Brazilian quartet Araunas only released their debut album in May this year, but they already feel like seasoned professionals with years of experience under their belts.
The band say their sound is characterised by its “heterogeneous blend of rhythms and genres that evoke neo-psychedelia, noise rock, and elements of Northeastern music”.
Right from the start, I was captivated by the textures and the urgent, rolling guitar melody which swirled and danced around. The atmosphere is so evocative – and a little spooky.
Vicá Caldas’ vocal has a great tone and just a little raspiness. The high register reminded me of Thom Yorke (just a little bit), and he handles the rippling, soaring melody beautifully.
It turns funky as things get stripped back down to a ride-dominated drum part and a bass hook, only to quickly build back up to a dramatic crescendo of crashing drums and feedback.
These are expertly executed shifts in mood, and things switch from calm & groovy to thunderous and chaotic, each section building on the last and developing melodic ideas. The track feels like a rock opera crammed into just under 4 minutes.
There’s a maturity and depth to this sound that is so rich – combine that with some killer hooks and a banging rhythm section, and you have an epic proposition.
Written by Grubby
