find the correct post anymore.

i prefer the original. i love the way that it sounds like it was recorded late at night in some apartment somewhere...

The original has so much more charm. And the way it gets that ethereal sound from such a low-quality recording is amazing.

Haha, Matt, you are a third-person using trickster!

http://sabadabada.com/music.htm

Wow

This probably will be a Nike ad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Ej6UvAmEU

There's stuff here that I haven't listened to yet, but should.

Dunno why I never posted here, I love this stuff...

There are several other great ILM Brazilian threads also

Expresso 2222 is the perfect before-bed record.

Weird, after I posted that YouTube of a Brazilian band in the Beirut thread, I thought, "I wonder what Matt C.'s up to."

Expresso 2222 is the perfect before-bed record.

Love how this unfolds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYFSjtPxEH0

The various Brazilian threads always remind me that I need to get more bossa and tropicalia music and other Brazilian items. Just got Red Hot and Rio 2 in the mail (and I like the Brazilians on it more than the Anglos on my first few listens)

if you guys want to get this back on track I will give you an assignment... shakey and tuomas never gave their picks so if they want to take it after this they can

Week #57

Jorge Ben - A Banda Do Zé Pretinho (1978)

there's no blurb on the internet about this one, allmusic doesn't even list it in his discography, but it's one of my fave jorge albums, an unappreciated gem in his sprawling discog, side b is a thing of perfection, a perfect summer album and a worthy follow up to africa brasil, happy hunting....

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/edwardiii/front.jpg

^^ will definitely check that out, always want more good Ben in my life. This revival gives me an excuse to post one of my favorite things on the internet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja7yBF5WzOk

if you guys want to get this back on track I will give you an assignment... shakey and tuomas never gave their picks so if they want to take it after this they can

d'oh! totally forgot when these threads started to fall off. um, would happily pipe back in.

Thought this revive was for Hermeto's 75th birthday tomorrow.

ok shakey c u next tuesday

will do!

btw, if you're in the US you can listen to Edward's pick on grooveshark: http://grooveshark.com/#/album/+1978+A+Banda+Do+Z+Pretinho/6145557.

cool, thx for that! it can be hard to find, even on the internets.

translation of track 4 is "where's the penalty?", another classic futbol song lol

Okay this Ben album is seriously great. I should have listened to you last year (I am "elephant rob" upthread).

side b is a thing of perfection

That is the truth. At first I wasn't sure about a whole album of slightly syrupy disco-samba, but the second half moves away from that to a more relaxed, Tabua-ish sound.

glad you are digging it!

I really don't understand the sequencing there. the back half is rife with his trademark beautiful languorous choruses but I'm not sure if anybody gets far enough into it to find out.

tracks 1, 5, 7-11 are all first rate. even some of the clangers have grown on me over time, tho. is it just me or does "bom dia, boa tarde" sound like he's trying to channel veloso?

"Languorous" is otm. And yes, "bom dia..." does have a downbeat, restrained quality to it that does sound a bit like Veloso.

turns out "bom dia, boa tarde" is in the fine tradition of ben recycling his own material, an earlier version is on 1967's o bidu silencio no brooklin.

looks like "amante amado" might be a veloso cover? or did he cover ben? internet is failing me but either way ben's version is way better...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSjflObz-LY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws3r24Uhu74

It sounds more like a Ben song than Veloso to me, especially the way the lines end in that drifty way I associate strongly with JB.

Paulo Bagunca "...E A Tropa Maldita" 1974
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQskStan7du5BpcP21K4R5cCvhzP2gwHkBKDOCEHGGxAi4yMSY_JQ

I know next to nothing about this record or the performer(s) that made it. What I do love about it is the combo of acoustic instruments and hard-driving, loose-limbed Brazilian funk rhythms. The guitars are bright and dense, the melodies sundazed and meandering, the percussion is fantastic, and there are flashes of horn parts, moog, and other great touches. it's like the perfect cross section of funk, folk, and samba to my ears. It bears some similarity to Tim Maia's 70s stuff (altho not as firmly rooted in American R&B) and Jorge Ben (altho not as pop-savvy or concisely arranged). Kinda hard to find any info (in English) about it, if anyone has any insights please chime in.

sweet

so this paulo bagunca album is really good

in some weird way it reminds of new zealand pop stuff, in that it's simultaneously droney and driving and tuneful

but yeah I'm liking it a lot!

looks like the whole thing is on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmt2YbI1Ajk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLUHqMfBsYI

Any recommendations (old or new albums)?