GUSTAVO JOBIM

A very trippy Berlin school journey showcasing Gustavo Jobim´s knowledge, passion and his own offerings to the table.

Meio-Dia consists of 3 tracks which move from bright & danceable to Conrad Schniztler´s like idea of experimental electronic music and everything that fits in between. So you get a wide scope of styles in quiet a short time.

When inspiration falls into place you are in for some enticingly beautiful passages or some very nostalgic combination between retro synth POP sounds transfigured by Jobim´s understanding of the Berlin school´s system and his personal influences.

Track one -Meio-Dia = 3.5, Track two -Piramide = 3, Track three -Eterno Retorno = 4

3.5 PA stars.

Young synth player and electronic manipulator Gustavo Jobim hails from Brazil and has been releasing a stream of fascinating and experimental prog-electronic discs for many years now, and like much of his back catalogue, 2017's `Meio-Dia' takes little traces of vintage Berlin School elements and twists them with all sorts of unpredictable style and direction changes in both modern and retro ways. It's an experimental work that is constantly full of colour, movement and liveliness, and one that likes to move between buoyant energy and eerier danger, as well as allowing a Krautrock-like scuzzy wildness to seep in.

Twenty-two minute opener `Meio-Dia' (Noon) offers a blistering array of runaway electric piano, reflective organ solace, imposing Mellotron confrontations and hypnotic prog-electronic drifts all given a relentless push forwards by constantly up- tempo peppy beats, bouncing programming and fuzzy melting soloing.

There's a lightly unhinged psychedelic danger and driving Kraftwerk/`Autobahn'-like momentum permeating `Piramide' (Pyramid) with its undulating sequencing popping in and out of swirling and hazy ambient washes, grumbling electric guitar samples and unceasing pattering beats before it splinters into distorted breakdowns and feverish computer glitching soloing.

Despite opening and closing with eerie reflective reaches, the shorter album closer `Eterno Retorno' (Eternal Return) bristles with lurking darker jangling sequencing, with just a touch of Klaus Schulze infiltrating the droning heaviness and lush panoramic ambient synth expanses rising and falling throughout.

With a diverse and eclectic body of work behind him, `Meio-Dia' is a good middle ground for newcomers - light retro touches that call to mind the vintage prog-electronic masters but given a unique sampling of Gustavo's own personality. It also runs a welcome vinyl length (someone PLEASE release this on vinyl!) and best of all, there's a real sense of fun through parts of the album that never become lightweight or silly! If you're a listener that likes their prog-electronic sprinkled with a Krautrock seasoning, `Meio-Dia' might be just for you, and it easily makes a case for being one of the most striking electronic releases of 2017.

Four stars.

— First review of this album —

True to the bone!

Such a nice album title sure is enticing, "In Search of Berlin" by Gustavo Jobim, 2011. But what about the music? You may ask.

Well, take a deep breath and imagine Berlin's school first composers, how they reacted to all these new synthesizer's sequential and modular possibilities, how all these, then new canons, would transform our entire concept of not only electronic music (born circa 1930) as such, but its whole spectrum.

Gustavo Jobim shares that same excitement and goes deep in finding his own Berlin.

Poetic, dynamic (even dramatic), non stop creative, free of foreign nuisances, Jobim sounds true to the bone and in undertaking such a "pretentious" task he does it with grace and yes, lots of humbleness!

What else can I say, if you are already a PE or Berlin School enthusiast. If not get this album, forget about its whereabouts and back story and dwell in this exciting, heartfelt, contemporary Progressive Electronic odyssey.

****4 PA stars.

— First review of this album —

Masterful!

Two minds with inherently different electronic music, direct and indIrect, influences, focuses and approaches, converge in perfect balance to become a new entity withholding their best songwriting attributes and pushing each one's best creative talents.

What an extremely nice surprise to find out how well these two musicians can relate, to the point of wondering why they do not do this more often, but then again, maybe, this is one of the reasons why "HOCHOFEN", 2014, by Gustavo Jobim and Michael Bruckner (both included here in PA apart) trascends to be an essential part of my vast prog/non-prog/electronic music collection, for starters.

Music wise things are not that easy to explain, which somehow adds bonuses, considering its uniqueness in music language and the blending of each one's own style can only be compared to itself, meaning you already have to be acquainted with both musicians' works and imagine how uncommonly wise this meeting of minds turns out to be.

***** 5 PA stars!

And imagine downloading this masterwork for whatever you can chip in! It's a wonderful world indeed!

PD-Do not be decieved by its horrendous cover art.

Everybody deserves a break (or two).

