O Bando - O Bando CD. Reissue of the sole album (1969) from this Brazilian rock super-group formed in São Paulo in the end of the 1960’s. O Bando’s music blended MPB, regional music and Tropicalistic “psicodelia”—this engaging combination no doubt thanks to Rogério Duprat, who provides arrangements (along with Damiano Cozzela and Júlio Medaglia). It’s a bizarre record, which starts off with a blast of rampaging brass before searing fuzz guitar and disturbing astral keyboard sound effects kick in; the end result sounds like an insane hellfire version of soundtrack/library music of the period. The rest of the album is quirky in the best of all possible ways: some definitive Tropicalia moments, including a cover version of Toquinho e Jorge Ben’s “Que Maravilha,” funky break intros to many of the songs, and nice harmonies too, when required. Although they used single names in O Bando, the singer “Marisa” was Marisa Fossa (she later recorded more material with Rogerio Duprat), Paulino was Paul de Castro who also played in Os Mutantes and other Brazilian rock legends, and “Dudu” was famous Brazilian drummer Dudu Portes, who has backed Elis Regina, Milton Nascimento, and Gal Costa, among others. Booklet includes a nice essay on (and discography for) Rogério Duprat. (m-/m-)