Os Mutantes - Jardim Elétrico 1971 (Brazil, Psychedelic Rock, Tropicalia)
Good... good? Well, let's leave my heart silent and allow my mind to command! It's an average work to be heard mainly by someone already inside Mutantes sound and Brazilian music (and a bit of recent history too). It was the 70s, there was the might censorship, great artists fleeing (to avoid prison) and more shameful events and etc. But Mutantes were there, in the heart of the country, still recording and scorning the censors although their effort nor ever was rewarded.
This album is very rocky but could be labeled as a protestlike, I mean in the special Mutantes way of protesting. Not all songs are worthy but those great are really great.
'Top top' is a funny song that hides a curse to the established dictatorship, an expression unable to be translated, meaning something like: "Go to ... ". Rita Lee's childish voice is a mockery with the overseers. The initial keyboards and choir are noticeable.
In 'El justiciero', they mix Portuguese and Spanish to make a joke with those that thought be applying justice. The use of mariachis is awesome and suits perfectly with the atmosphere the music intends to create.
'Technicolor', sung in English, is sweet and catchy, a new world seen in many colors. Now they sound more serious and their soothing voices are a great feature. The subtle changes in times are noticeable.
'Jardim Elétrico' is another fair point, very interesting with spices of experimental and avant-garde parts. Other songs with the exception of 'Baby', in fact a cover from a Caetano Veloso's hit, are less worthy. However, the title 'It's very nice pra xuxu' is very comic, a criticism for the widespread and erroneous use of a foreign language. By the way, chuchu (not xuxu) means chayote and the expression pra chuchu/xuxu could be translated as 'a lot', truly a school slang.Review by Atkingani
