I came across Ornatos Violeta at a Lisbon FNAC shop. Both their albums were on special offer and I was in the mood to acquaint myself with the Portuguese rock scene of which I knew absolutely nothing. No, that's not quite true: I had seen a metal band called Moonspell a couple years back at Rotterdam's free Baroeg Open Air festival and I wasn't impressed - but then again, it's not my favourite style of music. Anyway, I listened to samples of Ornatos' albums at FNAC and finally decided on this, their sophomore effort. Their debut had an amateurish funk/punk charm a la early Red Hot Chili Peppers, but this one exhibited more variation, better production and more "mature" compositions. Its mix of grungy guitars and experimental pop reminded me of dEUS, but there are also elements of RHCP, Smashing Pumpkins and the Violent Femmes whose singer Gordon Gano guests here in the folky "Capitão Romance". It's an uncharacteristically acoustic song, mixing country, Iberian and Balkan folk (at least it reminded me of certain Goran Bregovic ballads). Opener "Tanque" is a different beast altogether, opening as it does with some Kraftwerk-like electronics to get heavier and funkier with anguished Kurt Cobain-like vocals. "Chaga" is a grungy guitar rocker embellished with dramatic strings. If it wasn't for the language it could totally be a hit with American college radio of the time. "Dia Mau" is another radio-friendly song, albeit with a more playful folk-punk tone. "Para Nunca Mais Mentir" is a ballad that reminds me of RHCP circa Californication. Lead single "Ouvi Dizer" starts off as a piano ballad, later making good use of the quiet-loud-quite dynamics that characterised so many indie hits of the 90's. "Pára De Olhar Para Mim" is almost proggy in its various turns and twists, while "O.M.E.M."' revives the first album's funk/punk stylings. "Coisas" sounds like a Coldplay/Radiohead pastiche and "Novem", "Deixa Morrer" and "Notícias do Fundo" are melodic indie-pop, gaining from the lyrical string arrangements. "Fim da Canção" is excellent indie pop with traces of REM, Posies and even bossanova (or am I imagining it because of the language?). In any case, this CD makes for a great introduction to the Portuguese alternative rock scene. It's every bit the equal of popular indie US and UK albums of the period but it misses that something that would distinguish it from the rest - other, of course, than the Portuguese lyrics of which I don't understand a single word. Funny how that incomprehension doesn't impede on our enjoyment of the fados or bossanova, but bothers us in pop and rock. Well, don't let that put you off. As the album title says "O Monstro Precisa de Amigos (The Monster Needs Friends)", so give it a try!
**** for Chaga, Dia Mau, Ouvi Dizer, Capitão Romance, Fim da Canção
*** forTanque, Para Nunca Mais Mentir, Pára de Olhar Para Mim, O.M.E.M, Coisas, Nuvem, Deixa Morrer, Notícias do Fundo
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