Hisscivilization
Jupiter Apple
2002
Rankings
Why This Album Matters
Hisscivilization, the third album by the gaucho musician Júpiter Maçã, represents a fundamental landmark in the artist's discography, consolidating his more experimental, ambitious and elaborate streak. Released in 2002 by the British label Voiceprint Records, this work delves into a sound that defies easy categorisation, blending elements of psychedelic, progressive and electronic rock, something that drastically differentiated it from its predecessors. The complexity of its arrangements and the boldness in incorporating electronic textures, previously absent, delineate a work that invites a deep and uncompromised immersion. Strongly influenced by icons such as Syd Barrett, the harmonic sophistication of Stereolab, and the innovation of the Canterbury Scene, notably Kevin Ayers and his album Shooting at the Moon, Hisscivilization is a rich and multifaceted sonic tapestry. The decision to sing all tracks in English, following the pattern of Plastic Soda, his previous album, reinforces the cosmopolitan dimension and the search for a universal artistic language that Júpiter Maçã sought during this period, creating a particular universe that resonated with both specialist critics and his bolder fan base.
Context
Before Hisscivilization, Júpiter Maçã, whose birth name was Flávio Basso, had already built a solid and influential trajectory in Brazilian music, first with the gaucho rock bands TNT and Cascavelletes. His solo career began to flourish with the acclaimed A Sétima Efervescência (1997), an album that established him as one of the great names in national psychedelic rock. Subsequently, Plastic Soda (1999) consolidated this sound, although it still maintained a more rock-oriented base. Hisscivilization thus emerges as a decisive turning point in his solo work. After initial consecration in psychedelic rock, the artist ventured into unprecedented sonic territories in his discography, embracing electronica and experimentation more explicitly. This transition represented not only an artistic evolution but also a challenge to the perception of his audience and critics, who saw him as a figure already established in a particular niche.
Recording
The production of Hisscivilization featured the multifaceted participation of Júpiter Maçã himself, who performed vocals, electric and classical guitars, percussion and Moog, as well as being responsible for the album's production and mixing. This creative centrality allowed his experimental vision to be implemented coherently and authentically. The recording and mixing process benefited from the expertise of Thomas Dreher, who acted as producer, sound engineer (on tracks such as 'Exactly', 'Dear Lord' and 'The Clown'), and mastering engineer. Fernando Sanches also contributed significantly as a sound engineer on other songs from the album, such as 'A Million Unknowable Things' and 'Happy Birds Day'. The collaboration also included Marcelo Birck, who participated in the editing of the track 'The Clown', indicating a meticulous effort involving multiple talents to shape the album's sonic ambition.
Songs
The thirteen tracks of Hisscivilization form a sonic mosaic that reflects Júpiter Maçã's boldness and compositional diversity. Although the album is notable for its length, with almost 78 minutes, its songs manage to transition between catchy hooks and sections of freer, self-indulgent experimentation. The inclusion of Moog synthesizers and other electronics gives the compositions a futuristic and surrealist atmosphere, which permeates the entire work. An example of the repertoire's malleability is the track "Exactly", which would later be re-recorded for the album Bitter, a collaboration with Bibmo, demonstrating its potential for re-signification. The lyrics, all in English, address themes that fit within the artist's psychedelic and introspective universe, with comparisons made to the works of Cornelius and Beck for their inventiveness. The nature of the songs demands attentive and patient listening from the listener, but it rewards with a deep immersion in one of the most singular works of Brazilian music.
Legacy
Hisscivilization was met with notable polarisation among critics and fans, primarily due to its intensely experimental sound and its long running time. Despite this, the album received generally positive reviews. François Couture, from AllMusic, awarded it 3 out of 5 stars, highlighting the presence of "catchy hooks, intriguing twists and self-indulgent passages", and drawing parallels between Júpiter Maçã and artists such as Cornelius and Beck. However, the album's length was pointed out as a weakness by Couture, suggesting that many of the tracks could have been shortened. Matheus Donay, from O Notório Abacaxi, praised the album's "futuristic and surrealist art", but also reiterated the criticism of its duration, stating that Hisscivilization requires "a lot of patience" to be fully appreciated. This reception, although divided, cemented the album as a courageous and ahead-of-its-time work, solidifying Júpiter Maçã's reputation as an artist who was unafraid to break with conventions and explore new musical frontiers, marking a turning point in his artistic trajectory.
Tracks
Credits
Jupiter Apple, Marcelo Birck, Thomas Dreher
Fernando Sanches, Thomas Dreher
Thomas Dreher
Jupiter Apple, Thomas Dreher
Books
Analyses
Hisscivilization – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Hisscivilization | Jupiter Apple
jupiter-apple.bandcamp.com
about HISSCIVILIZATION was his third (and basically JUPITER's last) solo album in 2002. "It is his best and most complicated album. A masterpiece that cannot be explained in words." (Andre Peniche) "Oddly enough, HISSCIVILIZATION is a record that most of Jupiter's old fans don't understand, because it's very different form his previous work.
Release: Hisscivilization
vermilionsands.org
"the musician's most experimental, ambitious and elaborate output. Heavily influenced by the sonority of Syd Barrett, Stereolab and of the Canterbury scene (in particular Kevin Ayers and his 1970 release Shooting at the Moon), Hisscivilization is characterized by the inclusion of electronic interludes, absent in Jupiter Apple's previous two releases, in a move that polarized critics and ...
Discos Escondidos #048: Jupiter Apple - Hisscivilization (2002)
ojardimeletrico.com
After the album Plastic Soda (1999), and now performing as Jupiter Apple, the composer released one of the most emblematic and daring albums of his career in 2002: Hisscivilization.
O Notório Abacaxi: Jupiter Apple - Hisscivilization (2002)
onotorioabacaxi.blogspot.com
Hisscivilization. This is the name given to Flávio Basso's third solo album, the second released under the moniker Jupiter Apple. Let's say it's almost a compulsive urge to recall Sétima Efervescência (an album we've already featured here) when Júpiter is the subject, but you'll have to grapple with the idea that the space odyssey continued, albeit to other planets, other avant-gardes...
