DURANTE O VERÃO

Quite an improvement over the self titled debut of two years earlier. After the change of bassist and flute player, the band turned a little more electric and melodic (the title track is a good example of how they could be featured on the radio without selling out, a possibility that unfortunately never happened). The music on this album always seemed to me as very similar, in parts, to what a lot of italian bands were doing at the time (so, italian symphonic rock fans, you should check this out!), maybe because the use of same acoustic instruments. Now the band was using real drums and much more electric guitar turning their sound more progressive than really folky.

The production was once again good for the time and the music is quite bold and inventive. There are some great flute passages, creative use of cello and some fantastic assorted percussion instruments. The vocal harmonies are also more elaborated and interesting, sometimes bordering some Gentle Giant-like arrangements. Although very short (only 30 minutes), Durante O Verão (during the summer, in portuguese) stands as one of the most unique prog bands to appear in the 70´s. Too bad the band never made it in commercial terms (they were fired from the label after this record for not selling enough copies of their albums). I had the original LP at the time and, at 16, I was intrigued and fascinated by their music which mixed rock, folk, prog, classical and some avant gard elements.

They proved their force some two years after this LP when they played on all the tracks, backing singer Olivia Byington on her Correndo O Risco LP. Only 19 years old at the time, Olívia had a striking beauty and a spectacular, classical educated voice. She rerecorded many of the group´s stuff and even achieved an underground hit with Lady Jane (not the Rolling Stones tune, but a song that was included on A Barca Do Sol´s debut LP). The critics praised that record and it is considered as much their album as it was hers. A truly prog masterpiece, it is now quite rare, but well worth to buy it if you happen to find it. Durante o Verão e Corra O Risco are probably the most underrated prog works done by a brazilian band during the 70´s, even if they were both released by major recording labels.

Excellent addition to any prog music collection. 4 stars.