Song(s) of the Day # 2,579 Beautify Junkyards

 

Tropicalia has become a neat sub-genre of its own over recent years. With bands and artists inpired by the initial explosions of invention and creativity of the Sixties and Seventies. Its inspiration has fuelled some fabulous records from the likes of Bananagun and Boogarins.

Portuguese outfit Beautify Junkyards' latest Cosmorama is not in the class of either of their records. It's diverting and entertaing rather than startling and immersive but it's definitely worth forty five minutes of your time. It takes you to that sub-aquatic world of awe and wonder first most obviously explored by Os Mutantes.

Something that must have been quite disorientating back in 1968 though is quite familiar to the palate of music obsessives who have listened to the original masterpieces in this particular part of the gene pool.

Beautify Junkyards don't add anything particularly new or revelatory to the mix. There's a certain conservative, restraint to their approach and delivery even given that they're working within a musical field that is among the most out there of all.

These are more observations than explicit criticisms because Cosmorama is certainly a record full of beauty and nuance. One that takes the listener somewhere rather nice.