Banda do Casaco - Dos Benefícios dum Vendido no Reino dos Bonifácios (1974/1993 Philips)
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Album: Banda do Casaco - Dos Benefícios dum Vendido no Reino dos Bonifácios
Released: 1974 (1993)
Genre: Prog-Folk
Gnosis Rating: 10.91
Philips - 518 757-2
Banda do Casaco, a group whose music is based at the same time in the deep roots of tradition with cosmopolitan influences and in an urbanity still very marked by the rural and work Portugal cultures. The lyrics are very sarcastic, ironic and lucid. Musically, the group made in Portugal (in Rádio Triunfo studios) what José Mário Branco and José Afonso had made in France (in Strawberry studios) 3 years before: a completely vanguardist sound and inteligent arrangements.
The use of the 8 musicians and its instruments potencials put the listner in front of a surprizing and stimulating debut album. We must notice the string instruments (violin, guitars and cellos) and the two female vocal singers' performance (Judi Brennan and Helena Afonso).
For its magnificent arrangements, we must mention some songs: 3 - the folk and popular tales in the percussions and flute arrangements (“Vade retro Satanás / T’arrenego Belzebu / Ai Jesus cruzes canhoto / Lagarto, lagarto, lagarto”); 4 - a typical progressive construction, with part changes (note as the candle and religion smells gets to our noses when the two singers say cantam “(chegaram carros aquela igreja) toda enfeitada” "(cars arrived to that church) well ornamented"; 5 - a nice melody achieved by voices, guitars and violin (it remembers “Linda Pastorinha”, recorded in 79 by Almanaque, a record produced by Nuno Rodrigues, the same composer of almost songs of this Banda do Casaco album); 7 - the inicial folklore, based on violin and with a second part majestically epic, with trumpet in the back and the cellos dramatic sounding; 9 - a monster speakes in a cave and a female melody echoes, enprisioned; by the 25 second and until the end of the first section the contrabass and guitar reminds “Era Um Redondo Vocábulo”, by José Afonso (1973) 10 - melody based at piano and vibraphone with a electric guitar arrangements that sound King Crimson and Robert Fripp in “Moonchild” (1969).
After one hears this first album we might think time hasn't passed. Or that was no time to pass even. More that 30 years after its original release, this time is still unprepared to these songs.
Great complex folk progressive LP ,with much use of violin,flutes,acoustic guitar by the band thar came from the remains of Filarmónica Fraude. - Exposure
Banda do Casaco are a Portuguese Prog-Folk band active from 1974 to 1984 considered by some to be one of Portugal's greatest Progressive rock bands.
The group joined traditional Portuguese folk music with Progressive rock and their lyrics were often satirical and included social criticism, approaching the idea of crossing modern urbanisation with Portuguese rural history. The band consisted of eight members with instruments including brass, keyboards, strings (violin, cello, contra bass) and vocals (two female vocalists: Judi Brennan and Helena Afonso).
The first album released was 1975's Dos Benefícios de um Vendido no Reino dos Bonifácios followed by Coisas do Arco da Velha in 1976 which won the "Album of the Year" award in Portugal, notable for the appearance of Candida Branca Flor on vocals. Their most renowned and considered by some, their most experimental, album was their 1977 release Hoje há Conquilhas, Amanhã não Sabemos which featured António Pinheiro da Silva on guitar and multi-instrumentalist Rão Kyao. They went on to release Contos da Barbearia in 1978 followd by No Jardim da Celeste in 1981 which featured the inclusion of female singer Né Ladeiras and Jerry Marotta, Peter Gabriel's former drummer. The band played live on only three occasions: at Aula Magna, Festa de S. Mateus in Viseu and Casa do Povo in Cacia. In 1982 Pinho left the group to write for Doce but the band continued and released Também Eu in 1982. The bands final studio album was Com Ti Chitas, released in 1984, which featured Ti Chitas (Catarina Sergentina). The group disbanded shortly after. - Wikipedia
BANDA DO CASACO’s genesis comes from the reunion of jazz musician Nuno Rodrigues and FILARM?NICA FRAUDE’s men António Pinho and Luís Linhares, who made the decision to establish a new group who could wield some influence in the Portuguese music scene. Their first LP, “Dos Benefícios de um Vendido no Reino dos Bonifácios” is a real provocation to the estabilishment.
In 1976 they launched their second album, “Coisas do Arco da Velha”, where the bands takes their satirical lyrics even further. The song “É triste não saber ler” (“A sad thing, not knowing how to read”) is a good example.
BANDA DO CASACO’s third and most renowned album, 1977’s “Hoje há Conquilhas, Amanh? não Sabemos”, features the inclusion in the band of António Pinheiro da Silva, as guitarist, as well as multi-instrumentalist Rão Kyao. This is the band’s most experimental album. Launched in 1978, the album “Contos da Barbearia” is a culmination of styles previously explored by the group.
After three years without any recordings, the band returns with in 1981 with a new album, “No Jardim da Celeste”. This album is the most rock-oriented of the band, a natural repercussion the growing trend in Portugal. It featured the inclusion in the band of female singer Né Ladeiras and Jerry Marotta, former drummer for Peter Gabriel.
In 1982, António Pinho leaves the group to write lyrics for pop-band “Doce”, while the rest of the band present the album “Também Eu”, which for the first time features vocals all done by one member, Né Ladeiras.
The final studio album by BANDA DO CASACO, 1984’s “Com Ti Chitas”, features the inclusion of a somewhat mystical figure in Portuguese music, old lady shepherd “Ti Chitas” (Catarina Sargenta), who sings and plays adufe on the album. It is the band’s biggest approach to strict folk music and traditional themes. The group disbands shortly after, while the new pop-rock, punk-rock and synth-pop of the 80’s slowly dominated the Portuguese musical scene.
Overall, the band had a very folkish sound, complemented by the use drums, keyboards and the occasional brass and strings, without really having a very strong focus on the “rock” part of “Progressive-Rock” or “Folk-Rock” (electric guitars, for instance, when in existence, were extremely subtle). - João Cotrim, ProgArchives.com
1 Aliciação - Espírito Imundo (04:51)
2 D'Alma Aviada (02:29)
3 A ladainha das Comadres (01:58)
4 A Cavalo Dado (02:45)
5 Henrique Ser Ou Não Henriquecer (01:37)
6 Bonifácios (03:27)
7 Lavados, Lavados Sim (03:41)
8 Cocktail do Braço de Prata (04:39)
9 Na Boca do Inferno (02:01)
10 Horas de Ponta e Mola (05:00)
11 Memorando - Sábado Sauna Sábado Santo (03:24)
12 Opúsculo (01:48)
Nuno Rodrigues - vocals, guitars
Judi Brennan - vocals
Celso de Carvalho - contrabass, cello, vibraphone
Helena Afonso - vocals
António Pinho - vocals, timpani
Carlos Zíngaro - vocals, violin, electric guitar, cello, contrabass, cymbals
Luís Linhares - pianos, flauta de bizel
José Campos e Sousa - vocals, guitars
Nelson Portelinha - vocals, guitars, trumpet, trombone, vibraphone, flute
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