Os Mutantes

Released

The trio of brothers Arnaldo Baptista and Sérgio Dias with singer Rita Lee infused Tropicália with wide-eyed exuberance and the reckless abandon of a 5-year-old in a bouncy castle. Taking a name that translates as “the Mutants,” they had the chops to match that youthful energy, careening between tough garage stompers and acid-tinged balladry with glee. Opener “Panis et Circenses” definitely offers the most madcap statement of a band. A blow-by-blow is reductive but also instructive: Triumphant horn fanfare, then dreamy vocal pop, veering into a psychedelic fuzz bomb that suddenly melts like film stuck in a projector. The song speeds back up like a go cart with the brakes cut before ending in a chaotic din of silverware, musique concrete noise, and Strauss’ “The Blue Danube Waltz.” Imagine Un Chien Andalou as garage rock and you’re getting close, all crammed into 3 dizzying minutes. Such audacious joy and sonic U-turns abound on their classic debut.

Andy Beta

Suggestions
Freak Out! cover

Freak Out!

The Mothers of Invention, Frank Zappa
I Was Real cover

I Was Real

75 Dollar Bill
The Sons cover

The Sons

The Sons Of Champlin
The Time Has Come cover

The Time Has Come

The Chambers Brothers
Between the Buttons cover

Between the Buttons

The Rolling Stones
The Truth cover

The Truth

D.R. Hooker
The Stooges cover

The Stooges

The Stooges
H.P. Lovecraft II cover

H.P. Lovecraft II

H.P. Lovecraft
Nara cover

Nara

Nara Leão