Mopho: psychedelia from Alagoas to the world
Brazilian "retro" rock band makes it into the Top 35 of a Californian college radio, but has a hard time recording the second CD
Alex Menotti
10/05/2001
It sounds amazing, but one of the most hyped contemporary rock bands in Brazil, Mopho, from Alagoas (northeast), can't get to record the follow-up to its debut album. The band, which makes "regressive" rock with strong psychedelic tints, released the album Mopho 
on São Paulo-based label Baratos Afins , getting rave reviews and being praised by former Mutantes Arnaldo Baptista, by tropicalist maestro Rogério Duprat and by members of the Californian band Wondermints (who recently accompany Beach Boy Brian Wilson on a tour). Mopho has completed the repertoire for a follow-up disc, but hasn't managed to record it.
"When we were in São Paulo, by the end of 2000, we talked to Luis Calanca (Baratos Afins' owner) about start recording in March of 2001", says vocalist and guitarist João Paulo. "We worked on the new album during the first three months of the year. It is ready, but we have no idea when we're actually going to record it. It depends on the budget. The band still owes money from the recording sessions for the first album", he reveals. "It was our intention to put out the album during the first half of the year, but nothing has happened, so far. Hopefully, something surprising will happen, so that the album will come out", says bassist Júnior Bocão.
Besides the difficulty to register the new songs, the group went through line-up changes. Keyboardist Leonardo left the group, being replaced by Marcelo Mascaro (electric and acoustic guitar). According to Mopho, the switch had a positive effect. "Our mood is better, now", claims João. "When that sort of thing happens, it naturally has reflections on the music. I'd say that the arrangements are tighter, now."
Drummer Hélio Pisca completes: "In fact, we still want keyboards. We just haven't found the person, yet." And João adds: "Even because we need the sound of an organ, piano... the new songs will not be based upon the excessive presence of the keyboard, but we do write our music thinking of keyboards, as well."
Flirting with folk
Those who saw Mopho perform at the festival Abril Pro Rock (in Recife and São Paulo) noticed the new aspects on songs like Hoje Eu Lembrei do Seu Sorriso and Mais um Dia, such as the approach with folk music, but the trademark psychedelia is still there, on other new songs like O Amor É Feito de Plástico. "We needed to repair a few things in our music, because the keyboard used to fill in every little space available. I guess we have recovered influence from the '60s that was a bit hidden on the first album, like The Byrds, for example", says the vocalist.
João Paulo indicates other changes in Mopho's sound: "The second album exposes what we want to do now. We are planning the album like an LP, 35 or 40 minutes long. Sometimes I think that there are too many songs in one CD, and it is tiring."
But there are a few obscure points on Mpho's trajectory. For example, how come a band that puts out a most praised album filled with potential hits (Não Mande Flores, A Carta, Nada Vai Mudar and others) won't have its music aired on the radio? João Paulo is straightforward: "Radio stations won't play it because we don't belong in the payola scheme. We're in a small label."
Hit in California
If Brazilian radio stations are deaf , the same won't happen in other countries. Mopho's album has recently escalated to the 29th position of the Top 35 at KALX, from Berkeley. "Our album was taken to KALX by Snoopy (former drummer with legendary band Love), who had been given a copy while visiting Brazil in 1999", João says. "After that, he also gave a copy to the band Wondermints, who, in its turn, established the contact between us and the radio station. Besides, the CD was welcomed in other places, too. The word-of-mouth is also going on in Europe", he explains. With the hype abroad and the difficulties around here, does Mopho intend to tour outside of Brazil? "We haven't had any invitations, yet, but it would be beautiful", João dreams.
on São Paulo-based label Baratos Afins , getting rave reviews and being praised by former Mutantes Arnaldo Baptista, by tropicalist maestro Rogério Duprat and by members of the Californian band Wondermints (who recently accompany Beach Boy Brian Wilson on a tour). Mopho has completed the repertoire for a follow-up disc, but hasn't managed to record it. "When we were in São Paulo, by the end of 2000, we talked to Luis Calanca (Baratos Afins' owner) about start recording in March of 2001", says vocalist and guitarist João Paulo. "We worked on the new album during the first three months of the year. It is ready, but we have no idea when we're actually going to record it. It depends on the budget. The band still owes money from the recording sessions for the first album", he reveals. "It was our intention to put out the album during the first half of the year, but nothing has happened, so far. Hopefully, something surprising will happen, so that the album will come out", says bassist Júnior Bocão.
Besides the difficulty to register the new songs, the group went through line-up changes. Keyboardist Leonardo left the group, being replaced by Marcelo Mascaro (electric and acoustic guitar). According to Mopho, the switch had a positive effect. "Our mood is better, now", claims João. "When that sort of thing happens, it naturally has reflections on the music. I'd say that the arrangements are tighter, now."
Drummer Hélio Pisca completes: "In fact, we still want keyboards. We just haven't found the person, yet." And João adds: "Even because we need the sound of an organ, piano... the new songs will not be based upon the excessive presence of the keyboard, but we do write our music thinking of keyboards, as well."
Flirting with folk
Those who saw Mopho perform at the festival Abril Pro Rock (in Recife and São Paulo) noticed the new aspects on songs like Hoje Eu Lembrei do Seu Sorriso and Mais um Dia, such as the approach with folk music, but the trademark psychedelia is still there, on other new songs like O Amor É Feito de Plástico. "We needed to repair a few things in our music, because the keyboard used to fill in every little space available. I guess we have recovered influence from the '60s that was a bit hidden on the first album, like The Byrds, for example", says the vocalist.
João Paulo indicates other changes in Mopho's sound: "The second album exposes what we want to do now. We are planning the album like an LP, 35 or 40 minutes long. Sometimes I think that there are too many songs in one CD, and it is tiring."
But there are a few obscure points on Mpho's trajectory. For example, how come a band that puts out a most praised album filled with potential hits (Não Mande Flores, A Carta, Nada Vai Mudar and others) won't have its music aired on the radio? João Paulo is straightforward: "Radio stations won't play it because we don't belong in the payola scheme. We're in a small label."
Hit in California
If Brazilian radio stations are deaf , the same won't happen in other countries. Mopho's album has recently escalated to the 29th position of the Top 35 at KALX, from Berkeley. "Our album was taken to KALX by Snoopy (former drummer with legendary band Love), who had been given a copy while visiting Brazil in 1999", João says. "After that, he also gave a copy to the band Wondermints, who, in its turn, established the contact between us and the radio station. Besides, the CD was welcomed in other places, too. The word-of-mouth is also going on in Europe", he explains. With the hype abroad and the difficulties around here, does Mopho intend to tour outside of Brazil? "We haven't had any invitations, yet, but it would be beautiful", João dreams.