TUDO FOI FEITO PELO SOL

For such well known, groundbreaking and respected band like Mutantes, Tudo Foi Feito Pelo Sol got surprisingly few comments and reviews, which contribuited to my desire to write mine. By the time this album was out the only remaining original band member was guitarist Sergio Dias Baptista. Mutantes had lost not only the creative mind of Arnaldo Dias Baptista but also the services of the celebrated bass player Liminha (who would in future years become one of the best and most sought of producers in south america). Sergio was never really comfortable as a band leader and although he did find excellent musicians to fill in the blanks, the group never regain their former status or groundbreaking production. Still, they were capable of delivering a superb prog album with Tudo Foi Feito Pelo Sol.

When it came out it was met by a good reception from the prog audience in Brazil - it sold pretty well for the style - and, not entirely surprising, received some quite harsh remarks from critics, who called them mere copycats of "foreign music". Without Arnaldo Dias Batista genial touch and Rita Lee's penchant for mockery Mutantes were incapable of being the anarchic, original and musical mixed bag they once were famous for. And although part of it was true, I (and many others) always felt the "new" Mutantes did have their own take of prog music and some of their brazilian roots were still there.

Listening to the album nowadays I still think they were really fantastic and wish this line up could hold on and deliver a follow up (personnel changes plagued the band from then on), but they would not. Songs like the instrumental Pitagoras, Desanuviar and the title track are fine prog tunes that made us feel so proud of having our own symphonic progressive band during the heyday of the style. We were starving for something like that! Other more rocking tracks like O Contrario de Nada ' Nada and Eu So Penso em Te Ajudar were also good ones and sure live favorites to dance to, but clearly were not the best of their repertoire (a whole prog album would be more fitting, but then they'd be even more criticized if they did so). Anyway, the point is: all songs are at least good, inspired and very well performed and produced. That in a time when recording facilities in Brazil were few and people who actually knew how to use it even rarer. The instrumental parts are really powerful but one thing that really stands out for me are the vocals: although Sergio does not have the greatest voice, he knew how to sing even the most difficult parts and the harmonies were elaborated, original and spot on, something most brazilian bands lacked badly, then and now.

All in all a very good prog album that stood well the test of time. I know it is not like their previous works, but it is an excellent effort, specially if you like symphonic prog, with strong Yes and Italian influences.