Portuguese post-rock/alternative rock

If there's a thing I grow increasingly prouder of my country is our musical repertoire. During the last 15 years Portugal saw some of the greatest bands I ever had the pleasure to know be born. For such a small country - that, musically, has produced very little of quality during the last decades (besides some notorious Fado singers) - it's an incredible feat and, if you like post-rock and alternative rock, I guess you'll definitively agree with me.

In this thread - which I thought of opening in the review sub-forum but thought would be more appropriate in here - I'm going to talk about 4 distinct bands. More might follow, but, for now I'll stick to these 4 bands. As this is a quite lengthy "introduction" I'll talk about only one of these bands in this opening post and I'll make another 3 posts about the remaining bands later. This way not only I'll get some feedback from you but I also hope to make it a more pleasing experience.

Every single one of these 4 bands is relatively unknown in Portugal and abroad, which is a great misery: these musicians are some of the most inspiring and creative artists I ever had the pleasure to listen to. I find it heartbreaking, actually, that such talents aren't being appreciated by enough people. I'm not one of those that think good bands have to stay underground - that's hipster jibba jabba, as Mr. T would put it. Great artists should see their efforts recognized and that won't make them commercial or empty in meaning, quality and emotion. If anything it's a sign of respect for the good moments and the tears of joy (or sadness) they proportionate us.

So, let's get started.
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Dead Combo is quite a thing. Formed in 2003 by Tó Trips and Pedro Gonçalves this Portuguese duo hardly fits in a single genre. From Jazz to Portuguese Fado, Post-Rock to Western Spaghetti soundtracks that remind us of those composed by Enrio Morricone, even world music - every single one of these genres seem to have influenced this great band and many of their songs don't hide these origins.

The incorporation of Fado elements in their music only adds more flavour to their compositions. Their own album artwork seem to invoke this "post-Lisbon" eerie feeling, a decadent city, as we can see above: wine bottles spread on the floor, dirty Portuguese tiles, a corpse-ish hand trying to reach for Tó Trip's feet, an old, badly-conserved Catholic fresco on the wall - that reminds us of the old aristocratic mansions found in Lisbon - and the whole dark atmosphere transmitted by the cover makes justice to their music.

Meet Dead Combo.



Electrica Cadente is a quite "electric" song, as the name suggests. A wordplay on "Estrela Cadente", Portuguese for "Shooting Star", the song is, perhaps, one of their most "nerve breaking" tracks. It is gloomy though - as are most songs from the duo - and the harmonica does quite a contrast, somehow reminding us of the light we saw at the end of the many dark alleys we have crossed in our life (all the anxiety you can feel in this song reminds me of that) and, at the same time, takes us to the old Western Spaghetti movies. Who knew these two things could combine so well.



Viúva Negra is, definitely, one of their songs closer to what can be called, perhaps, post rock. The whole western motif on the song is noticeable throughout the whole song as well though. Immersive, dark and hypnotizing are adjectives I can easily use to describe this song. Dead Combo's songs are usually the kind of songs you could imagine as the soundtrack in a gangster flick or the kind of songs you, somehow, associate with a lone stroll in a dark alley, at night. In that it actually reminds me of Bohren & Der Club of Gore, a great German jazz band that I also advise you to listen to.



Another aspect of Dead Combo is their incorporation of classical music and instruments into their songs. Putos a roubar maçãs is a clear example of that. It's not something everyone will enjoy but, for me, it's great. It's more than powerful enough to give me the creeps, and when that happens, well, it has to be a good thing. Once again this song is closer to Post Rock than anything else, but yet... it is different.

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Dead Combo, as are the other bands I'll talk about later, are a hugely talented project that has to be supported by everyone that enjoys their work. So, if you like them but you're not buying their album for any reason, at least share them with those close to you who might enjoy their songs.

I hope you enjoyed this OP. I'm looking forward to some feedback from you, so, feel free to say something. It would be much appreciated. Oh, and of course, tell me what you thought about them

I'll give these a listen tomorrow, about to go to sleep now, but kudos for bringing up Bohren & der Club of Gore, I've been listening to them a lot recently

Bohren & der Club of Gore are awesome. It was a very fortunate day when I came across with them. I was already getting into jazz before starting listening to them, and they gave the final push. That gloomy mood, the amazing saxophone, everything fits right over there. It's this amazing mix of cool jazz and ambient music, charged with that incredible grim atmosphere... perfect.

Anyway, feel free to comment on the OP tomorrow

When that harmonica came in on Electrica Cadente I fell in love. Really really like this band, great atmosphere.

Originally Posted by God

When that harmonica came in on Electrica Cadente I fell in love.

Really liked that one myself.

Great stuff, thanks for sharing! If I'm ever bound to fight a duel at High Noon (or, Midnight?), this'll be playing in the background.

Here's what Bohren & der Club of Gore immediately reminded me of...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMBsodF9YK8

Originally Posted by chamaeleo

Great stuff, thanks for sharing! If I'm ever bound to fight a duel at High Noon (or, Midnight?), this'll be playing in the background.

Here's what Bohren & der Club of Gore immediately reminded me of...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMBsodF9YK8

Exactly! The Twin Peaks soundtrack was a big inspiration for them I'm sure, I love that show and it's one of my fav soundtracks ever.

Ok this is defenetly a good topic:

I let you here with some music from this guys, Blasted Mechanism, their music is somewhere between alternative rock and alternative eletronic i would say.

Originally Posted by hopolita

Ok this is defenetly a good topic:

I let you here with some music from this guys, Blasted Mechanism, their music is somewhere between alternative rock and alternative eletronic i would say.

Yeah blasted Mechanism is realy good specialy alive concert. They rock alot. I always liked Blasted, but my opinion, of then increase alot when i saw then alive...many years ago.

Originally Posted by Knight of Heaven

Yeah blasted Mechanism is realy good specialy alive concert. They rock alot. I always liked Blasted, but my opinion, of then increase alot when i saw then alive...many years ago.

Same, i only start giving them more attention when i saw them alive, amazing perfomance alaways.

OP's avatar. "morre...diabo"

I've never been really into Blasted Mechanism but I have to admit they give quite an awesome performance live. I've been in a (free) concert of them in April.

Anyway, I didn't even remember this thread anymore, I have to continue with it - if just I had time

Originally Posted by Zé do Pipo

I've never been really into Blasted Mechanism but I have to admit they give quite an awesome performance live. I've been in a (free) concert of them in April.

Anyway, I didn't even remember this thread anymore, I have to continue with it - if just I had time

Well for this year two projects/bands made into the spotlight, on this genre, " Amor electro" and "you cant win Charlie brown" in my opinion.
The last one i heard then on the radio a few years ago, but they didnt had any Album Published at the time.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

They look quite good and interesting. Another one i allmost forgot is "Linda Martini"
alltough im not sure if fits the genre, i thought it was worth the mention.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Of course Linda Martini fits in, and it was one of those other bands I was talking about in the OP I think I'll have to make a post about them. Linda Martini has great songs, musically and lyric-wise.

Anyway, those were also great songs, +rep

[sorry, post on the making]