Dig Deep: Miguel De Deus – Black Soul Brothers – Underground (1977)

Miguel De Deus – Black Soul Brothers
Miguel De Deus – Flaca Louca
Miguel De Deus – Fabrica De Papeis

Our first dig deep of year #5 is a big of heavyweight funk out of Brazil. I’ve never been able to find out much information on Miguel De Deus. I know that he was a member of Os Brazões, who backed Gal Costa for a period of time. But that group doesn’t appear to have recorded much beyond their debut. A lot of time passes from 1969 to 1977 when this LP is released. I’m sure I’ve missed some credits from Deus during that period of time, but even still there’s a lot to be discovered and rediscoverd about Brazil music in the 1970s. Black Soul Brothers is a somewhat strange kind of record. Virtually every song on the album doesn’t really have any lyrical structure, it’s more a phrase or a chant. It sounds as if Deus invited all his friends into the studio, without any actual songs, and just cut loose and messed around. Aside from “Fabrica De Papeis” songs have at best 2 lines of lyrics, sometimes even less. “Black Soul Brothers” only real line is “Black Soul Brothers,” either spoken or sung by the female back-up dancers. All the minimal songwriting aside, this IS a mighty funky record. I love “Black Soul Brothers” so much I was thinking of making it my ringtone. I mean that beginning where dude screams out “Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, Shaka Du Shaka Du Shaka Shaka Du Shaka Du Shaka…UUUh!” before some B-Boyrific drums kick in is just too cool. In addition to the title cut, “Mister Funk” and “Cinco Anos” have also been comped to death on Funky Brazil collections. Every track basically follows the same template, band plays funky, a gaggle of voices join in and things strut and slink to an eventual fade out. As much as I might like some actual songs here, it’s hard to complain when the result is so darn funky.

Cheers,

Michael