Back in February we launched a brand new show, Brasil Music Exchange, in partnership with Brasil Música e Artes, a non-profit organization for the promotion of Brazilian music around the world and Apex-Brasil, the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency. Presented by Brazilian music expert Jody Gillett, the programme showcases the best new music from all over the country. Episode 2 has just gone live, and here Jody talks us through the latest show and delves a little deeper into some of the artists featured…
"The Brazilian independent scene, once discounted as marginal hustle, is now the source of some of the country’s most celebrated and successful artists. Generating their own fan-bases and making music on their own terms, many of them are defining the sound of Brazil today. Unexpected breakthroughs are happening. Like Criolo, from the São Paulo hip hop underground - now a major national star, whose discourse remains as soul-searching and militant as ever. And Gaby Amarantos, local hero of the long ignored Amazon rave scene - this year’s Coca Cola World Cup queen. New sounds are bubbling all over Brazil – in Brasil Music Exchange we love to find them and share them with you.
We’re jumping from north to south in this edition of Brasil Music Exchange, playing the very best new music from Recife and Rio de Janeiro.
In the late 1960s Rio’s Tropicalia poured a heady dose of psychedelia into Brazil’s pop horizons and in the 90s Recife’s Manguebeat fused maracatu with rock, dub and a conscious revival of North-Eastern pride. Both of these movements were hugely significant - pivotal moments that shook up perceptions of what Brazil should or could sound like.
Today musicians from Rio and Recife channel heritage, jettison it, or somehow pull the trick of doing both things simultaneously. In this show, we salute the heavy, prowling sound of Manguebeat godfathers Nação Zumbi.
It’s impossible to overstate how important this band is in Recife’s music history. They were central to the Manguebeat movement which kicked off an unprecedented wave of cultural innovation there in the 90s. What had been considered a sleepy North-Eastern backwater became one of Brazil’s most influential music hubs and continues to be today. Crucial to the movement, and to Nação Zumbi’s sound, is the mix of global currents like rock, dub and punk with traditional rural rhythms like maracatu and coco. Nação Zumbi have a heavy, heavy sound, powered by full on electric guitar brawls and deep bass alfaia drums. Their charismatic frontman Chico Science tragically died just as they broke through. Nação Zumbi is constantly cited as one of the all-time most influential bands in Brazil. Their new album is out April 2014. Glastonbury – listen up, you need NZ!
We also hear the funky afrobeat of charismatic rapper BNegão.
The fact that charismatic rapper BNegão was selected to represent Rio de Janeiro (along with Seu Jorge and Marisa Monte) at the Olympics hand-over ceremony in London 2012 was totally deserved. He’s a gifted and generous presence on the Rio music scene and a phenomenally versatile artist. He hit the big time as MC with the rap/rock group Planet Hemp, a hugely successful band in Brazil. Going solo over a decade ago he was an early copyleft pioneer and has released two award-winning albums, with countless collaborations in between - from metal mash ups to sweet samba duets. Funk, soul, afrobeat, jazz and dub – BNegão’s mantra is “livre” (free) and his hip hop riffs on all fronts, all frequencies."
You can listen to Episode 2 of Brasil Music Exchange on Mixcloud here.
Here's the full tracklist for the show:
Recife
1. Nação Zumbi - Hoje, Amanha e Depois
The heavy, prowling sound of Manguebeat’s godfathers.
2. Siba - A Bagaceira
Carnival tales from Siba’s personal folklore.
3. Alessandra Leão - Luzia, Rainha do Baianá/Tombo do Navio
A tribute to North-Eastern roots with liquid guitars.
4. Lulina - Areia
Floating whispers, beachside.
5. Orquestra Contemporanea de Olinda - No Ar
Big brass and a serious rhythm section.
6. DJ Dolores - Cancão Para Zara
Balkan twists + Recife beats by DJ maverick Dolores.
7. Catarina - Intercumbia
Future-forward bolero featuring Academia da Berlinda.
Rio de Janeiro
8. Orquestra Imperial - Tamancas do Cateretê
The swinging sound of new and old Rio combined.
9. BNegão & os Seletores de Frequência - Alteração (Éa!)
Changing the afrobeat frequency with rapper BNegão.
10. Seu Jorge and Almaz - Errare Humanum Est
A dark, spacey take on vintage Jorge Ben.
11. Cícero - Duas Quadras
Sweet, stripped-back, home-made melancholy.
12. Kassin - O Que Você Quiser
A left-field love song with psych guitars.
13. Mahmundi - Leve
Glitchy beats, smoky vocals, new MPB.
