14 BIS

With the end of the 1970's, progressive rock music has reached a stalemate at the world stage and in the biggest country of South America it wasn't much different. Flávio Venturini, aware of that, started to focus on projects other than O Terço's symphonic prowess. That eventually led to his departure from O Terço, together with bassis Sérgio Magrão, in order to found 14 Bis with his brother and past members of a band called Bendegó.

The result of such meeting was tremendous: every side of the band (in a manner speaking) and every musician had different backgrounds, ranging from rock'n'roll / blues and hard rock to folk music and MPB, what made 14 Bis a really interesting amalgamation of genres and styles. However, the band was mostly interested in making quality music that wasn't too complicated. As Flávio have put it, they were aiming at the Beatles as a point of refference to what the band was supposed to sound: light hearted, simple without being simple-minded (not overly elaborated), clean and original. The Beatles influence, however, can be heard through most of the album in one way or another.

After listening to te band's debut album, I can mostly say that such description given by Flávio Venturini is absolutelly truthful. The music is definitely progressive rock, due to the originality it is presented, the variety of genres of music merged together and the presence of the rock element, but it lacks the so-called snobbish atitude of progressive rock, presenting us a down to earth musical approach and musical development. Due to that, it wouldn't be wrong to call 14 Bis a progressive pop band, at least in their firsts albums, which seems to be something of an evolution or a natural continuation of Flávio's work at O Terço, going a step farther from the fancy symphonic rock his last band did. The best foreign equivalent which I could make a comparisson between them would be Supertramp and Peter Gabriel, with the last one having some specially peculiar similarities on the regard of stylistic change after leaving a symphonic rock band.

The band manage to retain some of the best qualities from each band every band member was from. It has a noticeable folk music (Brazillian folk music, that is) side to it, what is reflected at the instrumental work, vocal work (partially inherited from O Terço) or lirically throughout the album. The rock element is also very much present, be it either through the electric guitars (considered by some respectable musicians in Brazil, up untill the mid 1970's, to be an abomination!) or the organs and synthesizer.

Grade and Final Thoughts

14 Bis' debut is a very good album all around. The production is great, concerning the technical limitations we had in the country had at that time, the vocals and the instruments are played and sung great and most songs feel like the band gave just the right amount of time for them to develop and grow.

If you like prog pop and would like to listen to some with a Brazillian flavour to it, this album is a great place be.

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