Mangue Beat
The movement appeared in the town of Recife (capital of Pernambuco, NE), in the early 90s, when bands like Chico Science & Nação Zumbi (CSZN) and mundo livre s/a began inserting the newest pop elements available (rap, electronica and neo-psychedelic brit rock) into traditional folk styles from Pernambuco (maracatu, coco, ciranda, etc.). Originally named Mangue Bit (as in bits and bytes), the movement produced and issued the manifesto Caranguejos com Cérebros (Crabs with Brains), written by former punk Fred 04 (leader of mundo livre) and local journalist Renato L. in 1992. "Icon image: a satellite dish sticking out of the mud. Or a crab re-mixing Kraftwerk’s Anthena in the computer", they said.
The "research and production nucleus for pop ideas", articulated by the kids in Recife, aimed at "engendering an energetic circuit so as to connect the good vibes from the mangroves with the world net of pop concept circulation". Then there was a denomination for mangueboys and manguegirls: "(...) are individuals interested in: comics, interactive TV, anti-psychiatry, Bezerra da Silva, hip hop, midiotics, artism, street music, John Coltrane, randomness, non-virtual sex, ethnic conflicts and all chemical advances applied in mind alteration and expansion", said the manifesto.
In the early 80s, Chico Science (or Francisco de Assis França) was a member of Legião Hip Hop, a B-boy group influenced by American counterparts. With guitarist Lúcio Maia and bassist Alexandre Dengue, he played with post-punk group Loustal. Loustal then merged with samba-reggae group Lamento Negro, debuting as Nação Zumbi in 1991.
The mangue on the media
Promoted by CSZN and mundo livre, the mangue beat soon hit the southeast of the country, and after a few rave reviews on newspapers, the major labels decided to check out the new big thing coming from a town with very strong musical tradition - which had revealed its last significant pop product two decades before: Alceu Valença. Sony hired Chico Science & Nação Zumbi and indie label Banguela (ran by members of the band Titãs) hired mundo livre.
Both bands released their debut albums in 1993, respectively Da Lama ao Caos and Samba Esquema Noise (the title makes an explicit reference to a major influence in 04’s music, Jorge Ben, whose first album was called Samba Esquema Novo). With songs like A Cidade and A Praieira and a well-concocted fusion of rap and maracatu, CSZN instantly gained popular recognition – in spite of both records being equally acclaimed by the critics all over Brazil.
On the trail of the two bands, other groups appeared in Recife, also mixing pop elements with local, traditional music: Jorge Cabeleira e o Dia em Que Seremos Todos Inúteis, Mestre Ambrósio, Cascabulho, Sheik Tosado. Some bands didn’t care much for the mix, playing straight rock or punk rock, like Devotos (former Devotos do Ódio), Querosene Jacaré and Eddie. A rap scene also emerged with groups like Faces do Subúrbio and Sistema X.
Yearly festival Abril Pro Rock started out as a booster for local artists, but slowly opened up for acts from the rest of the country, becoming the most important regular event for new pop music in Brazil. Filmmakers caught the mangue train, with productions like Baile Perfumado, by Paulo Caldas and Lírio Ferreira, with soundtrack by Chico Science, Fred 04, Mestre Ambrósio and other mangue fine acts.
Crabs in Europe
Greatest stars from the Recife scene, Chico Science & Nação Zumbi made it in Brazil before leaving for a successful European tour in 1995, along with Paralamas do Sucesso. In 1996, they released their masterpiece, Afrociberdelia, where the band’s maracatu became even more electronic and worldly, also featuring a guest appearance by Gilberto Gil (on the track Macô).
A few months later, on February 2, 1997, Chico Science died in a car crash in Recife. Some people bet that the movement, often compared to Tropicalism, would be buried with Chico. But the mangue beat artists sought for new ways within their diversity spirit. New, acclaimed acts surfaced, like Otto - former percussionist for mundo livre s/a, with the album Samba Pra Burro -, DJ Dolores and singer/keyboardist Stella Campos.
