Capital Inicial

Capital Inicial

1986

Cover of Capital Inicial
Top 100

Why This Album Matters

Released in 1986, Capital Inicial's debut album is a cornerstone of Brazilian rock, solidifying the band as one of the pillars of the 1980s movement. With a sound that blended punk and post-punk, the record captured the energy and urgency of the youth of the time, reverberating the urban and social anxieties of a Brazil in transition. This debut work not only introduced Capital Inicial to the wider public but also rescued and immortalised songs that were already part of the seminal repertoire of Aborto Elétrico, the band that gave rise to Capital and Legião Urbana. The intensity of its lyrics and the rawness of its arrangements ensured the album a prominent place in the national discography, making it a classic that continues to influence and serve as a reference in the music scene.

Context

Capital Inicial emerged directly from the ashes of Aborto Elétrico, a legendary punk group from Brasília, formed in the late 70s by Renato Russo, Fê Lemos and André Pretorius. After the end of Aborto Elétrico, brothers Fê and Flávio Lemos joined guitarist Loro Jones and vocalist Dinho Ouro Preto to bring Capital Inicial to life. The debut album was recorded after three years of intense activity on stage, which allowed the band to refine their compositions and present a cohesive and already live-tested repertoire. This period of gestation and the cultural effervescence of Brasília in the 80s, amidst the country's re-democratisation, were crucial for the sonic and lyrical identity that Capital Inicial would imprint on their first record.

Recording

The album Capital Inicial was recorded between January and March 1986, under the production of Bozo Barretti, who also contributed keyboards and piano to the tracks. Barretti, who would later become an official member of the band, played a fundamental role in the album's sound, released by the PolyGram label. Among the guest musicians, instrumentalists Demétrio Bezerra (alto sax), Gianni Fabra (tenor sax) and Franco Mourão (trumpet) stood out, forming a horn section present on the iconic song "Música Urbana". The album cover, often misunderstood, was designed to evoke strangeness, and Dinho Ouro Preto explained that, to understand it, one needs to turn the inlay upside down, revealing the reflection of water mixed with moss.

Songs

The album Capital Inicial is a vivid portrait of the band's songwriting vein and punk heritage. The repertoire consists of tracks that the group already performed live, including classics born during the Aborto Elétrico phase, such as the emblematic "Música Urbana", "Veraneio Vascaína" and the post-punk ballad "Fátima". Other notable songs include "Leve Desespero", which had already been released as the B-side of the band's debut single, and "Psicopata", a punk rock highlight. The lyrical weight of the album, with themes addressing urban youth and social criticism, is evident in tracks such as "Veraneio Vascaína", which, due to its forceful lyrics against the police, was censored and had its album sales restricted to those under 18 at the time.

Legacy

Since its release in August 1986, the album Capital Inicial achieved remarkable success, earning platinum disc certification with 250,000 copies sold. This commercial milestone solidified the band's position as an expressive force in national rock. The album continues to be a reference in the Brazilian music scene, with its songs maintaining relevance and resonating with new generations. The inclusion of Aborto Elétrico tracks, in turn, ensured that the history and influence of this seminal group were perpetuated, making the album a crucial link between Brasília's underground punk and the mainstream success of 80s rock.

Rankings

Tracks

Credits

Producer

Marcus Vinicius

Vocals, Guitar

Dinho Ouro Preto

Alto Saxophone, Guest

Demétrio Bezerra

Bass Guitar, Piano

Flávio Lemos

Drums

Fê Lemos

Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals

Loro Jones

Keyboards, Piano

Bozzo Barretti

Saxophone, Guest

Leo Gandelman

Tenor Saxophone, Guest

Gianni Fiabra

Trumpet, Guest

Franco Mourão

Films

Books

Analyses

Discogs

Capital Inicial – Discogs

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