An interesting compilation, refined and superbly majestic, exceedingly experimental and underground in all of its sound. A curious and intriguing sonorous experience, that only the most fearless will dare to listen. Lucid and innovating, the twenty three track compilation is a devotional, as well as a demanding, universal experience in a penetrating sound device, that challenges moderate and common concepts.
A compilation hard to define or classify, its experimental nature, is certainly the most prominent aspect in all of its groundbreaking shifts. Nonetheless, I will not dare to day that I have liked all of the tracks. While some of them are just noisy, others are really interesting musical pieces, tied together in a delusional field of embrace, really worthwhile listening. But this is a compilation very hard to embrace in several aspects, mainly because its greatest qualities are also its main weaknesses: while the album is markedly experimental, it’s too experimental. You have to listen patiently, to understand it correctly. Nevertheless, there is some interesting sounds here, that you will not listen anywhere else. Intriguing and mesmerizing pieces of music, that certainly will drive its audience insane. This is the right album to listen quietly, candidly, experimenting each and every one of its notes, to appreciate and understand correctly. But its overtly experimental nature also means that this compilation will be appreciated mainly by a select audience, and a smaller group of interested musicians.
All in all an interesting record, very sensible and markedly musical, tonal, florescent and daring, this is highly recommended for the ones who are not afraid of listening to refreshing new things. With great quality and a fearless touch of originality, Portugal Experimental Underground is exactly what its title means: a select and diversified cast of underground tracks made by Portuguese experimental musicians. A compilation that has charm, excellence and a spellbound rhythm that speaks to the soul, here we have coherence, cohesion and unity. While it is not perfect, it certainly is a marvelous experience, and a great collision that will certainly blow your ears away.
But I certainly should reiterate that this is not an album for everybody. Ordinary people and ordinary listeners will not understand this compilation. Its serves to a basic premise, and only people already familiar with avant-garde genres will learn the proper way to appreciate. But this is also one of the main charms on the record: the fact that appeals only to the more open-minded audiences.
Portugal Experimental Underground is not an ordinary album in any way, on the contrary: it is extraordinary in all levels. And if you’re not familiar with this type of sound, you will certainly find it strange. And – I repeat here – while I should point it out that I haven’t liked all the tracks, there are some fine pearls here begging to be listened and discovered, while also being a groundbreaking selection – and a fine audacious experimentation – on music, that we should learn of, a lot. A lucid and majestic compilation, I certainly wish that a volume II follow soon, for it certainly intrigued me, and I have learned a lot by listening to this one. Obviously the Portuguese experimental scene is monumental, and it’s a shame that the world knows so little about it. Nonetheless, I think compilations like Portugal Experimental Underground will change this, little by little.
Certainly an interesting record, with tracks finely selected, arranged and produced, Portugal Experimental Underground is a fundamental album, for the ones who like music with an acutely prominent avant-garde concept.
Wagner