Brazil-based sonic adventurers BIKE have released their ‘Arte Bruta’ album, their fifth overall and the first since the Covid pandemic broke. Led by producer and guitarist Guilherme Held, this recording exudes maturity and embraces a more Brazilian sound than past releases.
Released via Quadrado Mágico Records and Before Sunrise Records, the blazing musical path they have traversed in the past few months saw them perform live on Seattle’s KEXP, play dozens of shows at SXSW and Treefort Music Fest, support The Brian Jonestown Massacre in their native city, and release three singles – ‘Santa Cabeça’ (‘Holy Head’), ‘Filha Do Vento’ (‘Daughter of the Wind’) and ‘O Torto Santo’ (‘The Sacred Crooked’).
Formed in 2015 by Julito Cavalcante (guitar and vocals), Diego Xavier (guitar and voice), Daniel Fumega (drums) and João Gouvea (bass), BIKE’s trajectory has been one of long journeys – both sonically and geographically.
The ‘Arte Bruta’ album represents the process of self-analysis this psych-rock, post-Tropicalia, noise rock collective has undergone in recent years, resulting in the most daring leap in the group’s career. A slow-burning mirror, this album took the band the longest time to compose and record. The intricate and consummate result can be enjoyed with every passing minute of listening pleasure.
Like most of the band’s albums, ‘Arte Bruta’ started with the title and the megalomaniac idea of releasing the album on vinyl with just two lengthy compositions. While the downtime of the pandemic allowed this to expand into something much greater, the title itself remained, alluding to the clash between artistic sophistication and the harshness of brutality. Seen by many as an artistic movement, especially because of its French nomenclature, “art brut”, the term designates creators who are not aware that their creation can be seen as art.
The band’s characteristic psychedelia is still there, but the musical and lyrical references transcend the lysergic references of previous albums. There is also an Afro-Brazilian filter that runs through ‘Arte Bruta’, as well as echoes of international rock – 60s psychedelic rock, 70s tropicalism and post-tropicalism, German progressive rock and the rhythmic structure of krautrock.
BIKE released their debut album ‘1943’ in 2015, followed by ‘Em Busca da Viagem Eterna’ (2017), ‘Their Shamanic Majesties’ Third Request’ (2018) and ‘Quarto Templo’ (2019) – each bringing them critical acclaim. BIKE is also the only Brazilian band that has released music (‘Enigma Do Dente Falso’) in 2014) through Columbia Records imprint, 30th Century Records, founded by cult American producer Danger Mouse.
In addition to touring Europe three times and playing more than 400 shows in 16 Brazilian states, BIKE has also shared the stage with The Black Angels and Os Mutantes.
As of May 5, the ‘Arte Bruta’ album is available from fine digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.
TRACK LIST
01 Arcoverde
02 Além-Ambiente
03 O Torto Santo
04 Cedro feat. Guilherme Held
05 Traço e Risco
06 Filha do Vento
07 Clara-Luz
08 Além-Céu
09 Que vai da Terra ao Céu
10 O Encontro do Céu com a Terra
11 Santa Cabeça
12 A Queda do Céu
13 Yaripo
