Emerging under dictatorial rule in the fastly modernising Brazil of the 1960s, Tropicalia was a radical cultural movement aiming to create a truly internationalist form of Brazilian culture acknowledgina unique past but also outward looking synthesising influences from the avantgarde of Europe as much as American pop culture. Although lasting barely a year – 1968 – it resonated across music, visual art, cinema and performance – challenging and mocking the military dictatorship of the time as much as populist and traditional culture. Whilst there has been a fertile reissuing of much of the musical work of the main protagonists since the 90s, this twenty track compilation from Soul Jazz is a fantastic primer for anyone not yet exposed to the wild, joyful and revolutionary sounds of Os Mutantes, Tom Ze, Jorge Ben, Gal Costa, Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. Bringing together influences from psychedelic rock, British pop, European electronic experimentalists and a long history of Brazillian music, the sound of Tropicalia is quite unique and engages on many levels. Impeccably selected and ordered and accompanied by a useful 52 page booklet detailing the history and impact of the movement, this is an amazing package.
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