Starting with the wrong foot my acquaintance with Gustavo Jobim's music ( two of his 2014 cds, which I reviewed one of those here in PA), I gave myself a chance and downloaded for free this time a third ( at Bandcamp), his 2014, "Retrospect-2013" which contains sections or songs of four of his 2013 releases: "Connection", "Manifesto", "Stream" and "Inverno".

Kind of a prolific artist Gustavo Jobim turned out to be, which of course has to do also, with the more accessible recording tools, artist nowadays possess or have access to, as opposed to the super-expensive and time consuming recording studios of yore. Anyway, this compilation works wonders!

Traveling different electronic routes and moods, the pieces fit each other perfectly. Starting with an epic song like a "retro" blend of Vangelis and JM Jarre, being enjoyable the rest to come is even better. Amazingly rich, taking into account the lenght of this cd (less than an hour), the spirit of experimentation never subdues the focused creativity and perfection of its songwriting.

To sum it up, cosmic, industrial, slow and fast, alien environments, with the precise splashes and doses of pure and manipulated electronic noise, original in its progressive/electronic songwriting, but also sparing time for a beautiful moment of acoustic piano meditation (track 8).

The dynamics and disposition of the songs enhance each one's attributes, but also the whole as an album, as to sound as a single effort and not the sum of four. Talking about four....

****4 "the best things in life are for free, although contributing to the artist is even better " PA stars.

A factory of useless noises!

I never learn.... Anyway! Gustavo Jobim's 2014, two piece album "Underground", is, to put it simply, unbearable. Maybe that was his intention. Who knows, who cares? (As I write, I am listening to it for the 2nd time.)

If you kind of missed or skipped 70 years (give n take) of electronic music experiments, maybe, and maybe then, you will fall for this raw electronics,experimental project.

I went to his Bandcamp page, bought this one and downloaded another one for free. I sure wish it had been the other way around, although I have not listened yet to my other pick! (also 2014.)

Ok! Two 25-30 minutes long "compositions" , based, to call it somehow, in the conceptual tone of raw, abstract, electronic experimentation with noises. So, what's new? Absolutely nothing, not even on the "sound-programming" mode. Não!, Nicht!, Ni madres! , 別, Not at all!

Pretentious electronic "Art", for those audiophiles who never have had the privilege of playing, less owning, a synth, forget about 2 or more!

As for me, I repeat, a useless factory of "a zillion times heard", cacophonic, raw, experimental and over-indulgent progressive electronics.

**2, " I don't fall for this pseudo intellectual "Art" (which is not necessarily intelligent) , that only exposes the lack of creativity and original composition in music.", PA stars.

Retrospect 2013 is the second compilation by the talented and prolific musician from Brazil. Contrary to Retrospect 00-2012, this one is entirely made up of tracks taken from albums he recorded and/or released in 2013: Connection, Manifesto, Stream and Inverno. Again there are 9 tracks, eight are his usual electronic stuff, with strong influences of the Berlin school of the 70´s krautrock scene, and one is a piano piece, where he shows the acoustic minimalist style of songwriters like Erik Satie.

Although I´m not an electronic music fan, much less an expert at that genre, I found this CD to be extremely well done and more varied than the first, maybe because the first track Biomekanik reminds of Kraftwerk, one the few electronic groups that I really liked at the time. But overall this is a very good CD and even if I do prefer a more melodic and "normal" approach on music I found Jobim´s music of the highest quality, someone who understood and learned from the masters but still has an original and personal touch all around. The production is top notch. And I also liked very much the artwork of his albums.

If you like electronic music you shouldn´t miss the chance to get to know this artist. And I think both compilations are a fine intro to his already large discography. Both are available for free at his site (www.gustavojobim.com).

Rating: 4 stars, no doubt.

— First review of this album —

Gustavo Jobim is a progressive electronic musician from Brazil who has quite a prolific career since the early 2000´s. Most of his works are heavily influenced by the electronic music of the early 70´s, specially those of the German school of electronic music. Small wonder one of his first albums is called In Search Of Berlin. But he also has some acoustic piano works where Erik Satie seems to be another source of inspiration. He also cites Ian Landi and Christian Caselli as inspirations and helpers for a couple of his albums.

Retrospect 00/12 is, like the title implies, his first compilation released in 2012. There are 9 tracks, with 52 minutes of music, including two piano solos. Everyone knows I´m no electronic music expert, but I did enjoy a lot his tunes through the ProgBrazil website and, to me at least, his works sound just as good as any of the ones I´ve heard like Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream (their early works to be more precise, not the melodic sounds of the late 70´s).

I think this album is a good starting point for anyone who wants to know this talented artist. All his discography is available through his official website for streaming.

Rating: four strong stars. Excellent addition even for non electronic fans like me.