CIRCO DE MARIONETES

For their fourth (and final) LP, the band decided to shed the elaborated arrangements and production of the the previous album and trade it for a more straightforward folk rock sound. So the presence fo an electric guitar on some tracks was no surprise. The resulting colection of songs was charming, but failed to gain them a new audience and clearly did not won back the former fans of their earlier trademark souhern folk.

The sound was simpler, poppier and much more accessible to the mainstream market. And still it did not meant any bigger sales, even if Androginismo did atract some airplay. Which was a pity, since it was clear their talent was intact. But at the time a folk rock band was not as popular as it was a few years before (the end of the 70´s also meant the end of a lot of rock acts, even in Brazil). Of all the songs in the LP the title track showed their dissatisfaction with the overall state of the country, including its political side. It was covered by MPB-4, one of the most prestigious vocal groups in Brazil, but it was not enough to save the band from breaking up soon after this record was out.

Eventually the brothers Ramil would very soon start a duo of their own, Kleiton & Kledir, a highly successful act that had all the hits and national exposure denied to their former group. It was only sad that htis CD disappeared from the stores very soon, got almost no promotion and it is so hard to find. nowadays. Not the most representative of their sound, but still a good release of this obscure folk band of the 70´s. Rating: something betweeen 2,5 and 3 stars.