BIKE – ARTE BRUTA
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE ALBUM PREMIERE
Today we have the opportunity to not only venture down under (think the Amazon rather than Ozzies), but also discover new uncharted territory in the musical world. Definitely taking the occasion to push the envelope in the realms of psychedelic music, post-Tropicalia, indie and progressive rock, we have the pleasure of presenting the latest album from Sao Paolo-based sonic explorers BIKE – their first record since the pandemic (and sixth overall) – Arte Bruta.
Jointly released via Quadrado Mágico Records and Before Sunrise Records, here BIKE reaches the pinnacle in their musical career thus far, beautifully achieving maturity and embracing a more Brazilian sound. Guided by producer-guitarist Guilherme Held, in the few years that it took the band to record this album, they felt comfortable enough to extensively venture into new musical realms and BIKE has found their place as the ultimate ambassadors of Brazilian musicality.
Of the 13 tracks on offer, the band still dishes out its trademark psychedelic trailways, while giving way to a surge of creative, trance-inducing, percussive- and groove-led explosion of beautiful sound with hints of 60s and 70s psychedelic rock, krautrock and progressive rock, Latino and Afro-Brazilian grooves.
Overall, through the Arte Bruta album, BIKE has ultimately reached a whole other level in their musical career. Apart from BJM, this album should bring a ripe thrill to fans of such artists as The Black Angels, Tame Impala, Kikagaku Moyo, Beak, Os Mutantes, Goat, Osees and even Ty Segall.
Formed in 2015 by Julito Cavalcante (guitar and vocals), Diego Xavier (guitar and voice), Daniel Fumega (drums) and João Gouvea (bass), BIKE’s trajectory has been one of long journeys – both sonically and geographically.
In the past few months, the band has toured extensively, performed live on Seattle’s KEXP, played dozens of shows at SXSW and Treefort Music Fest, in addition to opening for The Brian Jonestown Massacre in their native city of São Paulo.
The Arte Bruta album represents the process of self-analysis this psych-rock, post-Tropicalia, noise rock collection has undergone in recent years, resulting in the most daring leap in the group’s career.
“We move forward from our sound on previous albums. We managed to mix all the coolest things we had already done with new references and older ones that have not yet appeared on other albums. We also added new elements and handcrafted instruments in the songs. The idea was to sound artistic and raw at the same time,” says Julito Cavalcante.
Turning heads and pleasing fans since launching, BIKE is the only Brazilian band that has released music (“Enigma Do Dente Falso” in 2014) through the Columbia Records imprint 30th Century Records, founded by cult American producer Danger Mouse.
BIKE’s debut album 1943 in 2015 was followed by Em Busca da Viagem Eterna (2017), Their Shamanic Majesties’ Third Request (2018) and Quarto Templo (2019), their music being met with critical acclaim.
To date, BIKE has played more than 400 shows in 16 Brazilian states, the venues ranging from larger stages to underground houses and festivals. They’ve also shared the stage with The Black Angels and Os Mutantes. The band also did three extensive international tours through France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Scotland and Wales and has performed at some of Europe’s leading music festivals, including Primavera Sound, Nox Orae, MIL Lisbon and The Great Escape.
As of May 5, the Arte Bruta album will be available from fine digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp at https://bikeoficial.bandcamp.com/album/arte-bruta
ALBUM CREDITS
Recorded by Gustavo Mendes & Guilherme Held
Recorded at Estúdio Held in São Paulo
Mixed by Guilherme Held
Mastered by Fernando Sanches at Estúdio El Rocha
Produced by Guilherme Held
Lyrics by Julito Cavalcante
Songs by BIKE, except ‘Arcoverde” and ‘Além-Céu’ by Guilherme Held and “Cedro” and ‘Yaripo’ by Guilherme Held and BIKE
Julito Cavalcante – vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, garabiroba and percussion
Diego Xavier – vocals, electric guitar and acoustic guitar
Daniel Fumega – drums and percussions
João Gôuvea – bass, synthesizers and harmonium
Guilherme Held – electric guitar on Cedro
Cover artwork and design by Juli Ribeiro
Artist photos by Bel Gandolfo
Please also enjoy these earlier videos for “Boco do Sol” and “Enigma do Dente Falso”:
Bike
Arte Bruta
(Before Sunrise Records/Quadrado Mágico Records)
Release Date: May 5, 2023
Artist Links
Background Photo Credit: Charles Holt
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