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RITA LEE
Hoje É O Primeiro Dia Do Resto da Sua Vida (Rev-Ola)
Reviewed by Sherman Wick
Hoje É O Primeiro Dia Do Resto da Sua Vida is a great elixir for the claustrophobia and desperation of winter. Presently, the wind is howling outside my window and the temperature is struggling to reach zero degrees Fahrenheit: the eclectic sounds of this post-modern blend of traditional Brazilian bossa nova, samba and avant-garde rock music, or tropicalia, is as refreshing as a glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade. The record has Lee's name on it, but is nominally a lost Os Mutantes record: "produced and directed" by Arnaldo Baptista and assisted by Sergio Dias. In 1970 Lee made her first solo record of a long and commercially successful career. It was made with only limited assistance from fellow Mutantes, and it was the mellower vocal-centric record, Build Up.
Lee's second solo record is loaded with unusual rockers-which corresponds with her music during Os Mutantes late '60s heyday. The songs feature Baptista's deft skill at mixing unusual percussion, musical styles and instrumentation into compositions that are amazingly melodic for Lee to sing over with her mellifluous voice. Baptista role is so large on this record that he even is the lead vocalist on the closing track "Superficio do Planeta." On the down side, the record shows minimal elements of Os Mutantes gradual transition (to a lame progressive rock band without Lee in the late '70s). Longer guitar fills appear on "Vamos Tratar da Saude," but are countered by the weirdest and most distorted vocal effects until the late'80s Butthole Surfers. "Beija Me Amor" and the title track are beautiful melodic rock with avant-garde touches. "Do Novo Aqui Mou Bom José" is one of the collaborators best tracks. It could fit in easily on any Os Mutantes best-of compilations, albeit it is not as strange as their typical music. It is a lovely psychedelic anthem.
This is a great record-but not consistently the same caliber as vintage Os Mutantes recordings: Mutantes, Divina Comedia Ou, or the popier and more accessible European market release, Technicolor. Still, I highly recommend it as a cure for the winter blues-or any other seasonal dysfunction. And this record is on the ultra-cool Rev-ola label, lovers of fine music can't go wrong when purchasing from the Cherry Red Record labels; They are always rediscovering hard to find long lost gems-such as this record. Hopefully, they will continue to search for great rare, out-of -print and lost records.
© 2007 - Sherman Wick