Sound Colour Vibration (Music | Art | Film | Technology | Science | Culture)

São Paulo Underground are one mind blowing group and the trio’s stature has risen yet another level with the release of their latest full length Três Cabeças Loucuras on Cuneiform Records. To describe this group takes length as each song they create falls into completely different and unrelated pathways of modern music that manage to find a home together. Tropicalia, experimental jazz, progressive rock and many other territories of sound become overly present when you hear this new record of theirs but it’s done in the most blended and coalesced way. The pure psychedelia of the record removes any darkness or shade that might have existed from the album and shines out bright colors of emotions in every direction. To trace any one song, you’d need to really break down every component and really understand music in a world context. The emotion behind it all is as clear as day though and really makes this one compelling vehicle of music.

São Paulo Underground at the heart of the group is a three piece including American cornetist Rob Mazurek and his Brazilian bandmates Guilherme Granado on electronics/keys and Mauricio Takara on drums, percussion, cavaquinho and electronics. To round out the rhythmic positioning and possibilities of the group on Três Cabeças Loucuras, they have added drummer Richard Ribeiro for a completely different dimension of percussive approach. You can really feel all of the natural sounds that come from both percussionists that gives it that authentic Brazilian framework and identity.

The experimental and electric jazz work Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock brought to the world in the 70′s comes through in full on Três Cabeças Loucuras, especially the phrasing Rob Mazurek brings to the album. At moments he glides over the rhythms and others he completely opens up and shatters the vibrancy and flow of the music. It’s incredible when you really hear someone giving every last part of themselves inside a note and Rob Mazurek achieves that level of dedication with every line.

What really makes this album so unique is how much they take from groups as removed in terms of time and followings as Jaga Jazzist and Os Mutantes or Stereolab and The Soft Machine. They somehow find their own with tracks stretching limitations like you would not believe. Regardless of the level of experimentalism, there is always a state of groove that exists in every track that comes off as much of a celebration as it is a travel into progressive compositions.

Released late last year by one of our favorite labels Cuneiform Records, Três Cabeças Loucuras is a CD/LP press I am still trying to process in terms of the different approaches to sound they were able to connect together. This album is huge and one that I think will grab the ears of many different types of people. Tropicalia never sounded this modern and alive post 70′s.

Erik Otis

Order the CD, LP or Digital from Cuneiform Records HERE