Passive Aggressive is a blog, fanzine and free music archive based in Copenhagen. Read the article and full track list/ vinyl liner notes below.
ABOUT THE MIX.
This
mix is a 100% vinyl 25-track blend of native Indian music, experimental
1970’s sound, capoeira songs and Afro-Brazilian ritual music and
chanting.
The intention with this mix is
to enhance the experience of the beautiful and simplistic Indian tribal
music by placing it together with contemporary music and (semi) religious Afro-Brazilian styles. The process of the Epic Vinyls From Brazil mixes are a long
selection.
It often happens that I discover new tracks
or albums I want to buy during the research and mix selection process.
Depending on price and availability I might buy these records, but they
never make it to the mix, they are used as fuel and inspiration for the
coming EVFB projects - thus ensuring an ongoing project that never ends.
The process of filing through hundreds of records. Along the way
comes ideas for mix tapes - often inspired by two or three songs. The
dogma rules are only vinyl owned by EVFB, only Brazilian composed music -
or music recorded by Brazilian artists. The mix must be under 1 hour.
Effects and scratches are allowed during the recording process.
Featured
artists: Tom Zé, Hermeto Pascoal, Airto Moreira, Djalma Corrêa, Paulo
Diniz, Wando, Milton Nascimento, Dorival Caymmi, Camafeu de Oxossi, Elza
Soares.
BROADCAST TIMES
On Resonance104.4fm across London, online and on digital Saturday July 9th 11-Midnight on Resonance104.4fm (2-3am GST).
Repeats Tuesday 4am UK time (7am GST)
Free Lab Radio also plays out on digital across Brighton and online the following Friday 19:30-20:30 UK time (10:30-11.30pm GST) on Resonance Extra
For other Free Lab Radio mixes visit www.mixcloud.com/fari
facebook.com/FreeLabRadio
When you live in Brazil as a foreigner, you come to a certain point
where you have to ask yourself what happened to the native Indians? And
where are they?” And as a DJ/researcher you wonder if there exists an
influence on the Brazilian music. My first meeting with native
Brazilians was in a hectic environment in the eviction-targeted old
Indian Museum next to Maracanã Stadium in Rio and then on a Sunday
street market in Porto Alegre, Brazil’s southernmost state capital where
I bought jewellery and figurines off a small group that hardly spoke Portuguese.
And then suddenly, a day in november 2014 at a
street vendor’s stall in Recife, Pernambuco, appeared before my eyes an
album entitled Xingú. Now Xingú is one of the most known tribes/areas in
Brazil for those who take interest in the native population, due to the
Xingú river and the feature movie of the same name. but I’ve never seen
that album before and had to get it. I’d never seen an album dedicated
to native Brazilian culture. Only some minor bits and pieces on the bird
recordings from the Amazon that I collect. Unfortunately, the street
vendor saw the spark in my eyes and pushed me to pay far more than I
would ever pay in a street stall. I still don’t regret it now. The Xingú
album has some amazing and dreamlike chants and vocal pieces - and was
even published on the Philips label. Another album - Kapoor - was found
deep in the crates in Botafogo and luckily I was given a huge discount
on that one, because these two pieces of rare music culture form a
uniting force on this mixtape. It's the glue that keeps the mix
together.
On the ABOM-2 mix, I’ve squeezed 25 tracks in on less
than an hour. It’s a deep mix. Unlike ABOM-1 it is not destined for
bouncing the head or dancing. It is a journey into the depths and
sources of Brazilian native music - uniting the three cultures that
Brazilians has been taught to make up their identity: Indian, portuguese
and african. At the request of the Passive/Aggressive blog, it is also
an introductory mix to get aquainted with some off-the-grid names in
Brazilian music.
“Every Brazilian, even the light skinned fair
haired one carries about him on his soul, when not on soul and body
alike, the shadow or at least the birthmark of the aborigine or the
negro, in our affections, our excessive mimicry, our Catholicism which
so delights the senses, our music, our gait, our speech, our
cradlesongs, in everything that is a sincere expression of our lives, we
almost all of us bear the mark of that influence.” Gilberto Freyre-
Anthropologist - from his epos on Brazilian culture “The Masters and the
Slaves”, 1933.
