Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation

Marco Antônio Araújo

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Topic: Marco Antônio Araújo

Posted By: avestin
Subject: Marco Antônio Araújo
Date Posted: October 28 2007 at 19:52

http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2366 - ARAÚJO, MARCO ANTÔNIO

Another fantastic musician I discovered through PA, and who sadly passed away at a young age. If you like rock with folk and classical influences, this is a great find.

Bio here in PA:

MARCO ANTONIO ARAUJO was born in Belo Horizonte on 1949. On 1968 he played in a band called VOX POPULI, that later would become SOM IMAGINARIO. In 1970, and now living in England, he used to be a fan of bands such as: PINK FLOYD, LED ZEPPELIN and GENESIS, who would have great influence on his musical production. Within the next few years, MARCO ANTONIO ARAUJO studied guitar and cello in Rio de Janeiro.

In 1977, once again in Belo Horizonte, he joined the symphonic orchestra and soon (1980) his first album, "Influências" was released. With only six instrumental tracks, he had already achieved an amazing sense of balance and created a personal style.

MARCO ANTONIO ARAUJO is a classic when it comes to brazilian prog, and also a highly recomended artist for anyone who likes both symphonic rock and prog folk.

Sadly, Marco has passed away on Jan, 07, 1986, at the age of 36 of an aneurism.
: : : Jonas, BELO HORIZONTE : : :

Most links I found were in Portugese, sorry.

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Replies:

Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: October 28 2007 at 19:54

Some of the reviews here in PA:

MARCO ANTÔNIO ARAÚJO — Influências

Review by http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=8096 - Tarcisio Moura (Tarcísio B. Moura)
PROG REVIEWER

4%20stars For my 100th review on PA, I´d like to introduce one of Brazil´s best instrumental prog ventures of all times. Marco Antônio Araújo and his band are from my hometown and they played a very unique mixture of progressive, folk, rock and classical music. Araujo, a big Beatles fan, lived in London for a time during the 70´s and when he came back he brought with him all the inlfuences that made him one of the most original and celebrated songwriters of his time. His music is quite rooted in the traditional musical forms of Minas Geraes, a state that was famous for its baroque churchs (therefore the proeminent use of the flute on most of the songs, and also the french horn sometimes).

when the record came out it was hailed as a masterpiece, and it deserved it! It´s difficult to describe the music, since it is quite original, although influences are easy to tag and goes from Jetrho Tull to Beatles, classical music, Brazilian folk and so on. Yet the results are a smooth, well crafted collection of songs. You have to hear it to believe.

He recorded 4 albums of original music and was on his way to become an international successs, when it all came to an end by his tragic death in 1986, of a brain aneuurism. But he left his mark and Influências was his first album, and one of the most celebrated ones, since it was recorded and well received at a time when instrumental prog music was not really in fashion (to say the least!). His band mates are very skilled, most of them did solo works and became much sough after studio musicians in years to come. His brother Alexandre Araújo does some great guitar solos and Eduardo Delgado proves to be one of the best flute players around.

If you like something different, instrumental progressive music, with strong folk and classical influences, this is a must have. Highly recommended!

Posted Monday, April 09, 2007, 08:16 EST | http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=117705 - Permanent link

MARCO ANTÔNIO ARAÚJO — Quando A Sorte Te Solta Um Cisne Na Noite

Review by http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=12639 - Henrock

4%20stars Marco Antonio is one of the finest composers in the prog scene of Brasil in the 70's. This album especially is the sample of what he can do.

Mixing his cello skills, with his dirty classical guitar, and the sound of a very well played flute, his song take us to the infinity of space, in a travel of nice and smod sounds.

I recommend this album for those who admire the Brazilian prog and the prog folk.

Posted Wednesday, August 09, 2006, 10:40 EST | http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=86309 - Permanent link

MARCO ANTÔNIO ARAÚJO — Entre Um Silencio E Outro

Review by http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=47 - lucas (lucas biela)
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Errors And Omissions Editor

4%20stars Marco Antonio Araujo is a brazilian guitarist who used to play instrumental music, blending rock with folk. On this album, he changed his usual formula by playing a more intimate music, close to classical chamber music. In fact, he is backed by 2 cellists, and one flautist, a completely different line-up than the previous one which formed the band Mantra. This album is dedicated to the memory of Araujo's teacher of composition, Esther Scliar, explaining the change of direction on this album and his will to showcase his composition skills. The music is truly beautiful, one could even wonder if it hadn't been composed by a most renowned classical composer, the level of complexity being so relevant in this record. The album consists of two tracks (three more on the reissued edition, in the same vein) crafted to form a suite. The overall feel to the music is very european, the cello giving a touch of romanticism and the flute a touch of classicism, only the guitar has the typical latine tone, reminding the solo works of Egberto Gismonti, to whom he was nevertheless compared. Fortunately, the album is not focusing on Araujo's guitar work, rather the quartet works as an ensemble, each of the musician contributing equally to this record. The music presented here should appeal more to the usual classical music listener, than the prog fan. However, when comparing this record to Araujo's other ones, I much prefer the classical texture of this music than the prog-rock Araujo played with Mantra. It just seems to be a more mature work. Unfortunately, the great Araujo died prematurely in 1986. This album will remain for me the best testimony of his art. NB : as this record belongs IMHO to the realm of classical music and is not a progressive rock piece of music, I didn't gave it the 5 stars it would deserve if progarchives were a site devoted to classical music !

