Música e Ciência
Os Mulheres Negras
1988
Why This Album Matters
Música e Ciência is the notable debut album by the Brazilian experimental rock duo Os Mulheres Negras, released in 1988. The work immediately stood out for its avant-garde approach and musical eclecticism, flirting with references as diverse as The Beatles, Henry Mancini, George Gershwin and Tom Jobim, demonstrating a rare ability to fuse styles. The album quickly gained a strong cult status in the Brazilian music scene, recognised for its daring and originality, characteristics that made it a unique landmark in the artistic output of the time. The album's sound, innovative for the national scene, was synthesised in the comment by producer Pena Schmidt, who stated that 'Brazil is not ready for Os Mulheres Negras'. This observation underscored the duo's ahead-of-its-time proposal, which challenged conventions and opened new avenues for musical experimentation in MPB.
Context
The album brought a series of reinterpretations and original compositions, demonstrating the duo's versatility. Among the tracks, versions of classics such as "Sub", a Portuguese adaptation of The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine", and the interpretation of George Gershwin's "Summertime" are notable. The inclusion of Henry Mancini's "Peter Gunn" and Tom Jobim's "Samba do Avião" also underlined the breadth of influences absorbed by the artists. Additionally, the track "Eu Vi" received a music video, expanding the visual scope of the group's artistic proposal. The album was re-released on CD by Warner Music Group in 2001, featuring a remixed version of "Sub" as a bonus track, although both the vinyl and CD versions are currently out of catalogue.
Recording
The production of Música e Ciência was conducted by Pena Schmidt and Paulo Calasans, with art direction by Liminha, important names in the Brazilian music scene. André Abujamra and Maurício Pereira, the duo's members, took on multiple roles in the recording: Abujamra contributed with vocals, electric guitar, synthesiser and electronic drums, while Pereira participated with voice and saxophone. The recording team also included Cacá Lima for engineering and Gal Oppido for photography, who complemented the project's artistic vision.
Songs
The authorship of the tracks is predominantly by Os Mulheres Negras, with André Abujamra and Maurício Pereira as the main composers. Some exceptions include "Orelhão", co-written with André Coruja, and "Eu Vi", which featured the collaboration of Agnaldo Valente Rocca. The album is also notable for incorporating re-recordings of works by other artists, such as George Gershwin's "Summertime", Henry Mancini's "Peter Gunn" and Tom Jobim's "Samba do Avião", which were skilfully integrated into the duo's sonic universe. A bonus track, a remixed version of "Sub", was added to the 2001 CD edition, offering a new perspective on the Portuguese version of The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine".
Legacy
Despite its strong cult status and the recognition of its originality, Música e Ciência faced commercial failure upon its release. However, its relevance was re-evaluated over time, culminating in the album's inclusion on the prestigious list of the 500 greatest Brazilian music albums, a poll conducted by the Discoteca Básica podcast in 2022, solidifying its place in the history of national music.
Rankings
Tracks
Films
Books
Analyses
Música e Ciência – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Os Mulheres Negras - Música e Ciência (1988)
umalbumtodasemana.substack.com
Mesmo com sua estética e suas apresentações bem-humoradas, a música Eu Vi, que fala sobre um caso de racismo, mostra que apesar das performances irreverentes eles também sabiam abordar temas sérios.
MUSICA&SOM: Os Mulheres Negras - "Música e Ciência (1988)
tabernanovostempos.blogspot.com
"Música e Ciência", saborosamente eclético e artesanal, é experimental na medida certa, misturando diversos estilos ao toque cênico e cômico típico da Lira Paulistana (Maurício e Abujamra são também atores, constantemente vistos ou ouvidos em comerciais de TV, filmes, teatro, etc.).
Cadê: "Música e Ciência", o primeiro disco d'Os Mulheres Negras (1988)
monkeybuzz.com.br
Em meio às rodas de congas e atabaques, os dois viram semelhanças musicais e os mesmos planos de domínio mundial através da subversão da música Pop pelos ritmos brasileiros. No ano seguinte, os Mulheres Negras já eram uma realidade.
ClyBlog: Os Mulheres Negras - "Música e Ciência (1988)
cly-blog.blogspot.com
"Música e Ciência", saborosamente eclético e artesanal, é experimental na medida certa, misturando diversos estilos ao toque cênico e cômico típico da Lira Paulistana (Maurício e Abujamra são também atores, constantemente vistos ou ouvidos em comerciais de TV, filmes, teatro, etc.).
Discogs
Música e Ciência – Discogs
discogs.com