Som Imaginario - Matanca do Porco. 1973 Brazil

Matanca do Porco is Som Imaginario's 3rd and last album, and is a departure from their first 2 albums. The only remnants from their psychedelic era is the decidedly acid tone of the electric guitar. Otherwise, the music has gone from heavy psych to progressive rock, with a Brazilian jazz undertone. The all-instrumental Matanca do Porco is very well written, and has some wonderful melodies among the complex symphonic fusion. The embracement of Brazil's own Bossa Nova culture is much welcomed here. Comparisons are harder to find than previous, as Som Imaginario predicts the oncoming jazz fusion movement by about 2 to 3 years. Maybe Il Volo's second album is a guidepost? And even that came two years later than Matanca do Porco. The analog sound is still rooted in the early 70s, but it's the fusion of styles in an instrumental setting, that is forward looking. Essential for the collection.

Revisiting these Som Imaginario albums has been enlightening. I would say the debut met expectations, and the next two exceeded them, each resulting in a +1 rating.

Ownership: CD: 1997 EMI. As part of the Portfolio 3 CD box set. My thoughts about this package can be found on their debut (1970) post.

Som Imaginario. 1971 Brazil

For over 20 years, I had misinterpreted Som Imaginario's second album as the weak middle child. That awkward transition album from psychedelic to progressive rock. I was thinking of bands like The Mandrake Memorial or SRC. And, in particular, Italy's Formula 3 came to mind. But last night I heard the album completely different. I went 4 rounds with it, as I was caught off guard. Two straight hours of Som Imaginaro numero 2. It's a heavier album than their debut, and I was reminded more of Modulo 1000 - along with many Italian references, in particular Il Rovescio della Medaglia's La Bibbia and Il Balletto di Bronzo's Sirio 2222. Love the sinister Portuguese narration parts. The album closer 'A Nova Estrela' is brilliant heavy psych, exactly what you want from music of this era. Sure, there's still a bit of 60s pop left in them (especially A2), and their lame attempt at blues is best skipped over (B2). But otherwise, this album surpasses their debut in my estimation, which now puts me in the minority opinion. But I really do think their second album is more innovative and interesting on the whole.

Ownership: CD: 1997 EMI. Part of the Portfolio box set. You can find my thoughts about this package on the debut's post.

Som Imaginario. 1970 Brazil

Som Imaginario were one of the earliest psychedelic bands emerging from Brazil. For 1970, their debut has to be considered groundbreaking, even if they weren't truly first for the country. The opening half is where the meat is on this album. Very psychedelic, with studio effects, fuzz guitar, the whole shebang (been awhile since I managed to get the word shebang into a review). Side 2 drifts off into more of a 60s pop vein, similar to how the Italians would do on occasion. Really not that much different than Gruppo 2001 in that regard. Overall it works out to a grade of very good, but disappointing only in that it appeared it was going to be that much more.

Ownership: CD: 1997 EMI. Part of a 3 CD box set known as the "Portfolio" series. Purchased new not long after release (good thing, as it's become quite scarce nowadays). There are times when I think maybe I should have never gone with CD reissues, and just stuck with newer releases for the platform, while continuing to hunt down the rarest original LPs. But it's packages such as this that reminds me how wonderful the medium can be. I don't forget what Brazilian LP originals looked and sounded like, before the advent of the CD reissue. They weren't the best pressings to begin with, and many were partied out from there. Perhaps understandably so, but not the best circumstances for collecting. Each of their 3 albums are packaged in nice mini-LP covers, with replicas of the original inner sleeves. Unfortunately there's no liner notes, which probably would have been in Portuguese, but I would have enjoyed them all the same. No bonus tracks either. For me, this is the definitive way to own these albums. If originals are found in the wilds, great, but this box set is more than satisfying for what I need.