Posted Sunday, September 10, 2006, 14:11 EST | http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=89386 - Permanent link

MARCO ANTÔNIO ARAÚJO — Entre Um Silencio E Outro

Review by http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=8096 - Tarcisio Moura (Tarcísio B. Moura)
PROG REVIEWER

3%20stars Marco Antonio Araujo´s third album is a lot different from his previous two. This is really classical chamber music and, in this field, very good. The original record had only two tracks (each for one side of the vinyl LP, Fantasia Nº 2 (Romance) on side A and Fantasia Nº 3 (Folhas Mortas) on side B. Just classical guitar, two cellos and a flute.

On the CD reissue someone must have thought this work to be too radical classical music for his taste and decided to put three bonus tracks BEFORE the main course. Those are really alternative versions of some Araújo´s previously released songs with different arrangements. On those tracks he is, as usual, backed by his electric group Mantra (which included his brother Alexandre on lead guitar).

A very good work indeed, showing off Araujo´s skills as classical songwriter for chamber music, but has nothing to do with his early releases nor with his follow up Lucas. While those three CDs are prog music wiht lots of classical influences, Entre Um Silêncio e Outro IS classical music in the most radical sense of the word. If you like this kind of music, go for it.

If PA was a classical music site the rating would be four stars at least. For the average prog lover this music may be a bit too radical, save for the bonus tracks, which shows interesting alternative arrangements of some of his earlier stuff. In PA 3 stars in all should be more fitting, I guess. Good, but definitly not his essential work.

Posted Monday, May 21, 2007, 07:41 EST | http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=122951 - Permanent link

MARCO ANTÔNIO ARAÚJO — Animal Racional

Review by http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=8096 - Tarcisio Moura (Tarcísio B. Moura)
PROG REVIEWER

4%20stars A very good complation of one of the most criative and unique prog songwriters of all time. Marco Antonio Araújo mixed prog rock with folk and strong classical influences plus some beatlesque colours here and there. His early demise in 1985 cut short a career that was only beginning to gain international recognition. Nevertheless the works he left are eternal. A different and beautiful instrumental music that sounds completely timeless. Always surrounded by the best musicians he could gather, Araujo took great pains to make sure his records were the best sounding LPs produced at the time A great feat at a time instrumental music was far from being popular.

Animal Racional is, together with his first CD Influências, a good starting point if you want a decent overview of his work without having to buy each of his four albums. The only weakness here is the absence of one of his greatest ever songs, Panoramica. I can´t believe this stunning tune was left over. Maybe the producer thought its inclusion would draw too much attention to his first album (his most popular and accessible).

Anyway, If you´re into great progressive instrumental music, with lots of classical influences, fantastic acoustic/eletric guitar interplay, Jethro Tull-like flutes and general tasteful and intricated arrangements, and never heard about Araújo´s works this album is for you. Highly recommended.

Posted Thursday, May 03, 2007, 08:32 EST | http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=120657 - Permanent link

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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: October 28 2007 at 21:14

A question to my Brazilian friends and mates here:

Is Marco a known figure in Brazil? If you were to mention his name, would people know who you're talking about and maybe could even hum a tune of his, or no?

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Posted By: Atkingani
Date Posted: October 28 2007 at 21:26

avestin wrote:

A question to my Brazilian friends and mates here:

Is Marco a known figure in Brazil? If you were to mention his name, would people know who you're talking about and maybe could even hum a tune of his, or no?

Uh...

They'll ask you if he's a pagode (samba-pop) singer just like Alexandre Pires. Oh, yes, George Bush received Alexandre Pires in the White House soon after he fled Brazil after killing a man with his car while driving drunk: great guy! Or maybe an axé (kind of horrible salsa) dancer or rapper or sertanejo (kind of vomitting country) singer...

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Guigo

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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: October 28 2007 at 21:29

I see... so not much recognition for the guy... sad.

I do hope he gets more of it here. At least I know you, Guigo and the other people who reviewed and rated Marco's albums appreciate him here in PA.

I'm grateful to have found out about him, I like his melodies a lot.

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Posted By: Atkingani
Date Posted: October 28 2007 at 21:31

He's bordering the erudite dominions, don't you think? Maybe a glorious after death recognition, just like Van Gogh and many others.

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Guigo

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Posted By: honganji
Date Posted: November 10 2007 at 05:27

When I heard his death in 1980s, I could not belive the news. Because he was too young to die. But it was truth.

I felt Brazil lost great progressive composer....

He was comparatively known prog artist as well as Bacamarte, Sagrado Coracao Da Terra, etc in Japan in 1980s. So fortunately I could get Lucas almost in real time.

(but I could not get others ...)

Posted By: Atkingani
Date Posted: November 10 2007 at 05:54

honganji wrote:

When I heard his death in 1980s, I could not belive the news. Because he was too young to die. But it was truth.

I felt Brazil lost great progressive composer....

He was comparatively known prog artist as well as Bacamarte, Sagrado Coracao Da Terra, etc in Japan in 1980s. So fortunately I could get Lucas almost in real time.

(but I could not get others ...)

Many Brazilian artists are better known in Japan than in Brazil, especially those of traditional samba, bossa nova and prog-rock. Arigato, Japan!

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Guigo

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Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: March 24 2008 at 19:42

bump

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Posted By: Alberto Muñoz
Date Posted: May 05 2008 at 18:31

Well Marco Antonio Araujo has wonderful albums and now i konw that the guy died in 1986!!! wow i never knew that, i think that he's retired from music.

Anyway is a great musician and composer!!

Influencias and Lucas are the most good albums of him

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