TROPA MACACA

 PRAGA DE URUBU SÓ PEGA EM CAVALO MAGRO

Originally released as privately pressed K7, Praga De Urubu Só Pega Em Cavalo Magro (Vulture’s Plague Only Catches a Thin Horse), is the result of a live performance in the emblematic Lisbon venue Lux, circa 2012. The long ecstatic piece, lasting over 21 minutes, builds up slowly – much like a vulture hovering patiently over its prey, waiting for the opportunity to claim its reward. The track begins with a sort of wah-wah muffled guitar sound and a clean syncopated rhythm, a mild dialogue that is regularly interrupted by very acute synth playing, as if somebody in the room suddenly got tired of all the formalities. The unusual synth riffing is almost comical, cynical, as children idly playing with a new toy… But, after a while, the track evolves into something completely different: a sudden outburst of heavy beats, followed by dronish guitar sounds, dominates the entire track until the end. The vulture knew the horse was slowly fading away and, without hesitation, attacked viciously, showing no sign of mercy. Some say nature is cruel; others that nature is beautiful… All I can say is that Tropa Macaca’s music allows both statements to be absolutely right.