A Revolta dos Dândis
Engenheiros do Hawaii
1987
Why This Album Matters
A Revolta dos Dândis is a fundamental milestone in the discography of Engenheiros do Hawaii and in the Brazilian rock scene of the 80s. Released in 1987, this album not only consolidated the band on the national scene but also represented an audacious stylistic shift that redefined its sonic identity. Abandoning the more direct reggae and ska influences present in their debut work, the album delves into a 70s sound, with a strong inclination towards folk rock, which distinguishes it from many of its contemporaries at the time. This radical change was driven by the entry of guitarist Augusto Licks and Humberto Gessinger's move to bass, a line-up that would bring unprecedented musical and poetic complexity to the group. A Revolta dos Dândis is not just a rock album, but a work that dialogues with intelligence and sensibility, presenting introspective lyrics and elaborate arrangements that prepared the ground for the band's most iconic phase. Its relevance lies in its ability to innovate and provoke thought, establishing a new standard for engaged rock in Brazil.
Context
The period preceding the recording of A Revolta dos Dândis was one of crucial transition for Engenheiros do Hawaii. While they were on tour in May 1987, the relationship between Humberto Gessinger and Carlos Maltz, on one side, and bassist Marcelo Pitz, on the other, was already deteriorating. By April, the decision that Pitz would leave the band after the tour concluded in June had already been made, opening space for a new musical configuration. It was during a participation in a Nei Lisboa album in Rio de Janeiro that Augusto Licks, who had already collaborated with Nei and with the band itself, was formally invited to join Engenheiros. Licks' entry and Gessinger's subsequent move to bass (a revelation to Licks only at the first rehearsal) marked the beginning of a new era for the Gaúcho trio, propelling the sonic experimentation that would culminate in the album.
Recording
The recording sessions for A Revolta dos Dândis took place in July 1987, at RCA Studios in São Paulo, followed by mixing the following month. Music producer Reinaldo Barriga guided the process, which was full of challenges and decisions that shaped the record's unique sound. Augusto Licks, a newcomer to the band, aimed to minimise overdubs so that the songs could be faithfully reproduced in live shows, which contributed to a more direct and organic sound. Still adapting to the bass, Humberto Gessinger played the instrument with a plectrum and tuned an octave above standard. This particularity, combined with the difficulty of controlling the bass volume on the mixing desk without compromising quality, resulted in a striking and foreground presence of the instrument in the recordings. Licks' need to "make do" to fit his guitar into the bases already recorded by Gessinger and Maltz, along with the 70s rock and Bob Dylan influences Gessinger listened to, lent the album a distinct and innovative sound for national rock at the time.
Songs
The instrumental and creative particularities permeate A Revolta dos Dândis, with each track presenting details that enrich its musical proposition. In "A Revolta dos Dândis I", for example, Augusto Licks not only uses a Martin acoustic guitar, but also a Hohner harmonica, which he would moisten in water to enhance the vibrato, an unusual technique. In "Terra de Gigantes", the use of two guitars with stereo mixing and an incorrectly applied, but ultimately pleasing, delay illustrates the experimental atmosphere. "Infinita Highway", one of the album's biggest successes, highlights Licks' technique of playing guitar with his fingers through two Fender Twin Reverb amplifiers, filling the trio's soundscape without the need for excessive overdubs. "Refrão de Bolero" is notable for the intentional use of feedback to fill the sound and a guitar solo with a Gibson Les Paul through a Marshall, reminiscent of heavy rock. In "Vozes", the combination of Gessinger's twelve-string guitar with Licks' Hammond organ and a vocoder at the end of the song brings a classic 60s and 70s rock atmosphere. The track "Quem Tem Pressa Não se Interessa" innovates by featuring only bass and drums, with a drum solo recorded in the studio bathroom, lending a garage sound. These elements demonstrate the compositional richness and instrumental inventiveness that define the album.
