Pato Fu – Daqui Pro Futuro (From Here To The Future)
Ninth album. To everybody's delight, Pato Fu still believes that the day's motto is creativity. Twelve tracks, eleven original songs, and lots of conceptual work. Never being lazy, never being well-adjusted, more independent then ever.
As in the previous album, this one was also produced by guitarist/composer John Ulhoa. Recorded and mixed at John and Fernanda's home studio, this album is an experiment in how far can computer-studio technology be used to make organic and non-mechanic music. Everything was recorded by the five members of the band, ranging from modern to medieval instruments - always with the aid of samplers and other little gadgets, like everything else done by Pato Fu. Cues are all over. Primitive mechanical music in the form of barrel-organs and clockwork. Sounds from old vintage sequencers, drum machines and analog synthesizers. The album cover gives us the sign: an electro-mechanic-organic monster playing vinyl records, producing butterflies. Pato Fu in studio has somehow become that, high-end technology resulting in simple, nostalgic sounds, complex textures built from basic sonorities.
“30.000 Pés” (“30.000 Feet”), opening the album, is a road-song, but in an airplane. A slide 12-string guitar intro is an unusual sound for Pato Fu. A musical box (one of the oldest sequencers?), synths, heavy drums, powerful bass. Fernanda's vocals in the right place, as always. One hundred percent Pato Fu.
“Mama Papa” (co-written by Fernanda, John and Rubinho Troll) addresses the listeners who were expecting a song dedicated to Fernanda and John's newly-born daughter in the previous album. That album lacked such a song, but there's this one now, full of toy sounds, up-beat, swinging, in a rare “the couple's family album” tone.
“Espero” shows the artistic freedom the band achieved after the years. From a pop-rock band, an arrangement for harp, string quartet and electronic programming.
Following that, a uniquely twisted cover of Siouxsie and The Banshees classic track, “Cities in Dust”
“Tudo Vai Ficar Bem”, an upside-down salsa sung in Portuguese and Spanish, featuring Aterciopelado's Andrea Echeverri, from Colombia.
“A Hora da Estrela”, the first time John wrote at the piano, features a delicate subject and a delicate sound. Xande Tammieti's usually power drumming gives way to a subtle support for the song, giving room for Ricardo's beautilful, melodic bass line.
Everything changes in “Woo”, a ground-shaking disco-punk track, with overdriven bass and 80's techno synths. John and Fernanda share the vocals in a song about “coming out of the closet”.
“A Verdade Sobre o Tempo” is a song about the coming of old age and the passing of time. Slide guitar, upright bass, a beautiful, nostalgic, homely atmosphere.
The mantra-like “Quem não sou”, with processed vocals and synthesizers by Lulu Camargo, reminds us of Kraftwerk and Gary Numan.
“Vagalume” keeps the mood with an acoustic guitar and sequencers reminding the electronic pioneer Raymond Scott. It also features a medieval Hurdy Gurdy, unusual in pop music.
“Nada Original” is about problems in everyday relationships. Electric piano in a tight beat, clever guitar sounds.
The album closes with “1000 Guilhotinas”, a song about soldiers at war, featuring orchestral sounds along with a Casio VL1, the famous pocket-calculator-synth.
This band always got in the studio to serve the music. To give each song what it deserves, no matter the style-tags. In this album, melodies and compositions are the focal point. The previous rush and energy give way to textures and harmonies. A sign of the times, maybe, reflecting a fifteen-year-old band? From here to the future, we are about to find out...
Pato Fu:
Fernanda Takai: lead singer
John Ulhoa: guitars, keyboards, programming and vocals
Ricardo Koctus: bass
Xande Tamietti: drums
Lulu Camargo: piano and keyboards
Os Patos Fu que me perdoem, mas eu prefiro mesmo é Pata Fê! Brincadeiras a parte, eu acho a voz da Fê uma grande takada, ai! Bom de ouví-la no escurinho de um quarto, ou na luz tênue de uma sala aconchegante e almofadada, bem agarradinhos, com os dois coraçõezinhos ofegantes, batendo forte, batendo manso e, ora, um grande amor jamais acabaria assim!
Olá... acabei de postar uma nova música no meu perfil myspace. Ela se chama "Pés errantes". Vale a pena conferir. Se possível dê uma força. Muito obrigado....
Primeiramente obrigado por terem nos aceito! Sou muito fã de vcs e gostaria de uma crítica sobre as músicas da minha banda...se um dia sobrar tempo entra no nosso perfil e escuta as músicas... Gostaria muito de uma avaliação... Fico esperando!
Muito grato! Maravilha de som. A música faz com que as pessoas experimentem um pouquinho do mundo divino. Neste espaço, pude perceber que são habitados por anjos - e você é um deles - não importa sua legião. Penso que a música está acima do bem e do mal - Deus é mais - e espero que você esteja sempre envolvido por ela. Portanto desejo uma ótima existêcia e agradeço por existir na mesma época que você. Um beijo no coração!!! Paulo Djorge http://www.estantevirtual.com.br/mod_perl/info.cgi?livro=19083498
