Marco Antônio Araújo “Influências” 1981 Brazil Prog Folk,Symphonic
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For my 100th review on PA, I´d like to introduce one of Brazil´s best instrumental prog ventures of all times. Marco Antônio Araújo and his band are from my hometown and they played a very unique mixture of progressive, folk, rock and classical music. Araujo, a big Beatles fan, lived in London for a time during the 70´s and when he came back he brought with him all the inlfuences that made him one of the most original and celebrated songwriters of his time. His music is quite rooted in the traditional musical forms of Minas Geraes, a state that was famous for its baroque churchs (therefore the proeminent use of the flute on most of the songs, and also the french horn sometimes).
when the record came out it was hailed as a masterpiece, and it deserved it! It´s difficult to describe the music, since it is quite original, although influences are easy to tag and goes from Jetrho Tull to Beatles, classical music, Brazilian folk and so on. Yet the results are a smooth, well crafted collection of songs. You have to hear it to believe.
He recorded 4 albums of original music and was on his way to become an international successs, when it all came to an end by his tragic death in 1986, of a brain aneuurism. But he left his mark and Influências was his first album, and one of the most celebrated ones, since it was recorded and well received at a time when instrumental prog music was not really in fashion (to say the least!). His band mates are very skilled, most of them did solo works and became much sough after studio musicians in years to come. His brother Alexandre Araújo does some great guitar solos and Eduardo Delgado proves to be one of the best flute players around.
If you like something different, instrumental progressive music, with strong folk and classical influences, this is a must have. Highly recommended!…by Tarcisio Moura ….~
Well, my dear friends, this is my first review for progarchives; although there is a long time I appreciate opinions made available here. What a large amount of bands I´ve been listening due to this site recomendations !
As being a brasilian, this first review is for the álbun and the musician whose in my honest opinion I consider the best product in our progressive music. Although Bacamarte´s “Depois Do Fim” is a must, “Influências” by Marco Antonio Araújo is even of higher quality; and not only for just one reason.
First of all, MAA has the cultural profile of those fantastic progressive musicians. He has a strong classical trainment, which appears clearly in his work (albun like “Entre Um Silêncio E Outro” - Between One Silence And The Other). Also he was a intense “flower power generation” guy, fascinated by “The Beatles and The Rolling Stones”; and these two lines forms the essence of the ideas that led to progressive movement. Second, MAA kept in his music strong elements of brasilian folk music (a very interesting kind of music); bulking this in a melting pot with classical and “roquenrou” (rock´n´roll); having as a result something strongly different from anything anyone has done prior to him. And third of all, he is a master composer, creating incredible melody lines; as for example the main theme (played by flute), of “Abertura n 2” one of the best melodic line that I ever heard in my life !!
So, I leave here a strong recomendation of a careful listening in order to really judge if “Influências” as the best effort of brasilian progressive music; by our best progressive musician. And after all, these commented qualities performs a strong reason for achieving here five stars…Antonio Giacomin…..~
Marco Antonio Araujo was the most respected musician in Brazil’s instrumental music scene in the 80’s, compared only to Marcus Vianna from Sagrado. Although his work hasnt gained enough recognition among the prog fans worldwide, he is, in my opinion, one of the best folkish accoustic guitar players of all times. He was able to incorporate ethnic elements from the Minas Gerais state region with the finest progressive / folk rock influences of Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd like no one else. His characteristics as a guitarrist are quite unique. Influencias release really broke ground in the industry at the time, bringing a re-birth to the prog scene in the country in the early 80’s. Many brazilian bands followed his path since the release of Influencias. The music is extremely beautiful shifting from accoustic guitar / flute / piano mellow passages, to long full improvisating passages. Marco Antonio always gave total freedom to his fellow musicians, and the result is incredible. He was able to put out several solid good albums before his premature death, caused by drug abuse. His presence in the Brazilian scene is missed a lot….~
Multi-instrumentalist Marco Antonio Araujo (1949-1986) recorded only a handful albums before his untimely death in 1986, but in his brief career he established himself as one of Brazil’s preeminent prog-rock musicians, shaping lyrical, grandiose sonic epics, often with a folkie musical tint. Before emerging as a solo artist, Araujo was a veteran of the 1970s musical and theatrical scenes – he had gone abroad to England and fell under the spell of British rock music, which became an integral part of his own compositions and improvisations. Here’s a quick look at his work…
Flowery but for-real folky prog from Brazil, with expansive electric guitars, shimmering keyboards and a lot of tootly flute. It’s like Mike Oldfield, Stevie Vai, George Harrison and Edu Lobo prancing through a field of flowers together, with that guy from Jethro Tull playing Pied Piper under the shade of an apple tree… Yeah, it’s pretty goofy, but I think for prog fans, this is definitely an artist to have on your radar. Araujo builds on huge, epic jam sessions, particularly the two ten-minute long pieces that bookend this album, “Panoramica” and “Folk Song”, but all the songs are over five minutes and share a similarly grandiose vibe. This is considered by many to be a touchstone of Brazilian prog… and it certainly is a solid album for the genre…..~
“Influences” is the first of the four albums released by the composer, guitarist and cellist from Minas Gerais, one of the greatest Brazilian musicians of all time, Marco Antônio Araújo.
With the excellent band Mantra, Marco Antônio Araújo made a refined sound, blending folk, erudite music, music from Minas Gerais and rock. Influences of Jethro Tull (or just the similar sonority generated by the guitar with the flute) can be noticed, but the music of MAA is strong personality, marked by sensitivity, intelligence, and a progressive awareness “from the inside out” - MAA not “trying to be progressive,” repeating clichés and falling into what many end up falling.
The sound in Influences is dominated by guitars and flute, always counting on the great guitarist Alexandre Araújo (brother of MAA), and some metals and piano of invited musicians. The balance between heavier and softer movements is noticeable, as you can already notice by the opening strip, “Panoramic”, a 10-minute epic. Other highlights of the album are the title track, energetic “Opening No. 2”, “Folk Song”, beautiful music that starts with voices and MAA on guitar, then metal, flute … Well, just listening.
There are still 2 bonus tracks, the latter (Floydiana II) actually a version of the first track from their second album…….~
Line-up / Musicians
- Marco António Araújo / acoustic & slide (2) guitars, percussion, arranger
With “Grupo Mantra” band:
- Alexandre Araújo / guitars, percussion
- Eduardo Delgado / flute, percussion
- António Viola / cello
- Ivan Correa / bass
- Mário Castelo / drums, percussion
And:
- Oiliam Lanna / wind arrangements (1)
- Philip Doyle / flugelhorn (1,2,6)
- Amilton Pereira / trumpet (1)
- Maurício Silva / trumpet (1)
- Edson Maciel / trombone (1)
- Edmundo Maciel / trombone (1)
- Maurício Maestro / voice & handclaps (2)
Songs / Tracks Listing
1. Influências (6:21)
2. Folk Song (10:36)
3. Bailado (4:59)
4. Panorâmica (10:00)
5. Cantares (5:14)
6. Abertura N° 2 (8:22)