Paêbirú
Lula Côrtes e Zé Ramalho
1975
Why This Album Matters
Paêbirú: Caminho da Montanha do Sol, or simply Paêbirú, is a landmark in Brazilian music, being the first and only album from the partnership between Lula Côrtes and Zé Ramalho, released in 1975. This singular work is recognised as one of the precursors of genuinely Brazilian psychedelia, uniquely integrating elements of indigenous culture into its sound. The album stands out for a rich and experimental fusion of genres, encompassing psychedelic rock, jazz, and regional rhythms from the Brazilian Northeast. Its innovative approach and the depth of its proposition make it an essential work for understanding the creativity and musical avant-garde of the era. More than a record, the original album was accompanied by a book that delved into studies about the region and the legend of the Caminho da Montanha do Sol, underscoring its multifaceted and conceptual nature.
Context
The creation of Paêbirú was deeply inspired by Pedra do Ingá, in Paraíba, a place that Lula Côrtes and Zé Ramalho explored on a personal expedition that included the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms. This mystical experience and immersion in local culture were crucial to the album's atmosphere. Brazilian legends and mythologies, such as the stories of Sumé (a pre-colonisation entity revered by indigenous peoples) and the figure of Iemanjá, served as the basis for various passages of the album, including the opening track. The album's title refers to the legendary Caminho do Peabiru, an ancient Guarani route that connected the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. The project was presented to José Rozenblit by Lula and, despite being considered 'madness' by Hélio Rozenblit, the producer's son, it was courageously recorded by two then-unknown young artists.
Recording
The recording of the album Paêbirú was characterised by a largely improvised process, reflecting the spontaneity and experimental nature of the project. Zé Ramalho initially recorded his parts on the acoustic guitar, while Lula Côrtes added his on the tricórdio, a variation of the mandolin. The other musicians then contributed their parts over this base. It is notable that some recording and mixing errors were intentionally left in the final result, which contributed to the authenticity and unique sonic aesthetic of the album.
Songs
Paêbirú is a double vinyl record, with eleven tracks divided into four sides, each dedicated to one of the four elements of nature: earth, air, fire, and water, lending a particular sound to each part. The "Fogo" (Fire) side is the most rock-oriented and heaviest, with a highlight on "Raga dos Raios", considered the best fuzz guitar piece recorded in national rock, utilising distorted electric guitar and organ sounds. The "Ar" (Air) side features more ethereal songs with the use of flutes, as well as including conversations, laughter, sighs, harps, and violas. On "Água" (Water), soundscapes of running water are incorporated, lyrics in praise of entities representing the element, and dance genres like baião, beginning with an Iemanjá chant sung by a pai de santo. On the "Terra" (Earth) side, the sound is constructed by percussion instruments, drums, flutes, congas, and alto saxophone, in addition to non-electronically produced bird flight effects and the use of instruments like the berimbau. In addition to compositions by Lula Côrtes and Zé Ramalho, other renowned musicians such as Alceu Valença and Geraldo Azevedo contributed to the recording, with Alceu, for example, using cellophane on his teeth to create sounds that imitated beetles and flies. The original title "Peabiru" was changed to "Paêbirú" due to a spelling error on the album cover. The long psychedelic instrumentals and regional rhythms are complemented by synthetic sounds parallel to the themes.
