Papangu’s debut album sounds in equal part interesting and daunting, if their introduction of it anything to go by: it is “a concept album inspired by ecological escatology and the modernist literature of Norheastern Brazil – a hardy, arid region historically plagued by inequality and violence”.

This is a bold album. I’m operating at a disadvantage in that I don’t know about Brazilian music or literature or even Brazil, other than watching a very interesting travelogue involving Michael Palin, and I don’t speak Portuguese, but I can pass comment on the musical form and structure. I do have a friend who lived for some time in Brazil and is interested in this kind of music. When I told him about it, he immediately drew an association with a spacy (as he put it) prog band called Violeta de Outouna, who have early Floydian influences. Oh, and he was sufficiently intrigued to go and buy this album there and then.

So what are my impressions of “Holoceno”? From the outset it’s a high energy affair, and extremely progressive in nature. The sound is avant-garde, irregular in a creative way and jazzy. The drumming is manic, reflecting the energy as a whole. And that’s just the first track, the instrumental “Ave-Bala”. A distant Floydian vocal effect comes into play on the next piece “Água Branca”. What is striking is the kaleidoscope of sounds in the background, which serve to add colour to proceedings. Those drums are prominent again but while a keyboard section adds a dreamy element, it’s as if there’s a party going on. This is most interesting. Drums away, but this time more sharply as Papangu launch into the growly and I suspect fuzz-inspired “São Francisco”. As the instrumental riot develops, the vocals are like a choral chant with moments of black metal growls thrown in. The final part is tantamount to total anarchy and chaos. I don’t know what they’re singing about but this is fun. This album is dramatic, and to add to this impression “Bacia das Almas” starts like the theme to a tv drama, developing into another high-energy, shadowy number. Again, the background instrumentals are on high pulse. With the vocalist sounding that bit sinister, this is disquieting but as a musical creation this is eye-opening. A retro organ solo adds further vitality if any were needed.

The story moves on with “Terra Arrasada”, a much deeper and doomier piece, but again injected which colourful magic thanks to the unique and atmospheric choral style and all-embracing, holistic sound structure. There is heightened tension and drama. Deathly anarchy seems to have set in by the time we reach “Lobisomem”, another dark and adrenaline-driven adventure. A saxophone is an obvious inclusion with the haunting mood that it brings, and to Papangu’s credit here it is on this latest vibrant piece. The tension mounts as chattering voices can be heard. This truly is like being invited into someone else’s weird world. The album closes with the ten-minute title song, and another twist as it starts with a devastatingly melancholic passage. The saxophone enhances the mood. A haunting choral line turns this into a hymn. There’s something of the night about this song. An exquisite guitar solo maintains the dream. I was sorry it was broken as the sound become sharper and more intense, building into growly menace and multi-instrumental drama. Somehow Papangu pull all these threads together and create a prog metal jazz maelstrom. I’ve hesitated to use the word “experimental” because it somehow suggests this is aimless, and it’s not that. The second half of the song “Holoceno” is typical of much of the album in that it flies off in all directions but with Papangu it is evident that there is structure, albeit sometimes of an anarchic kind. This album is a musical extravaganza.

“Holoceno” challenges the senses in an exciting way. Stylistically I am reminded of the “undefinable” Kayo Dot, who are prone to similar wild and wonderful musical excursions. Papangu have something new to offer here. I felt both challenged and enriched when listening to this album. My friend enjoyed it too, even making “Bacia das Almas” his clip of the day. So all in all, here was a successful new discovery.

(9/10 Andrew Doherty)

https://www.facebook.com/papangu.br

https://papangu.bandcamp.com/album/holoceno

Holoceno CD