Songs
Computadores Fazem Arte – Chico Science & Nação Zumbi
Maracatu Atômico – Chico Science & Nação Zumbi
Livre Iniciativa – Mundo Livre S/A
Quem Tem Bit Tem Tudo – Mundo Livre S/A
Punk Rock Hardcore Lá no Alto Zé do Pinho – Devotos do Ódio
Se Zé Limeira Sambasse Maracatu – Mestre Ambrósio
The "research and production nucleus for pop ideas", articulated by the kids in Recife, aimed at "engendering an energetic circuit so as to connect the good vibes from the mangroves with the world net of pop concept circulation". Then there was a denomination for mangueboys and manguegirls: "(...) are individuals interested in: comics, interactive TV, anti-psychiatry, Bezerra da Silva, hip hop, midiotics, artism, street music, John Coltrane, randomness, non-virtual sex, ethnic conflicts and all chemical advances applied in mind alteration and expansion", said the manifesto.
In the early 80s, Chico Science (or Francisco de Assis França) was a member of Legião Hip Hop, a B-boy group influenced by American counterparts. With guitarist Lúcio Maia and bassist Alexandre Dengue, he played with post-punk group Loustal. Loustal then merged with samba-reggae group Lamento Negro, debuting as Nação Zumbi in 1991.
The mangue on the media
Promoted by CSZN and mundo livre, the mangue beat soon hit the southeast of the country, and after a few rave reviews on newspapers, the major labels decided to check out the new big thing coming from a town with very strong musical tradition - which had revealed its last significant pop product two decades before: Alceu Valença. Sony hired Chico Science & Nação Zumbi and indie label Banguela (ran by members of the band Titãs) hired mundo livre.
Both bands released their debut albums in 1993, respectively Da Lama ao Caos and Samba Esquema Noise (the title makes an explicit reference to a major influence in 04’s music, Jorge Ben, whose first album was called Samba Esquema Novo). With songs like A Cidade and A Praieira and a well-concocted fusion of rap and maracatu, CSZN instantly gained popular recognition – in spite of both records being equally acclaimed by the critics all over Brazil.
On the trail of the two bands, other groups appeared in Recife, also mixing pop elements with local, traditional music: Jorge Cabeleira e o Dia em Que Seremos Todos Inúteis, Mestre Ambrósio, Cascabulho, Sheik Tosado. Some bands didn’t care much for the mix, playing straight rock or punk rock, like Devotos (former Devotos do Ódio), Querosene Jacaré and Eddie. A rap scene also emerged with groups like Faces do Subúrbio and Sistema X.
Yearly festival Abril Pro Rock started out as a booster for local artists, but slowly opened up for acts from the rest of the country, becoming the most important regular event for new pop music in Brazil. Filmmakers caught the mangue train, with productions like Baile Perfumado, by Paulo Caldas and Lírio Ferreira, with soundtrack by Chico Science, Fred 04, Mestre Ambrósio and other mangue fine acts.
Crabs in Europe
Greatest stars from the Recife scene, Chico Science & Nação Zumbi made it in Brazil before leaving for a successful European tour in 1995, along with Paralamas do Sucesso. In 1996, they released their masterpiece, Afrociberdelia, where the band’s maracatu became even more electronic and worldly, also featuring a guest appearance by Gilberto Gil (on the track Macô).
A few months later, on February 2, 1997, Chico Science died in a car crash in Recife. Some people bet that the movement, often compared to Tropicalism, would be buried with Chico. But the mangue beat artists sought for new ways within their diversity spirit. New, acclaimed acts surfaced, like Otto - former percussionist for mundo livre s/a, with the album Samba Pra Burro -, DJ Dolores and singer/keyboardist Stella Campos.
Songs
Computadores Fazem Arte – Chico Science & Nação Zumbi
Maracatu Atômico – Chico Science & Nação Zumbi
Livre Iniciativa – Mundo Livre S/A
Quem Tem Bit Tem Tudo – Mundo Livre S/A
Punk Rock Hardcore Lá no Alto Zé do Pinho – Devotos do Ódio
Se Zé Limeira Sambasse Maracatu – Mestre Ambrósio
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