Criaturas da Noite
O Terço
1975
Rankings
Why This Album Matters
Released in 1975, Criaturas da Noite marks a high point in O Terço's trajectory, being the band's third album and solidifying the sound of its so-called 'Golden Phase'. This album represents the mature fusion of English progressive rock influences with elements of Brazilian rural rock, resulting in a work of great musical richness and originality for the MPB scene of the time. The work reflects a phase of stability and creativity for the quartet, which achieved a notable balance between instrumental complexity and melodic appeal. Criaturas da Noite is a testament to O Terço's ability to navigate different sonic universes, from straightforward rock to elaborate instrumental suites, always with its own identity. Its meticulous production and the collaboration of important names contributed to the album becoming a benchmark, demonstrating the group's artistic evolution and its prominent position in national progressive rock.
Context
The recording of Criaturas da Noite occurred during a period of intense evolution and maturation for O Terço. After several changes to its original lineup, the band solidified an essential quartet comprising Sérgio Hinds on guitar, Sérgio Magrão on bass, Luiz Moreno on drums, and the fundamental addition of Flávio Venturini on keyboards and viola. This lineup was crucial to the album's sonic identity. The group's rapprochement with the duo Sá and Guarabyra, which culminated in the recording of the album Nunca (1974) with them, exerted a significant influence on O Terço's sound, directing them further towards 'rural rock' in parallel with their already established progressive style. This context of experimentation and collaboration set the stage for the conception of 'Criaturas da Noite', a work that reflects this confluence of genres and talents.
Recording
The album Criaturas da Noite was completed in 1975, bringing together a stable and creative lineup of O Terço: Sérgio Hinds on guitar, Sérgio Magrão on bass, Luiz Moreno on drums, and Flávio Venturini on keyboards and viola. The album cover, titled "A Compreensão", was an artistic elaboration by Antônio and André Peticov. In a strategic move aimed at expanding into the international market, the band decided to record an English-vocal version of the album, released under the title Creatures of the Night. The album's production also featured the valuable collaboration of maestro Rogério Duprat, responsible for the orchestral arrangements on several tracks, adding a layer of sophistication to the compositions.
Songs
Criaturas da Noite starts notably with Sérgio Magrão's pulsating bass, which introduces "Hey Amigo", a composition by Cezar de Mercês that quickly became one of O Terço's classics. The strong influence of rural rock permeates tracks such as "Queimada" and "Jogo das Pedras", both penned by Flávio Venturini and Cezar de Mercês, showcasing the group's compositional versatility. The title track, "Criaturas da Noite", by Flávio Venturini and Luiz Carlos Sá, stands out for its rich orchestral arrangements conducted by maestro Rogério Duprat, which elevate the song's sonic depth. The album also features notable instrumental pieces, such as "Ponto Final", a creation by drummer Luiz Moreno, who contributes a piano introduction to the music, and the instrumental suite "1974", composed by Flávio Venturini, which demonstrates the band's complexity and progressive ambition.
Tracks
Credits
Paulo Rocco
O Têrço
Rogério Duprat
Mario Buonfiglio, Santiago "Sam" Malnati
O Têrço
Marisa Fossa
Cezar De Mercês
Sérgio Magrão
Sérgio Hinds
Luiz Moreno
Flávio Venturini
Antonio Jose Castilho, Pedro Lopes
André Peticov, Antonio Peticov
Waldir Zetsch
Jean-Pierre Resmond
Leonardo
Podcasts
Sons e Histórias · Daniel Queiroz
Raildo Vasconcelos e Daniel Queiroz comentam e contam curiosidades sobre o disco da banda "o Terço"
Books
Os 500 Maiores Álbuns Brasileiros de Todos os Tempos
Ricardo Alexandre · 2022
The largest Brazilian music election ever conducted: 162 specialists, spanning journalists, critics, musicians, producers and podcasters, each nominated 50 essential albums, supported by a masterlist of more than 2,000 works. Led by Ricardo Alexandre with tabulation by Sérgio Jomori, it was published in December 2022 as a 200-page hardcover book with graphic design by Fernando Pires.
300 Discos Importantes da Música Brasileira
Charles Gavin, Tárik de Souza, Carlos Calado, Arthur Dapieve · 2008
Conceived by Titãs drummer and musical researcher Charles Gavin, the 434-page book brings together covers and reviews of albums released between 1929 and 2007. The texts were written by journalists Tárik de Souza, Arthur Dapieve and Carlos Calado.
Analyses
"Criaturas da Noite" (Underground/Copacabana, 1975), O Terço
tabernanovostempos.blogspot.com
"Ponto Final" is the moment when O Terço proves that emotion doesn't need words. This instrumental progressive rock, punctuated by ethereal vocalisations, puts Flávio Venturini at the centre of attention.
Grandes álbuns do Prog-Rock: O Terço - "Criaturas da Noite" (1975)
tabernanovostempos.blogspot.com
O Terço, until then, was considered a good Rock band by the press and public, but not something exceptional. With "Criaturas da Noite", everything changed. Venturini and Magrão provided an unprecedented balance and calibre (the band displayed talent and skill; everyone composed, sang, and played).
O Terço - Criaturas da Noite (1975)
musicasdonordeste.net
The album begins with Magrão's pulsating bass, an introduction to the simple rock "Hey Amigo", a composition by Cezar de Mercês that became one of the band's greatest classics. The influence of rock rural is very present in the tracks "Queimada" and "Jogo das Pedras" (both by Flávio Venturini and Cezar de Mercês).
Discos Escondidos #013: O Terço - Criaturas da Noite (1975)
ojardimeletrico.com
Criaturas da Noite is, without a doubt, one of the greatest albums in the history of Brazilian rock. Highlights include the tracks Hey Amigo, the flirtation with rock rural that is Queimada, Volte na próxima semana, and Criaturas da Noite.
Criaturas da Noite - O clássico subvalorizado d'O Terço
blognroll.com.br
This changed a little when Criaturas da Noite, O Terço's third studio recording, was released. The album, despite not receiving the feedback that the big stars of popular music were getting at the time, was extremely important for the dissemination of the genre in the country.
