Hot Brazilian Wax: Miguel De Deus

Miguel De Deus: Mister Funk and Black Soul Brothers

From: Black Soul Brothers [Underground, 1977]

Time to shake those Monday blues away with some down and dirty funk from Brazil in the shape of the first and only solo release from Miguel De Deus: Black Soul Brothers. Whenever I see an album with that kind of title my first reaction is one of excitement and fear. Excitement because the title promises all kinds of awesomeness awaiting on the vinyl and fear because 9 times out of 10 it turns out to be tepid light disco with little to recommend it.

Happily for me, and you, this is the bona fide deal and is usually priced according to this fact when it pops up on ebay. In fact, a quick check shows one going for 200 dollars as we speak (disclaimer: not my auction!)

Although this is Miguel’s only solo album up to this date his earlier work in supporting groups (including Os Brazoes) from the sixties onwards is evident in the tight composition and focused feel of the songs on offer here.

Mister Funk on an album called Black Soul Brothers has an awful lot to live up to not be a crushing disappointment but live up to it it does. Starting with an open break the track takes the form of an improvised jam that just happens to be unbelievably on point. Featuring vocals that are more scat than structured, backing singers that come in and out of the mix and some wonderful synthesised bass noises this is absolute killer.

Black Soul Brothers, the only track on the album not written by Miguel, is another funk treat. This time round the horns lead the line as the band once again concentrate more on the overall composition than any sort of coherent lyric and it’s all the better for it. Caught in that wonderful place between disco and funk it’s entirely inappropriate for the cold and wet weather outside the window but then who gives a damn when the music’s so on point?

As mentioned, this is far from a cheap LP to pick up but some light digging should turn up many of the tunes on various compilations released over the last few years. Forget the cold and feel the funk.