II

This was the second album by 14 Bis that I bought and it's the one I like more. In progressive terms, I would give three stars to him, in pop and rock context, he deserves five stars. As we are talking about Prog-Related, I will give four stars. The first song is a folk, with whistles and lyrics about childhood's innocence - a frequent theme of The corner club movement. Caçador de mim is a beautiful song, maybe it's the most famous of this album in Brazil, recorded by various artists. It deals with a man with your own thoughts, looking for himself. Planeta Sonho is an optimist song about the future of the Earth. This is more prog directed and prepares the listener to the next song: the all-instrumental 14 Bis I & II, one of the best songs by 14 Bis (they would compose more songs like that one in other albums, just look for the long songs in the end of the following albums). The B-side is still good. The last song, Pedras Rolantes (Rolling Stones) is an homage to their idols: Beatles and, of course, Rolling Stones. Like Titles by Barclay James Harvest, the lyrics brings some familiar titles: The beggars banquet, Stramberry Fields Forever, Lucy in the sky of the diamonds and some labels by The corner club. This song is the second more progressive track of the album and closes with a little piece orchestrated remembering the previous track, Carrossel. I love all albums by 14 Bis, specially the seven first ones (Flávio Venturini's phase). If I had to choose the best ones, I would pick, after 14 Bis II, Espelho Das Águas, Sete, A Idade Da Luz and the first one. 14 Bis is an excellent pop, folk and symphonic progressive rock band. If you like Venturini's first band - O Terço, you must check it.

Released less than an year after its debut, 14 Bis sophmore work is very good, but not as much as their electrifying beginning. Commercially it faired better than the previous one helped via radio hits like Nova Manhã, Caçador de Mim (great orchestration!) and Planeta Sonho. Unfortunatly they kind of left behind their great acoustic/eletric mix for a more urban sound. The songwriting is also not as powerful and convincing, although it did have its moments (including their best and most progressive track ever, the instrumental 14 Bis parts I and II). Actually not one song is really bad, but I still think this CD was put out a little bit too soon. If they had waited a little longer they could have produced a masterpiece like their outstanding first.

Nevertheless, it proved more than anything they were a talented bunch. They also proved there was an audience for this kind of elaborated music in the 80´s. Critics were not helping, of course (they were billed as an outdated outfit), but fortunalty their songs were very popular and found a niche among us who loved the 70´s style way of playing prog rock. As usual there are some references here and there, specially nods to the Beatles and The Rolling Stones in the arrangements. I guess it was interesting at the time but I found it a bit annoying nowadays. But that´s just my opinion and those things did not spoil the overall sound in any way. Production and mixing are surprisingly good for the time.

In the end I found this CD to be very pleasant. Quite different from their debut, but still very strong and very cherished by fans. However, I still think you should check their discography in chronological order for better appreciation. 3,5 stars.

For the first half of this followup to 14 BIS' debut, the group matches toe for toe the dance of that earlier disk, but the momentum fades just after the halfway mark. By far the best thing here is "Planeta Sonho", from elegant organ theme to gentle harmonizing to trademark crescendo, it has it all as far as 14 BIS is concerned. The other master stroke is the MILTON NASCIMENTO aided "Bola De Meia, Bola De Gude", in which his guitar lays down the rhythm for a deceptively simple yet delightful piece in which synths (I assume) are used like whistles.

What should have been the 3rd highlight is the lengthiest track, the instrumental named after the band, but, notwithstanding an excellent main melody and acoustic guitar flourishes, it exposes the group's loss of touch with the progressive scene by now. The heavier central part is more clumsy than hard hitting, and doesn't really establish a trademark climax.

As both the album and the inspiration wane, the group resorts to a harder rock sound for the first time, and reaches a nadir with "Esquinas De Tantas Ruas". While on the debut the group could be relied upon to rescue the most syrupy ballad, here there is no salvation, simply subpar rock, nothing more. The closer is better handled and includes imaginative percussion and orchestral outro for a more progressive feel, but seems disjointed like a quilt compiled by members of a feuding family.

I hesitate to submit a lower rating here since in some sense this sophomore release is the more progressive of the first 2, but it also confirms that 14 BIS is and should be a sophisticated pop band. 2.5 stars rounded down.