HAIH... OR AMORTECEDOR...

Most of the "old bands" are not the same anymore by the listening of their new albums. I thought that was impossible to do, nowadays, a sound-like the 70's... until I listen to this album. Os Mutantes are back, and they brought their crazy ideas and their originallity to our ears (thank God!). Do you like Mutantes? Listen to this, I bet you'll like! You still don't know the band? So you must know: it's not the best neither the worst, it's a very good album!

Arrangements: All arrangements are as complex and progressive as in the old times. The rhythmic changes, the structure, and the large sort of instruments used in this work still can be recognized like "Os Mutantes". Sérgio is still a very good solist on his guitar, and made an amazing job in this album. The solos are short, is truth, but with high quality. I felt Os Mutantes heavier than ever. The sound of the instruments has beautiful colors.

Voices: Os Mutantes, since always, were well-knowned by the great voice job. In this work, it was not different. The Sérgio's voice continues strong and precise, the choirs well done, with all voices working in perfect harmony. The female voice, I must confess, are the worse part of this subject. I felt like they've tried to have another "Rita Lee" voice on the band (too much high, too much screechy), and that´s a step down. It's impossible to substitute a musician, specially a singer. But when a vocalist leaves a band, instead searching for a copy, is better to try something different (just like they've done when Zelia Duncan became a member of the band).

Lyrics: Funny, intelligent, ironic, sometimes empty, sometimes critical (like Samba do Fidel) but always unusual, always original.

Tracks: 01. Hymns Of The World P.1 (Intro) 0:32 Nothing special, just voices to make a mystery. It's a Putin's speech.

02. Querida Querida 4:13 Amazing! Maybe the best song of the album. It's a powerfull song, very rocky, with voices singin together. It has a good guitar, good feeling and complex arrangements.

03. Teclar 3:11 Good song. Starts a quite acoustic, with castanholas, a spanish-like sound. There's a good melody, sweeter than the last song.

04. 2000 e Agarrum 3:21 Interesting song. Although, it seemed to me that they've tried to compose a kind of "Dois Mil e Um" part 2. But, at this time, the focus was a mix between tipical brazillian-north-east sound and bolero. In the middle of the 2 rythmic changes, a part that reminds me their first album.

05. Baghdad Blues 5:17 Nice song! It's a very theatrical composition. In fact, it's a blues well made, but it missed the guitar solo (what a shame!). Unfortunatelly, the lyrics are not as good as the song.

06. O Careca 3:55 It seemed to me that it was inspired on "Minha Menina". So, this song is not much original. Although, I would like to say that the bass guitar deserves aplauses. It's a good song, but nothing special.

07. O Mensageiro 3:59 Beautiful song. The most simple and objective of this album. Maybe the most comercial too. Nice moment when the guitar appears doing a little solo.

08. Anagrama 4:12 To me, the worst song of the entire album. It's an acoustic song, but I felt a bit boring.

09. Samba Do Fidel 5:31 If you liked "Cantor de Mambo", for sure you will like this song, because it's the same idea. It's a Carlos Santana style. Good song. Lyrics very critical and intelligent (speaks about politic and brazilian issues).

10. Neurociência do Amor 4:09 Good, but not special. The riff that introduces the song is very progressive, you may think "wow, a great song", but, unfortunately, the quality of this song goes getting lower.

11. Nada Mudou 5:15 What saves this song is the vocal arrangements. The bass is very good. There are good instrumental passages here, specially at the end of the track. That's all.

12. Gopala Krishna Om 3:38 A psichedelic moment of the album. A bit weird. The words are in English most of the time. This song didn't call my attention.

13. Hymns Of The World P.2 (Final) 1:50 The same idea of the first track, but, at this time, just to complete the idea and nothing more.

Well, I decided to give 3 stars because of the still progressive style of the band (and that's not easy to keep it nowadays), the great ideas on the album, the exellent execution (tecnical and beyound the tecnic), the quality of the recording and because I liked 9 of the 11 tracks (the first one and the last doesn't count!). Indeed, the album starts better than it ends, and does not brings any masterpiece to our ears; but, being realistic, this is a rare 70's band that still keeps the style and NEVER surrender itself to the comercial industry.

Viva Mutantes!