Os Mutantes - Haih Or Amortecedor

  by Maarten Schiethart

published: 12 / 9 / 2009

---

During the 1970s the Western world had it easy. Protest music could be recorded and get released on record without much interference. In Brazil though, the situation was very different. Os Mutantes did not only challenge the military authorities, but their psychedelic, wacky and controversial music met with great indifference. They were signed to one of the many legs of the mighty Philips company (nowadays Universal/Vivendi) but unlike labelmate Richard Hell, for example whose 'Blank Generation' hit the right chords straightaway, people outside of their native Brazil people only started to take notice of them around about 1984. From that moment on though, their reputation became unrivalled and a return to form (I'm born 1961 and heard them first around 1984) is the last I would have expected. Still, 'Haih or Amortecedor' - in spite of my lowly understanding of the Portuguese language - revokes that sense of rebellion and intellectual confrontation. As a complete travesty in time and style now, this album reminds of David Byrne's latest albums. The flow of words in the Portuguese lyrics deprives me of a genuine understanding, yet I have faith in the context even when there's little of it that I do understand. The wordsmith value I cannot vouch for - that'll take a few years of investigation and understanding - one thing remains certain, Os Mutantes haven't lost touch with reality. Smooth samba pop à la brasiliana that you can enjoy without ever understanding a single word; it's all there. 'Haih or Amortecedor' has been thirty five years in the making, though members like Tom Zé and Caetano Veloso have remained in high profile via David Byrne's Luaka Bop label. My first pick as a sound track is the 'Cuban són' track that mentions Fidèl, Chavèz and other heroes who withstood those "imperialistas americanos." Fidel is still alive, Chavèz may have become a complete prat but having back Os Mutantes simply is a great thrill. El vivo Os Mutantes!

Track Listing:-

1 Hyms Of The World P.1 (Intro)
2 Querida Querida
3 Teclar
4 2000 E Agarrum
5 Baghdad Blues
6 O Careca
7 O Mensagerio
8 Anagrama
9 Samba Do Fidel
10 Neurociencia Do Amor
11 Nada Mudou
12 Gopala Krishna Om
13 Hyms Of The World P.2 (Final)

Label Links:-

http://epitaph.com/
https://www.facebook.com/epitaphrecords
http://epitaphrecords.tumblr.com/
http://www.kingsroadmerch.com/epitaph-records/region/
https://twitter.com/epitaphrecords
https://www.youtube.com/epitaph

Post A Comment

---

Comment

Name

your name

Location

ie London, UK

Submit

Check box to submit

Adam Coxon
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson

Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart

Malcolm Carter
Marie Hazelwood
Mark Rowland
Nick Dent-Robinson
Nicky Crewe
Nige Nudds
Philamonjaro
Richard Lewis
Shirley Procter
Spencer Robertshaw
Steev Burgess
Steve Kinrade

Steve Miles
Tommy Gunnarsson
Zena Grieg