It’s essential listening. Welcome to the trippy psychedelic tropicalismo of Os Mutantes.
São Paulo siblings Arnaldo and Sérgio Baptista started a band in 1966 with vocalist Rita Lee as the Six Sided Riders, but decided to use Os Mutantes just before making their Brazilian television debut. Following several other TV performances, the trio connected with one of their biggest influences, Gilberto Gil, and this launched the band’s experimentation combining psych with tropicália. The sound was like no other, especially with the use of musique concrète, or recorded sounds often modified and manipulated to transform them into unique sonic media. “…They sound as relevant today as anything happening anywhere,” says David Byrne. “They were exactly what their name implies – a mutant genetic recombination of John Cage, The Beatles, and bossa nova.”
Make plans now to see Os Mutantes at their show this Thursday, June 13, at ACL Live at 3Ten, featuring the outstanding Austin-based trio Nemegata on the bill. Doors at 8 p.m.
