Music Review: Boogarins

Boogarins
As Plantas Que Curam
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Tropicalia rock

Brazilian duo Fernando Almeida and Benke Ferraz channel the lost sounds of ‘60s tropical, psychedelic rock in its debut album As Plantas Que Curam. The band layers percussion fuzzed out guitars to produce an atmospheric tribute to past eras while drawing on modern influences like Tame Impala and Foxygen to create a distinctive sound. Although the lyrics are in Portuguese, listeners will have no trouble following along on this kaleidoscopic musical adventure.

The album opens with “Lucifernandis,” a mesmerizing swirl of phased guitars, crashing cymbals and striking vocals. Here the melodies fragment as they dance around loose rhythms that collapse into thumping echoes just before building back up again.

“Despreocupar” reveals a not-so-surprisingly sunny side of Boogarins with samples of chirping birds and laughing children. Layered harmonies of vocals and whistling are enhanced by minimalist instrumentation, forming an overall carefree track to light up any dreary day.

Almeida shows off his versatile singing style in “Eu Vou,” a short and sweet a cappella song that draws listeners into a trance of bewilderment with simulated bubble noises that neither add nor take away from the overall experience.

Obvious influences from the Beatles are tastefully poured into nearly every song. The lackadaisical vocal delivery and super simple melodies of “Erre” and “Doce” are incredibly reminiscent of Revolver and the album even ends with a supposed homage to Sir McCartney entitled “Paul.”

As Plantas Que Curam offers a unique combination of tropical power and off-kilter intimacy that separates Boogarins from any other psychedelic rock band today. Many times, a foreign language can be an overwhelming exotic element, but Boogarins defuses that with its inviting energy. This group may be dazed, but don’t get confused. As Plantas Que Curam is a real treat and a must-listen for any experimental music lover.

— Olivia Farley