The late 60’s and 70’s spurred massive creativity
with sound and rhythm in Brazil, often drawing on regional and
historical sound sources and inspiration, hence the tracks in this mix
by master musicians Hermeto Pascoal, Tom Zé, Djalma Corrêa, Milton
Nascimento and Airto Moreira. I was incrediblylucky to find a 10” record
with tracks from Tom and Djalma together. Tom Zé’s albums are rare and
very expensive - and of course incredible work!
Another main
feature on the PAB-1 mix is the african and afrobrazilian religious
tracks - devotions to Umbanda and Candomblé. Both religions are today
accepted as a national heritage and I find it is important to showcase
this cultural pillar and at the same time the music is compelling and
very straightforward. Chanting and choral parts are in abundance!
This
mix is an 25-track intense mixture of native indian music, experimental
1970’s sound, capoeira songs and afro Brazilian ritual music and
chanting. Some of these elements are present in the three MPB songs that
are placed in the mix to balance out the listening experience keeping
the mix fresh and the sound evolving.
The intention with this mix is
to enhance the experience of the beautiful and simplistic native tribal
music by placing it together with contemporary music and religious
Afro-Brazilian styles.
The process of the EVFB mixes
are a long selection process of filing through hundreds of records.
Along the way comes ideas for mix tapes - often inspired by two or three
songs.The dogma rules are only vinyl owned by EVFB, only Brazilian
composed music - or music recorded by Brazilian artists. The mix must be
under 1 hour. Effects and scratches are allowed during the recording
process. Often hours of work are put aside because the mix does not
“stick together” after the initial recording. It often happens that I
discover new tracks or albums I want to buy during the research and mix
selection process. Depending on price and availability I might buy these
records, but they never make it to the mix, they are used as fuel and
inspiration for the coming EVFB projects - thus ensuring an ongoing
project that never ends.
01.
00:00-01:05
Méné:Uirinã Pui - solo bamboo flute
Album: Kapoor - Cantos e Passarósnão morrem, Unicamp, 1988
I
stumbled upon this amazon collectionof flute play and native indian
chants while digging in a Rio store in the Botafogo neighborhood. The
crate I was looking through was entitled “poetry and theatre” and I was
thrilled when I found this album - not being able to find anything
online about it. Imanaged to negotiate a reasonable price and here it is
- spreading it to the world. The recordings are based on field work by
theUniversity of Campinas in São Paulo state. It is clearly stamped“not
for sale” and includes a personally signed informationletter. So I guess
we are talking 500-1000 units tops. The sound isgreat and the insight
into the flute play even better. Enjoy thisrare piece of native music
from the heart, where the playing style ismerely “singing into the
flute”
02.
01:05-03:46
TomZé: Toc - org. released on “Estudando o Samba” (ScrutinizingSamba), 1976
Composer: Tom Zé
Album: Nova História da MPB:Hermeto Paschoal, Djalma Corrêa, Walter Franco, Tom Zé. AbrilCultural 10”, 1979
Tom
Zé is a living legend. And “Toc” isa driving and minimalistic track
with a strong sense of rhythm wherethe staccato horns seems to take the
role of the samba drums.The“Estudando o Samba” album marked his take on
the samba - one ofmany Brazilian music styles but perhaps the most known
one. Andamazing and unique album, that is hard to find on vinyl today,
thealbum was widely overlooked when it came out in 1976 and features
aknown bossa track - “A Felicidade”. It is written by Tom Jobimand
immortalized in the 1959 movie “Black Orpheus” by MarcelCamus - a
romantic and stunning portrait of Rio in the happy 1950’s.Before that
Tom Zé had moved from Bahia to São Paulo andcontributed to the (equally
rare) Tropicália album that defined the“brazil psych sound” from the
1960’s and onward. He is veryrespected and completely his own. Still
active as an artist andcollabs often with young artists. Unfortunately
he cancelled his gigat Danish Roskilde Festival 2015 - I was looking so
much forward tohis show.
Full album link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZevnHRcibU
03.
