89
Gilberto Gil - Gilberto Gil
1968
Tropicalia/Psychedelic pop
Best tracks; 'Domingo no Parque', 'Luzia Luluza', 'Procissão' 'Ele Falava Nisso Todo Dia', 'Pega a Voga, Cabeludo',
Sunny 60's pop gem from Brazil. When your very art is seen as a threat to your county's military regime and you're on the verge of getting locked up and exiled, surely your work shouldn't be this . . carefree? This playful and breezy? The tropicalia scene - which meshed traditional Brazilian music with the sounds of them evil Yanks/Brits and their rock n' roll - is some of the happiest music to ever come out of such political unrest.
Gilberto is backed by psych heads Os Mutantes and they play samba and bossa nova but choose to muddy it all up with garage rock, psychedelia and all the other good bits from late 60's rock. There's also a lot of gorgeous George Martin style orchestration. It's way ahead of its time, even for 1968, which I'm starting to believe is the greatest year in rock history.
Música e Trabalho: Procissão (Gilberto Gil e Os Mutantes) - YouTube
Domingo no Parque - Gilberto Gil - YouTube