Erasmo Carlos

Erasmo Carlos has no counterpart in the universe of Anglophone pop music that could begin to hint at his relevance, popularity and his complex relationship with the only Brazilian pop star more universally recognized than himself, Roberto Carlos. He may be a beloved pop star and household name in Brazil but hardly because of the music found on the three albums reissued by Light In The Attic. While, in retrospect, they can be appreciated as some of his most creative, consistent, and personal albums, they were also some of the least commercially successful and underappreciated of his long career, at least until recently. Embracing the artistic freedom of the global counterculture of the late sixties and early seventies, Erasmo evolved from his bubblegum beginnings into a sophisticated seventies singer-songwriter over the course of these three albums. Erasmo Carlos E Os Tremendões (1970), Carlos, ERASMO . . . (1971), and Sonhos E Memórias 1941-1972 (1972) collectively find this maturing teeny-bopper delivering a mix of world class psychedelic rock, traditional rock'n'roll, soul, funk, folk, bossa nova, and samba-rock to an unsuspecting Brazilian audience.

Sonhos E Memórias 1941-1972 is truly singular within Brazilian pop fusing rock, soul, jazz, and singer-songwriter styles. It’s simultaneously rootsy, funky, modern, and nostalgic. The lyrics are highly personal, searching for deeper meaning with lots of flower power imagery and language, while the music is tight, highly rhythmic, melodic, and restrained in its delivery and effortless groove. Built around the future fusion trio Azymuth with keyboardist José Roberto Bertrami, drummer Ivan Conti aka “Mamão,” and bassist Alex Malheiros, a majority of the album’s tunes make excellent use of this trio’s telepathic tightness, subtle funkiness, and melodic mastery. The album dabbles with a few different styles and rhythms, all telling Erasmo’s musical story be it bossa nova, roots rock, hard rock, ballads, or soulful grooves, but a certain sonic frequency or tempo alongside the autobiographical elements unite this masterwork.