03:46-06:00
Megarontribe members: Canta das Almas (Song of the Souls)
Album: XinguCantos e Ritmos, Philips, 1972
Another
rare album with some simplybreathtaking chants. Although almost 1
million Brazilian natives andseveral uncontacted tribes exist in Brazil,
the native tribes areunder constant threats from money-making projects -
farming,forestation and dam construction. The Megaron tribe are
currentlybeing threatened by dam building in Brazil - you can see more
in thedoc below.
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I61FTg_DwQE#t=139
04.
06:00-08:05
MiltonNascimento: Catavento (Weathercock)
Album: Travessia, Som Livre,1978
Org. released on Ritmos in 1967
I
found this wordlesstrack incredibly beautiful and a great contrast to
the vocal drivenSong of the Souls that proceeds it. It is from Milton’s
debut album- reprinted in 1978 for the first time. The theme is purely
Milton -flute and a catchy, light melody that buries itself deep in
yourmemory and let you dream away. Milton is a master songwriter and
wasbehind the “Clube da Esquina” album and the high pitched “FéCega Faca
Amolada” track.
Full album link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Juqqc0UNxRU
05.
08:05-08:25
Vatapáintro drums
Album: Gal Canta Caymmi, Philips, 1976
Percussion:Bira da Silva + Aladim
This
is to this day one of my favoritealbums and the arrangements are by two
great heroes of the funkyBrazilian jazz: João Donato and Antonio
Adolfo. The sound on thisalbum is absolutely amazing, crisp and loud.
It
is a pureafrobrazilian percussion beat that I always play for the EVFB
DJ gigsand I’ve wanted to put it in a mix in a while. One day I might
doan edit of this.
Full album link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkhvt2go3Dw
06.
08:25-11:05
Gabrielde Souza Carvalho: Tocororô (Spirit call)
Album: Axêxê,Caritas, 1994 reissue
Org. released on Caritas in 1975
The“Caritas”
label, taking it’s name from a Vatican charityorganization, was a label
putting out candomblé and umbanda in the70s and 80s. In the mid-1990’s
they re-issued a whole range ofalbums and I stumbled upon 8 of them an
bought them on the spot. Isuspect the Locomotiva record store in São
Paulo to be sitting on apart of the re-issue stock. Umbanda and
Condomblé is the “voodoo”of Brazil. It is the remnants of the spiritism
of the african slavesworked into a semi-catholic context in a beautiful
way incorporatingmusic and spirit possession in an elegant way. Contrary
to theprejudices often linked to “voodoo”, the rituals are
quitestructured and transparent - the religions are also registered and
bylaw a national Brazilian heritage. The records are important
becausethey document ritual music. The Caritas albums are very different
-depending on the spirits and rituals the music is dedicated to.
Butmost often chanting and accompanied by swirling drums. As a
westerneryou do not necessarily perceive that this is “religious” music
-and I don’t really care because the quality and sound isunique.
The
Axêxê album is centered around rituals for the deathand departure of a
“candomblé” believer. The rituals aredifferent and treating the various
aspects such as division of goods,devotion to Egum, spirit travel
guidance and so on.
Link tocandomblé background:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candomblé
07.
11:05-12:45
AirtoMoreira: Identity
Composer: Airto Moreira
Album: Identity,Arista, 1975
Airto
is one of the great Brazilian percussionistsand jazz drummers - his
work is out there and very accessible. Hemoved to USA with Sergio Mendes
and launched his career based onstrong US jazz collaborations and as a
percussionist with WeatherReport. He is married to the vocalist Flora
Purim - and their rangeof albums are impressive. in 2008-2010 Airto
recorded and toured withthe great contemporary jazz composer and piano
player JacobAnderskov. His range of sound and use of alternative
instruments andvoice is incredible and this track sits perfect with the
mixincorporating chanting, berimbau and simplistic percussion.
Enjoyan interview and demo in English here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGerPngUGs8
08.
12:45-15:30
DjalmaCorrêa: Tudo Madeira (All Wood)
Album: Nova História da MPB:Hermeto Paschoal, Djalma Corrêa, Walter Franco, Tom Zé. AbrilCultural 10”, 1979
Org. released on the album “Biafro”,1978.
