AA.VV.
Não Wave

If it is true that rock is essentially Western music, not to mention Anglo-American, it is equally true that by sticking to the bare essentials, one risks missing out on many releases that may not have made the history of any genre, but are nonetheless very enjoyable and interesting, and still capable of offering some unexpected or unknown flair or element. Therefore, even if the grandiose comparisons (the Brazilian response to No New York, the historic no-wave compilation curated by Brian Eno) that I've occasionally heard for this collection are likely short-lived, that doesn't detract from the fact that it is a valid and interesting listen for enthusiasts of the new wave or, in general, exotic rock. Discovered by yours truly through reading Reynolds' Post-Punk, this compilation (released in 2005) gathers 14 tracks, ranging from 1:00 to 5:17 minutes, from 12 entities of São Paulo's post-punk scene of the '80s. Some might be surprised to find such a broad and varied scene (of which "Não Wave" only gives us a partial representation) in a country that has, with commendable exceptions aside (Sepultura, Amon Tobin), played what could be considered a largely marginal role in the history of rock and its surroundings, but at the time, Brazil was emerging from a two-decade military dictatorship and was in full social-cultural ferment; in addition, São Paulo, the largest city in the country, hosted a population of several million inhabitants from the most diverse nationalities, including many Germans, English, etc., who were a privileged bridge for the arrival and spread of new overseas sounds. All this contributed to creating a cultural melting pot of biblical proportions that offered fertile and ideal ground for the creation of a thriving music scene.

Among the influences of the groups, you can mention bands like Gang of Four, PIL, Killing Joke, Television, Talking Heads and many others, even though, of course, the most interesting aspects of the bands are given by the more genuinely South American influences that often peek through, more or less subtly, within the musical arrangements and from the singing in Portuguese. In short, we can compare the album to a beautiful, colorful, and refreshing fruit salad of exotic fruits to enjoy all at once.

And if by chance, at the end, you find yourself not yet satisfied, you can always go for a nice encore with the twin compilation "The Sexual Life of the Savages".