Various: Brazil 70: After Tropicalia (Soul Jazz)

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Various: Brazil 70: After Tropicalia (Soul Jazz)

The earlier Tropicalia collection of revolutionary Brazilian music from 1968 posted some months ago (see tag) will set you up for this excellent 19 track compilation subtitled "New Directions in Brazilian Music in the 1970s".

Crushed by the military, the Tropicalia movement -- which explored a fusion of folkloric music, funk, psychedelia and soundtrack styles -- was scattered when some of its prime movers were deported (Caetano Veloso, Gilbereto Gil) and others went underground.

But the unstated manifesto found supporters among other musicians who, while not formally allied to a "movement" as such, still explored the musical possibilities in pockets of the country and with like-minded fellow travellers.

This collection brings together a number of these artists in a set which may give the appearance of more coherence than there actually was -- but the music is still exciting and diverse, and offers a starting point to explore the music of people such as the great Tom Z whose avant-garde experimentalism caught the ear of Talking Heads' David Byrne.

Fascinating and a companion volume (with an excellent essay) to that previous collection.

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