Legacy
The original edition of Paêbirú had a unique print run of 1,300 copies, of which about 1,000 were lost in a flood on the Capibaribe River, in Recife, in 1975. This scarcity made the album the most commercially valuable vinyl in Brazil, with one of the approximately 300 remaining copies worth around 4,000 reais when well-preserved. The original tapes, fortunately saved from the flood, served as the basis for several re-releases, such as the vinyl and CD editions in Europe by the Mr. Bongo label in 2005, and on CD in Brazil in 2012. Subsequently, Polysom carried out new vinyl re-releases in 2019 and 2024, seeking greater fidelity to the original tapes, with the 2024 version dispensing with reverberation and echo effects added in post-flood remasterings. The album is universally considered the founder of a genuinely Brazilian psychedelia, with strong elements of indigenous culture.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Abrakadabra
Fred Mesel, Lailson, Preto
Israel Semente Proibida, Marconi Notaro
Katia Mesel
Inácia
Zé de Torubamba
Ivinho
Geraldo Azevedo
Dikê
Paulo Rafael
Jarbas Selenita
Jorge
Marcelo
Carmelo Guedes
Don Tronxo
Zé Ramalho
Hélio Ricardo
Jonathas
Ronaldo
Lula Côrtes
Hugo Filho
Agrício Noya
Alceu Valença
Toni Torres
Zé Da Flauta
Fernando Lira
Katia Mesel
Raul Cordula
Fred Mesel, Paulinho Da Macedonia
Podcasts
Brazuca Sounds on Patreon · Leandro Vignoli
In episode #82, we talked about "Paêbiru", one of the most important albums from the Brazilian Psychedelic movement. Inspired by a trip to the archaeological site of Pedra do Ingá in Northeastern Brazil, Lula and Zé Ramalho created a blend of folk experimentation, fuzz guitars, and spatial sound, mixed with Brazilian northeastern regional music. The album became a cult treasure among collectors af
bropical · guga azevedo
Tropicália Music & Taco Festival, Kiss, Tods, Pin Ups, Lula Côrtes, Zé Ramalho, Paêbirú e mais.
Videos
LULA CÔRTES E ZÉ RAMALHO - PAÊBIRÚ (1975) / EPISODE #15 HIFI RECORDS REVIEWS | MUSIC ALBUM LP
HiFi records reviews
Paêbiru, o pontapé inicial da carreira discográfica de Zé Ramalho
Sons Aleatórios
Documentário Nas Paredes da Pedra Encantada 2011 Lula Cortes Zé Ramalho Paebiru - Clássicos PSICOBR
Psico BR Discos & Posters Psicodélicos
Lp Paebiru Lula Côrtes e Zé Ramalho - Disco Original de Época.
Medusa Records Loja de Discos
Paêbiru: caminho da montanha do sol (1975) / HISTÓRIA DO DISCO
Historiando sons
Films
Books
Analyses
Paêbirú – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Radar Sonoro relembra o clássico disco "Paêbirú", de Lula Côrtes e Zé ...
radios.ebc.com.br
Na coluna Radar Sonoro desta semana, a jornalista Sarah Quines destacou um dos discos mais enigmáticos e cultuados da música brasileira: "Paêbirú - Caminho da Montanha do Sol", de Lula Côrtes e Zé Ramalho.
Paêbirú, de Lula Côrtes e Zé Ramalho, o mais caro disco brasileiro
igormiranda.com.br
O disco em meio a isso também é marcado pelo uso de onomatopeias, conversas e gravações de riachos. Entretanto, a característica que reina acima de tudo em "Paêbirú" é a construção de uma sonoridade psicodélica verdadeiramente brasileira, casando música indígena, africana e regional do Nordeste.
O Clube do Vinil traz o álbum raro "Paêbirú" de 1975
radios.ebc.com.br
O álbum "Paêbiru", lançado em 1975 através da colaboração dos músicos Zé Ramalho e Lula Côrtes, é um trabalho único e influente que mistura experimentalismo e espiritualidade. Um importante exemplar da música dos anos 70 no Brasil.
Versão original de "Paêbirú", disco raro de Lula Côrtes e Zé Ramalho ...
folhape.com.br
Icônico encontro musical entre Lula Côrtes e Zé Ramalho, o álbum "Paêbirú: Caminho da Montanha do Sol" teve a sua primeira tiragem perdida na grande enchente que atingiu o Recife em 1975.
Discogs
Paêbirú – Discogs
discogs.com