Piri

Vocês Querem Mate?, the first recording by the relatively unknown singer songwriter Piry Reis is dreamy and ethereal, groovy Brazilian psych-folk at its finest. Reis has collaborated with greats like Egberto Gismonti and Robertinho Silva, and had his music performed by Celia, Charlie Haden and Jan Garbarek. His four solo albums are all rare as hens’ teeth and have been known to fetch a hefty bounty, but none higher than his debut, and for good reason.

Instantly captivating from its first second, the lone trembling piano in ‘Reza Breva’ builds a tremendous tension before bursting into the joyously funky Tropicalista folk jam that keeps up throughout the album. Flying the Brazilian freak flag high are percussion kings Juquina and Wilson Das Neves along with Paulinho Jobim and Danilo Caymmi on flutes. It’s a dazzling, lucid piece of escapism, as relevant today as it was when released into the tumultuous political climate of 1970s Brazil. Tracks like ‘As Incríveis Peripécias De Danilo’ and ‘Cupído Esculpido’ are tripped out MPB, and more sombre moments like ‘Sombra Morta’ and closer ‘Chão Vermelho’ offer shadier melancholic contrasts. Without a doubt the most free-spirited release in the Quartin catalogue, Voces Querem Mate? is a forgotten treasure of Brazilian music like no other.