One
day in Rio de Janeiro I decided to go digging at therenowned Acarí
Street Market far out in Rio’s suburbs. It was arainy day, so there was
hardly no vinyl to be found and I settled onthe fact that I had been to
another #urbex spot in this huge city.The Acarí Market was made famous
in a “baile funk” track by MCBatata in 1990. On my way out I stumbled
upon a pile of vinyl andnegotiated a price on a good stack on
compilation 10”’s by Abril.These mini album was sold at newsstands in
the 70s and 80s and is agreat intro and source of information (there’s
12-16 pages withtext and photo included) for Brazilian music. Luckily
this particular10” holds tracks by Hermeto, Tom Zé and Djalma together -
greatstuff!! Djalma’s solo work (he’s a famous and much
usedpercussionist) was unknown to me. This is the closing track off
therare LP MPCB/Baiafro.
Full album link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BoKYY2PEz4
09.
15:30-19:20
Wando:Odoiá (Bless me, Iemanjá)
Composer: Chico De Assis, Wando
Album:Wando, Beverly, 1976
Simply a great minimalistic track by funkyMPB favourite Wando - a devotion to Iemanjá - Goddess of theSea.
10.
19:20-19:50
Caranguére tribe members: Canto doTracajá (Song of the Tortoise)
Album: Xingu Cantos e Ritmos,Philips, 1972
Another energizing chant from the Xingú album. Ipromise to upload the full album before the end of2015.
11.
19:50-22:45
Gabriel Souza Cavalho: AmuráSebiná
Album: Axêxê, Caritas, RE 1994
Org. released onCaritas in 1975
Second death ritual song from the strong voice andchoir of Gabriel.
12.
22:45-26:15
José Ribeiro,Vila Mavangu, Xô Apanevan: Exú
Album: No Reino de Angola,Caritas, 1994 (org. release 1987)
Full group name: José Ribeiro eSeus Filhos de Santo do Terreiro Egún Nita
Chant
for Exú. Thespirit (God) of movement, patience, communication, order
and decline.Defender of cities and human behavior. Often Exú receives
the firstoffering/devotion in a ceremony to make sure that the rest
ofschedule with the many different spirits will proceed asplanned.
Here’s a whole hour of Exú music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPTu3SIBtqM
13.
26:15-28:15
Nelson:Atanara
Album: Kapoor - Cantos e Passarós não morrem, Unicamp,1988
Tribal members interpreting their ancestral songs.
Thetitle
of the album is “Songs and Birds Never Die”. The Kapoortribe has been
recorded solo voice, solo flute or voice and maracas -the shaker also
present on many other tracks in this mix. The Kapoortribe hails from the
Maranhão state in NorthernBrazil.
14.
28:15-29:35
Renaxi/Peri: Macaco(Monkey)
Album: Kapoor - Cantos e Passarós não morrem, Unicamp,1988
Tribal members interpreting their ancestralsongs.
15.
29:35-31:15
Capoeira group Pernambuco:Ensinamentos (Teachings)
Album; Capoeira nos JEBs: Cantigas, Ed.MEC, 1984
JEB
is the annual Brazilian School Games that wasinitiated in the 1970s by
the Ministery of Sports. Annual meetingswith youth performing sports and
cultural activities. This recordingis from the 1984 edition and perhaps
the fact that the games tookplace in Brasília - home of the Ministery -
caused this recording tobe made. The young vocalist from Recife in
PErnambuca State talksabout the culture of Capoeira and the importance
of knowing historyand respecting your master - something totally in line
with the themeof this mixtape.
Enjoy some street capoeiristas from Recife inthis link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVcDWrDrVsE
16.
31:15-34:10
PauloDiniz: Gósto Aborrecido (Feeling bored/sad)
Composer: P. Diniz +Odibar
Album: …E agora José, Odeon, 1972
Diniz
is alsofeatured on the FCOB-2 mix and a favourite for EVFB DJ gigs.
This isa melancholic funk song that treats the loss of a loved person.
Dinizhas produced a line of great and rare albums.
x
Perexi:Puku’y (small part of song on drum break)
Album: Kapoor - Cantose Passarós não morrem, Unicamp, 1988
I blended the voice withthe breakbeat so it enhances the melancholy of the Paulo Dinizsong.
