For most Americans (especially the shiny, young generation which uses the films of Wes Anderson as gateways to the hidden world of art houses), Seu Jorge is primarily thought of as the Brazilian man who did those Bowie covers. And while several of those covers - especially "Rebel, Rebel" - are worth the hype and attention given to them, it's still a shame that Jorge's original music isn't noticed as much as it should be. Perhaps it's because most music listeners always gravitate towards the comfortable familiar; there are very few people who actually listen to noise rock and enjoy it, for instance. And if there are few who can simply listen to noise, there seem to be even fewer who can listen to music with prominent words, and still not understand it because the words are in another language. Granted, such a feat is easier when the CD in question is mostly mood music (see Apollo Nove's Res Inexplicata for a wonderful example of this), but Seu Jorge does not simply make lazy bee mood music. His music soars and catapults through the speakers, forcing people to move, to think, to feel. This isn't any supermarket muzak bullshit; Seu Jorge: Live at Montreux is a blinding mist of exotica.
Language barriers aside, however, the most interesting thing about this live performance is how inviting it is. Most filmed concerts are flat, listless paintings of an event: people stand stock still, the sound is more hinted at than actually conveyed, and the atmosphere is so thin it couldn't even support a rat, let alone an interested fan sitting on their crappy living room couch. But this oddity of a live DVD (which is much in line with watching a great Austin City Limits performance) shows exactly how great it would be to attend a Seu Jorge show. While most of those in attendance cannot understand what Jorge is saying (there are quite a few confused audience members whenever he starts talking for a long time in Portuguese), when he speaks to the crowd, they still respond to him far more than most crowds respond to musicians who they can understand.
Article comments
1 - John Guilfoil
well written--good review