Tue Sept. 6, 2016
20:30

Meta Meta (BRA)

Thiago França: saxophone
Kiko Dinucci: guitar, vocals
Juçara Marçal: vocals
Marcelo Cabral: bass
Sergio Machado: drums

Metá Metá are respected Sao Paulo musicians Thiago França (saxophone), Kiko Dinucci (guitar/vocals), Juçara Marçal (vocals), Marcelo Cabral (bass) and Sergio Machado (drums). This band has plumbed the depths of the Brazilian underground scene, explored the Afro-Brazilian cultural double-bond and penetrated a hidden mystical background to dig out an original generis sound. In order to this they are already praised as “inventors for the new-music scene in Brazil” by Afrobeat star Tony Allen. Followed by a jaunty dash of African-inspired jazz-funk and a frantic burst of post-punk revivalism they are celebrating a range of noise to be-bop and ambient, from Sun Ra to the Stooges or Coltrane. On Stage this Sao Paulo origins are truly exiting. (Pressetext)

Brazilian fusion stars with a punky, jazzy, danceable sound
The band are from São Paulo, but the major influence on Metá Metá's extraordinary fusion style comes from further north up the Brazilian coast in Bahia, the centre of Candomblé, the Afro-Brazilian religion that has links to back to west Africa and the slavery days. The album starts with an edgy, wailing religious chant, but then switches to new songs dedicated to the gods, or orixás, in which the music echoes anything from punk rock to freeform jazz and samba. The band constantly change direction, from easygoing dance passages and rippling, African-influenced guitar work through to sudden waves of sound, with the cool but dominant vocals of Jucara Marcal matched against furious passages of jazz saxophone and percussion. The legendary Nigerian Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen makes an appearance on two tracks, and has described the band as "inventors for the new music scene in Brazil". He's right. (The Guardian)