17.
34:10-35:20
Santina Toledo: Pisa na Linha deUmbanda (Step on the Umbanda line)
Album: Oxossi é Rei, Caritas,1985
Enter the ceremony, an opening song for an umbandaceremony.
A decent background story that includes umbanda:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr3zQRXzuvY
18.
35:20-38:05
Camafeude Oxossi: Babá Mixorô
Album: Berimbaus da Bahia, Continental,1967
A
great capoeira/berimbau album by a cultural lighthouse
andcapoeira/berimbau master of Bahia, Camafeu de Oxossi. The album
hasliner notes by none other than Jorge Amado - one of Brazil’sgreatest
writers.
The album is not overpriced and can be bought onDiscogs, so
if you like this song, move quickly. in the 1970’sCamafeu was president
of the spectacular Filhos de Ghandi Afoxécarnival group that ruled the
Salvador carnival with up to 10.000members playing fro-brazilian rhythms
and singing in the Iorubalanguage.
The “how to make a berimbau” video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwhsZ4NyRIo
19.
38:05-38:50
Alcione:Canção de Exílio (Exile Song)
Composer: Ubiratan Souza + SousaNeto
Album: Nosso Nome. Resistência, RCA, 1987
Alcione
is aBrazilian pop icon and this is a great intro to a frenetic afoxé
-the pre-dominant regional music in the state of Bahia. EVFB
normallydon’t deal in late 1980’s pop music, so this is a rare
exceptiondue to the realness of the drums.
Full track here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSOOXBkECO8
20.
38:50-42:15
ArlindoPires do Rio: Aguere de Iansã - Odurás (Prayers)
Album: Orikinde Iansã, Caritas, 1994 RE. Recorded at the Xangô Airá AufungêgeTemple
Iansã is the spirit (God) of wind, storm and passion(stormy relations).
21.
42:15-45:00
Dorival Caymmi:Afoxé
Composer: D. Caymmi
Arrangements, percussion DjalmaCorrêa
Album: Tenda dos Milagres, Som Livre, 1985
Dorival,
anEVFB favourite, is the marble pillar of traditional Bahian music.
This great percussion work, orchestrated by Djalma Corrêa,translates the
spirit-invoking power of the ritual drums into acontemporary pop sound.
Link to Dorivals first album from 1954:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjLzz7dho2U
22.
45:00-45:30
Tayaquim:Tukano
Album: Kapoor - Cantos e Passarós não morrem, Unicamp,1988
23.
45:30-49:45
Hermeto Paschoal: Slaves Mass(Missa dos Escravos)
Arrangements and percussion - including livepigs - by Airto Moreira
Album: Slaves Mass, Warner Bros., 1977
Yes,
Hermeto is this crazy albino percussionist evenplaying on animals. That
was early 2001 and the first time I heardabout Hermeto. His early works
are hard to find in Brazilianpressings and he's unique in the sense
that he is from a small townin Alagoas State and started playing in
strong instrumental groupsQuarteto Novo and Brazilian Octopus and
proceeded to be a Brazilianmusic darling even among great pop names.
Brazilian musicians loveHermeto because he's good and original - his
nickname is "theSorcerer" and I find his music multi-faceted and
culturally deepand rich. He's active and now lives in Curitiba.
Full album link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3q1WNArobw
24.
49:45-51:55
Salveo Povo da Bahia (Salute People of Bahia)
Album: Oxossi é Rei,Caritas, 1985
A repetitive, driving song dedicated to the peopleof Bahia, the centre of African culture inBrazil.
25.
51:55-55:00
Elza Soares: Malandro(Scoundrel)
Composer: Jorge Aragão + Jotabê
Album: Lição deVida, Tapecar, 1976
The
breakthrough song of now famous composerand samba vocalist Jorge Aragão
performed with great emotion by ElzaSoares. Elza soon turning 80 years
(I met her - wohoo), althoughsuffering from great back pains, is still
performing amazing liveshows and she has developed an amazing
“overdrive” singingstyle.
Enjoy the rare live version with them both together here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9b90idqvX4
