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Smetak (1974)

by Walter Smetak

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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Gatefold Edition. Includes booklet with photos and texts in Portuguese and English. Edition of 500 copies.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Smetak (1974) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 7 days
    edition of 500  5 remaining
    Purchasable with gift card

      $27 USD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD  or more

     

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Áquas 08:22
3.
Dos Mendigos 00:48
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5.
Dansom 01:38
6.
Mantram 07:37
7.
Iêéaóôu 00:43
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about

SCROLL DOWN FOR ENGLISH VERSION

Walter Smetak fue un músico violonchelista, compositor, inventor de instrumentos musicales, escultor y escritor suizo que desarrolló su carrera en Salvador de Bahia, Brasil, convirtiéndose en una figura emblemática de la vanguardia bahiana y pieza clave del clima cultural que hizo posible el surgimiento de la tropicalia.

Desde 1969 realizó diversos talleres de experimentación en la Universidad de Bahia. Su música quedó materializada en dos álbums. “Smetak” (1974) e “Interregno” (1980). “Smetak” fue producido por Caetano Veloso y Roberto Santana, con el apoyo de Gilberto Gil, y allí desplegó todo un radical universo sonoro, basado en la investigación de las tradiciones ritualistas afrobrasileras, los estudios de microtonalidad, los procesos abiertos improvisatorios colectivos, siempre bajo la influencia de la teosofía que descubrió en Brasil, y que le permitió generar un simbolismo representado en la construcción de sus propios instrumentos no convencionales, muchos de ellos de carácter escultórico, fabricados con materiales inusuales como tubos de pvc, calabazas y espuma de poliestireno, a los que denominó “plasticas sonoras", fueron alrededor de 150 los instrumentos creados por Smetak. Sus partituras fueron en su mayoría indicaciones basadas en grafismos, muchas de ellas también de gran plasticidad visual.
Además de Smetak, Caetano Veloso y Roberto Santana, formaron parte de la grabación de este álbum músicos como Gereba, Tuzé Abreu, Djalma Correa, Capenga, entre otros. Sobre Smetak ha escrito Marco Scarassatti, uno de sus más importantes estudios: “Su obra original y metafísica va más allá de cualquier misticismo creado en torno a su figura. Investigó la relación entre el sonido y la luz, el espacio y la forma, la microtonalidad, la improvisación colectiva, como un alquimista del sonido, un profeta-visionario multimedia y desenchufado. Mientras transformaba la materia, Smetak se transformó a sí mismo y a muchos de los que lo rodeaban.”

Esta reedición reproduce la muy buscada edición original de 1974, publicada por Phillips. Incluye el catálogo de instrumentos empleados, agrega un folleto con nuevas fotos y presenta el audio remasterizado. Edición limitada de 500 copias. Incluye liner notes por Caetano Veloso.

Este proyecto forma parte de «Incidencias Sonoras», una plataforma de música experimental y arte sonoro apoyada por el Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia en el contexto de su programa «COINCIDENCIA - Intercambios culturales suizos y sudamericanos»

ENGLISH VERSION

Walter Smetak was a Swiss cellist, composer, inventor of musical instruments, sculptor and writer who developed his career in Salvador, Brazil, and became an emblematic figure of the Bahian avant-garde and a key part of the cultural climate that made the rise of tropicália possible.

Since 1969, he has carried out various workshops of experimental music at University of Bahia. His music was materialized in two albums: "Smetak" (1974) and "Interregno" (1980). “Smetak” was produced by Caetano Veloso and Roberto Santana, with the support of Gilberto Gil.

There he unfolded a radical sound universe, based on the investigation of Afro-Brazilian ritualistic traditions, microtonality studies and collective improvisational open processes, always under the influence of theosophy, which he discovered in Brazil, and which allowed him to generate a symbolism represented in the construction of his own unconventional instruments, many of them of a sculptural nature, made with unusual materials such as PVC pipes, pumpkins and polystyrene foam, which he called plásticas sonoras. Around 150 instruments were created by Smetak, many of them in a surrealist style. They have been exhibited on various occasions in museums and galleries.

His music was often based on graphic scores, many of them of great beauty. In addition to Smetak, Caetano Veloso and Roberto Santana, musicians such as Gereba, Tuzé Abreu, Djalma Correa, Capenga, among others, participated in the recording of this album. The author of one of the most important studies on Smetak, Marco Scarassatti, has written on the work of the Swiss-Brazilian artist: “His original and metaphysical work goes beyond any mysticism created around his figure. He investigated the relationship between sound and light, space and form, microtonality, collective improvisation, as a sound alchemist, a multimedia and unplugged prophet-visionary. While transforming matter, Smetak transformed himself and many of those around him.”

This reissue reproduces the much sought after original 1974 edition, published by Phillips. It includes the catalog of instruments used, adds a booklet with new photos and presents the remastered audio. Limited edition of 500 copies. The liner notes were written by Caetano Veloso.

This project is part of Incidencias Sonoras: COINCIDENCIA experimental music & sound art platform, by the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia.

credits

released April 22, 2021

BR144

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Buh Records Lima, Peru

Buh Records is an independent label based in Lima, Peru, focused on experimental music and new sounds. Run by Luis Alvarado.

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