OS MUTANTES

For some reason,the new music that was being made in Brazil in the late 60's had something quite worthy of attention.Few managed to incorporate the summer of love so well(and then turn it into something of their own),as did the young generation of upcoming musicians in the country at the time.And ,as with everything worthy of artistic notice from that period,the Tropicalism was more a feeling than it was an ideal of any kind.

This album has always been,since it's release and maybe even more so today,a fascinating listen,Those who speak portuguese will surely notice the lysergic poetry of the lyrics,and those who don't will be hypnotised by the spiral melodies that orbitate around all sorts of bizarre noises.As one of the true works of art generated by the Tropicalists,and self-consciously so,Os Mutantes is sort of a latin equivalent to The Piper at the Gates of Dawn,as an album that perfectly captured the spirit of a time and place.As with Pink Floyd's debut,this album stands alone in the band's repertoire as a beautiful gem of the 60's,a record that transcended it's own creators immaturity to become a somewhat important piece of musical history,Songwriting would be refined later on,but the final product could never be so precious again.

Just listen to Panis Et Circences.It has something of "A Day in the Life" to it,but the lullaby mood of the whole thing,with carefully constructed vocal harmonies,makes it unique.Bat Macumba is equally impressive and even more bizarre,but the point is:somehow,in the end it's all joyfull to be heard.It's pure Carpe Diem all the way through,and the scent of purple haze in the studio can be unmistakeably felt, coming out of the speakers forever.

Anyone who's now discovering just how phenomenal was the music in the late 60's shouldn't miss this album.It is a psychedelic masterpiece of the finest brand,and really can be placed alongside with groundbreaking albums from that period,from Trout Mask Replica to Dr.John's Gris-Gris.