Legacy
A Revolta dos Dândis was a commercial success, selling over 50,000 copies in its first year of release and driving three singles, "A Revolta dos Dândis I", "Terra de Gigantes", and "Infinita Highway", to significant radio play. Critical reception, however, was mixed and generated controversy. The band, already labelled "right-wing" due to previous works, began to be accused of elitism and even fascism because of the philosophical references in Gessinger's lyrics and a self-ironic tone that many interpreted as a critique of the Brazilian rock movement of the decade itself. Despite the controversies, the album received significant praise from specialised publications. Marcel Plasse, from Bizz magazine, highlighted the "lean" result and the richness of references in the work, while Thales de Menezes, from Folha de S.Paulo, characterised "Infinita Highway" as "sensational". Jamari França, in Jornal do Brasil, described the record as "heavy and poetic at the same time". Recognition of its impact extended for decades, being the subject of a "Discoteca MTV" programme in 2008 and included in a Superinteressante list of the main Brazilian rock albums of the 80s. In 2017, Humberto Gessinger embarked on a commemorative tour for the album's 30th anniversary, reaffirming its lasting importance.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Reinaldo Barriga
Humberto Gessinger
Carlos Maltz
Augusto Licks
Carlos Maltz, Imageria
Eurico Salis
Podcasts
Álbum que mostra pela primeira vez a formação clássica dos Engenheiros do Hawaii e que muda a sonoridade da banda, A Revolta dos Dândis completa 35 anos em outubro e foi o assunto deste episódio, onde Cristian e Filipe contam suas impressões e histórias sobre esse clássico do BRock. O trio de "ska-pop" da estreia foi reformulado, com o guitarrista Augusto Licks entrando na banda, fazendo Humberto
AutoRadio Podcast · autoradiopodcast
No episódio desta semana, Thiago Raposo mergulha em um dos álbuns mais importantes do rock nacional: "A Revolta dos Dândis", lançado em 1987 pelos Engenheiros do Hawaii.Com letras cheias de crítica social, reflexões filosóficas e melodias marcantes, esse disco consolidou a banda como uma das grandes vozes da geração dos anos 80 e a predileção do Raposo.Se você curte rock brasileiro com conteúdo e
Silêncio no Estúdio Podcast · Silêncio no Estúdio
Em mais um episódio, Márcio Viana liga a máquina de Raio X para falar de um dos grandes discos clássicos do Rock Nacional, A Revolta dos Dândis dos Engenheiros do Hawaii. Muitas histórias e curiosidades sobre a formação da banda, o que mudou do primeiro disco para o segundo. A formação. As gravações, produção e fatos divertido desse disco tão importante para história do Rock brasileiro. O Raio X é
Videos
ENGENHEIROS DO HAWAII - A REVOLTA DOS DÂNDIS | Vinilteca #110
Vinilteca
"A revolta dos dândis" - Engenheiros do Hawaii | Melhores discos brasileiros dos anos 80
Alta Fidelidade
“A revolta dos dândis” Vs. “Ed Motta & Conexão Japeri” | Conversa de Botequim | Alta Fidelidade
Alta Fidelidade
6 - Engenheiros do Hawaii - Os 30 anos do clássico disco A Revolta dos Dândis
Eder Becker
Engenheiros do Hawaii | Review 35 anos A Revolta dos Dândis | Pitadas do Sal | Podcast Musical
Pitadas do Sal
Humberto Gessinger - 30 anos A revolta dos dândis
Wickson Batista
Books
The 500 Greatest Brazilian Albums of All Time
Ricardo Alexandre · 2022
The election was spearheaded by journalist Ricardo Alexandre, creator of the Discoteca Básica podcast. Ricardo consulted 162 specialists including journalists, YouTubers, podcasters, musicians, record-shop owners and producers. The result was published as a 200-page hardcover book, with graphic design by Fernando Pires.
Infinita Highway
Alexandre Lucchese · 2016
Considerada a biografia mais abrangente da banda Engenheiros do Hawaii, este livro narra a história do grupo desde suas origens, detalhando sua formação, evolução musical e o impacto de seus álbuns no cenário do rock brasileiro. É um recurso essencial para entender a criação e o contexto de 'A Revolta dos Dândis' dentro da trajetória da banda.
Analyses
A Revolta dos Dândis – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Engenheiros do Hawaii: "A Revolta dos Dândis", o disco que mudou a ...
whiplash.net
Sem dúvida, o marco que mudou a sonoridade dos Engenheiros do Hawaii foi o lançamento do icônico A Revolta dos Dândis (1987), o segundo álbum lançado pela banda.
Engenheiros do Hawaii: "A Revolta dos Dândis", o disco que mudou a ...
rockstage.com.br
A verdade é que a partir de A Revolta dos Dândis (1987) a banda começou a trilhar novos caminhos e conquistou cada vez mais seu público. Com um novo estilo que a banda foi lapidando a partir desse disco, os Engenheiros do Hawaii se tornaram um dos maiores nomes do Rock Nacional de todos os tempos.
Engenheiros do Hawaii - "A Revolta dos Dândis" (1987)
tabernanovostempos.blogspot.com
O disco acaba com a notável "Guardas da Fronteira" com participação vocal do lendário músico gaúcho Júlio Reny, e cuja sonoridade remete um pouco à música regionalista, numa canção sarcástica e pessimista que encerra praticamente toda a idéia do disco conferindo-lhe um final digno e grandioso.
Cadê: Engenheiros do Hawaii - "Revolta dos Dândis" (1987)
monkeybuzz.com.br
Revolta dos Dândis é um disco que traz o grande mérito de ter uma personalidade musical própria. Não se comunica com nada produzido no país na época, mas é extremamente bem gravado, cortesia da produção de Reinaldo Brito e do próprio Humberto Gessinger.
Discogs
A Revolta dos Dândis – Discogs
discogs.com