<div> <ul class="ResultList"> <li><a href="/news/former-finalist-djokovic-through-to-us-semis-$1325996.htm">Former finalist Djokovic through to US semis</a></li><li><a href="/news/more-belgian-joy-as-wickmayer-makes-semis-$1325995.htm">More Belgian joy as Wickmayer makes semis</a></li><li><a href="/news/northern-ireland-0-2-slovakia-$1325991.htm">Northern Ireland 0-2 Slovakia</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div style="background:white;"> </div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-9353229343941924"; /* 300x250, created 03/11/09 */ google_ad_slot = "0725049070"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div><p class="date">Thursday, 10, Sep 2009 02:02</p><p class="summary"><i>Anti, out now</i>. </p><p><b>In a nutshell... </b> </p><p>Mature slice of Sao Paulo psychadelia </p><p><b>What's it all about?</b> </p><p>The ninth studio album from veterans Os Mutantes, over 40 years after their first. A collection packed with ideas and a freshness that belies the band's years. </p><p><b>Who's it by?</b> </p><p>The troupe consists of original members Sergio Dias (guitar, vocals), Dinho Leme (drums, percussion) and sterling support from a number of recent additions. </p><p><b>Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys</b> </p><p>Quite possible, actually. While the band have kept a relatively low profile commercially, they remain darlings of the rock n' roll community. Kurt Cobain, David Byrne and Beck have listed themselves along their fans in the past, and critical acclaim has never followed far behind. </p><p><b>What the others say</b> </p><p>"The transitions from fluttery Brazilian rhythms to R.E.M.-ish jangle can be jarring, but Haih is much better than it ought to be." - Rolling Stone </p><p>"It's good to hear a new Os Mutantes record that carries forward the ideals and exploratory spirit that made us all love the band in the first place, even if it won't ever supplant those classic early albums." - Pitchfork </p><p><b>So is it any good?</b> </p><p>Haih ou Amortecedor flies out of the tracks with the brilliantly sinister stomp of Querida Querida, and it's easy to see what it was that thrilled their loyal cohort of admirers all those years ago. MGMT, you've been found out - Teclar is a gloriously ethereal tinkle that sounds just how psychedelia should sound. No surprises really, this is a band which pretty much wrote the book. </p><p>Not a moment to rest, Haih... is constantly jetting in a million and one different directions, with wilder mood swings than Gail off of Coronation Street. There's an accordion in there somewhere, but before you have time to question it we're through 2000 e Agarrum and into Baghdad blues, with a rare direct lyrical reference to Saddam Hussein. You might not understand the rest of the words but the sentiment is clear as a bell. A dark, wandering bass slips through a wailing lament on war - close your eyes and there's a funereal poignancy here that Billie Joe Armstrong could only dream of. </p><p>Unfortunately, the excitement starts to peter out a little once we get to the middle, but the mind-bending shows no sign of stopping. O Careca sounds bizarrely like Radiohead's Hunting Bears put to a beach-friendly samba beat, and while it's not quite as naff as that sounds, it's certainly not as grabbing as the by-the-balls stuff that starts us off. </p><p>From then on the tempo becomes considerably slowed. We're treated to waves of mystic sound that ebb and flow with exactly the kind of character and artistry that you might expect. 41 years of recording has enabled Os Mutantes to assemble influences into one quite startling and unique end, and Haih... is no less remarkable for its freshness of ideas. The only thing that disappoints is that it lacks the boundless energy of its early predecessors, or at least fails to sustain it past a thrilling opening quarter. </p><p>A cracking effort, but having given themselves a lot to live up to, the band's first new release in 35 years just lacks a little of the vigour of youth. </p><p><b>7/10</b> </p><p><i>Stephen Jones</i></p> </div> <div id="article-ad"> <script type='text/javascript'><!--//<![CDATA[ var m3_u = (location.protocol=='https:'?'https://a.preferdigitaladvertising.co.uk/delivery/ajs.php':'http://a.preferdigitaladvertising.co.uk/delivery/ajs.php'); var m3_r = Math.floor(Math.random()*99999999999); if (!document.MAX_used) document.MAX_used = ','; document.write ("<scr"+"ipt type='text/javascript' src='"+m3_u); document.write ("?zoneid=139"); document.write ('&cb=' + m3_r); if (document.MAX_used != ',') document.write ("&exclude=" + document.MAX_used); document.write (document.charset ? 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