- country:Brazil
- style(s):Beat, Brazilian
- label:One World
- type:Band
- gender:male, female
- instrumentation:instrumental, vocal, percussion, jazz combo, guitar
- artist posted by:One World
Line up
- RAPHAEL GIMENES (Vocal & Guitar)
Links
‘Raphael Gimenes & As Montanhas de Som’ Released by One World Records September 1st 2016
Psychedelic Brazilian Beat in a dreamy accoustic fusion
'Raphael Gimenes & As Montanhas de Som' is the debut album by the Europe-based Brazilian singer, guitarist, and composer. It was recorded between 2014 and 2015 in Aarhus and in Aalborg, Denmark. The music in it blends Brazilian folklore with classical music, ambitious harmonies with psychedelic effects, and African-Brazilian rhythms with ngerstyle guitar. Some of the tracks deal with personal issues, such as 'A Serra das Russas', which touches on the subject of Gimenes' dif culties as an immigrant. Others, such as 'O Último Jacarandá', pay a tribute to Brazil's endangered nature. It is a concept album, in which different stories about homesickness, love, hardship, and hope ow into one another, like a theater play with its different acts.
The album's core band, As Montanhas de Som (The Mountains of Sound), are formed by international musicians, who each contribute to the music with their different backgrounds. The Danish string group "Who Killed Bambi" colors some of the tracks in epic fashion, while the effects created by Gimenes' bird whistles and percussion instruments lead the listener deep into the Brazilian mountain ranges and rain forests.
Gimenes composed, arranged, and co-produced each and everyone of tracks on the album, while writing all but one of the lyrics. The way the album is produced is a clear reference to the sound of the 60's and 70's, which can be heard in the overdubbed vocals among other things. More than anything, the album tells Gimenes' own story - the story of a young man who left his country as a teenager, and now rediscovers it through his music.
Raphael’s music is atmospheric and at times melan- cholic, blending Brazilian folk, jazz, and classical mu- sic with
a combination of many different instruments. The soundscapes created and produced by Gimenes allude to sound experiments common in the music of the 1960’s and 70’s, from which much of his inspiration is drawn. The melodies travel from Gimenes’ voice deep into Brazil’s mountain ranges and rainforests, while the lyrics deal with homesick- ness, love, hardship and hope. The opening track, ‘A Serra das Russas’, is inspired by the folk music of the Brazilian northeast, and deals with his past struggle as an immigrant. Oth- er songs, others such as ‘O Último Jacarandá’, have more complex time signatures and harmonies, paying tribute to the rich but endagered nature of Brazil, while also considering the dif cult decisions one has to make in the modern world.
‘Raphael Gimenes & As Montanhas de Som’
Raphael Gimenes Vocals, guitar, cowbells, agogo, programming Flavia Huarachi Flute Alexandra Pana Flute
Thomas Munk-Petersen Double Bass
Julian Kramper Congas, agogo
Niels Rose Caxixi, shakers, pandeiro
‘Who Killed Bambi’ Strings
(Ida Marie Arendt, Louise Drengsgaard, Mette D. Kristensen, Benedikte Borum) Music, lyrics & arrangements ©by Raphael Gimenes
Recorded at Aarhus Lydstudie
Audio Engeniers Kristopher Paterson & Asger Christensen
Produced by Asger Christensen & Raphael Gimenes Mixed by Asger Christensen Mastering by Andreas Linnemann
One World Records ©℗2016
