Review Summary: The best album you will never listen to.
It is weird to set out and review an album written in a language you don't understand. It is even weirder when this album means so much to you, that you wouldn't want to live without it, although you barely know what they sing about and all you have is just vague translations from friends who do understand it. But you will be damned if you wouldn't try to convince others of the greatness you experienced.
O Teatro Mágico is a Brazilian band formed in Osasco, Sao Paulo, in 2003 by prolific songwriter and actor Fernando Anitelli. Notorious for juggling a wide array of musical styles, they also started the Musica para Baixar movement, a movement that, in it's core, tries to make music completely free to download. And here is pretty much exactly where my knowledge of the Brazilian music-scene outside of Baile Funk ends. And to be honest, you don't need to know any more facts about the band to fully engulf yourself in their work. Because, whatever you have been listening to so far, you will not be prepared for this album.
Literally starting the album off with an atmospheric bang and spoken intro, the qualities of this album can be felt. Immediately engaging the listener with the dark and brooding sounds of the intro could not have been a better interlude to the first real song of the album, O Merito E O Monstro. Kicking in the door with sirens and a dwindling acoustic-riff, the band soon goes into full-on psychedelic-mode with a waltz-inspired groove, which is interlaced with funk-guitars. After violins and piano have been introduced in a light bridge, the band comes back in with a crunchy anthemic chorus, all while Fernando showcases his superb vocal talent. Deeper in the song, turntables and electronic sounds are also brought in. The song just keeps layering instruments on top of itself, without ever sounding too overproduced. When the song finally collapses into a tribal-influenced beat with spoken-word on top and switches again into funk and hard-rock, there is just this unshakable feeling of satisfaction. These musicians know exactly what they want to do and how to do it, all the while displaying jaw-dropping songwriting-abilities and musicianship. Definitely a highlight, a perfect microcosm of what to expect on this record and one of the most well-constructed songs I have ever layed ears upon.
From then on it is mostly smooth sailing through the lands of folk-rock, progressive-rock and crossover. And the band truly does their best to make every song memorable and fit the flow of the album. Every song is instantly catchy, instantly memorable and chock-full of great ideas. Be it the great acoustic-riffs in Criado Mudo, Pena or Sina Nossa, the great use of violins in almost every track or the challenging time-signatures in songs like … or A Primeira Semana, everything fits the feel and flow of the album, making for one of the most rounded listens I ever had in my life as a music-enthusiast. Also notable are the little interludes on this album, which all also are given a distinct personality and help the album properly progress.
Another reason why I hold this album in such high regards is, that they managed to completely obliterate the language-border and shoot directly to my emotions. Even if I have literally no idea what Anitelli sings about most of the time, I can feel the emotions he is going for, I can understand his ideas. This is something that not many albums in different languages from the two I can understand achieved, and this includes albums that I absolutely adore.
It is hard not to spoil what's happening on this album, because there are so many amazing twists and turns in terms of song-structures that just take you by complete surprise, so I will just use this segment here to highlight some of my personal favorites on this album. Pena instantly shines with one of Fernandos most moving vocal-performances. Eu Não Sou Chico (Mas Quero Tentar) is basically the closest to MPB they get on this album, and it is one hell of an energetic ride. Also, Xanéu Nº 5 is a very impressive showcase of their skills in funk and even a bit of hip-hop.
In conclusion, this is an album you should check out. Now. No matter your preference in music, there will be something for you on this album, even if it is just one of the tiny interludes. This is one of the most versatile, round and downright fun musical projects I have ever come across, and if you as a band are able to completely disintegrate any kind of language-border, this just moves you into classic territory. Oh, and, from the little knowledge I have about the lyrics, they seem to be very poetic and well-constructed as well, so, if you are capable of understanding Portuguese, this most likely will just boost your enjoyment of this record through the roof.
