CARAVELA ESCARLATE
Brazilian trio channel the first wave of prog with a message of hope.
“THIS MUSIC HAS A PEACEFUL MESSAGE, FROM AND FOR THOSE WHO SEEK TO UNDERSTAND THE BIG QUESTIONS IN THE WORLD.”
Seemingly beamed forward in time from that magical era when guitar-less, three-piece bands bestrode the Earth, Brazil’s Caravela Escarlate are about as prog as it gets. Infused with the indulgent spirit of ELP, King Crimson and the most opulent of Italian prog, the trio’s eponymous second album is a celebration of our beloved genre. But despite their debt to the past, they have struck upon a distinctive formula that is theirs alone. It is, as keyboard wizard Ronaldo Rodrigues explains, a simple matter of chemistry.
“A local producer called Claudio Fonzi put David [Paiva] and I in touch in 2011,” he says. “We both wanted to play eclectic prog rock with multiple influences. When we met we discovered that we shared many things in common – a taste for prog from different countries and in different languages: for folk, Brazilian music and jazz fusion. We all had contact with prog rock in adolescence: this music has been with us for decades.”
While much of the dazzling music on Caravela Escarlate wears its European influences with pride, there is no mistaking fluid grooves and exotic embellishments that could only come from Latin America. Brazil has a robust prog tradition of its own, and Rodrigues and his bandmates are eager to maintain the genre’s close links to their native country’s musical traditions, but it’s also clear that when you grow up in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian music is simply in your blood.
“Almost all the Brazilian prog rock bands from the 70s incorporated elements of typical Brazilian music, in a more or less pronounced way. We unconsciously kept this tradition because, just as they did many years ago, we also recognise and love this richness. David and Elcio [Cáfaro] have played, or still play, Brazilian music throughout their careers, so it’s only natural that we have those elements in our songs.”
Although predominantly instrumental, the songs on Caravela Escarlate’s new album share another trait with much of prog’s first wave: a wistful desire to spread positivity and optimism through metaphor and poetry, at a time when the world seems to be in a state of turmoil. Throw in the fact that Atmosfera and epic closing track Planeta-Estrela exist in the world of cosmic sci-fi and we might as well be back in the first psychedelic age, railing against the Vietnam War.
“This music has a peaceful message, from and for those who seek to understand the big questions in the world,” Rodrigues says.“It’s a chance to give some hope. Our trajectory as a band is a product of hope, perseverance and positive thinking that we seek to convey through some of the lyrics, through understanding the battles that need to be fought to reach our goals.”
Now signed to Karisma, Caravela Escarlate are already working on their third album, which is scheduled for release sometime in 2020. They also have plans to take their explosive sound around the world, particularly to Europe, where Rodrigues is confident that there will be plenty of audiences on a suitable wavelength. Either way, the grand spirit of virtuoso power trios is alive and well, and when we do get the chance to see these old-school prog souls in action, it’s going to be a full-on prog carnival.
“Our gigs are very intense,” Rodrigues concludes. “We try to maintain fidelity with what was shown on the album. The studio work was guided by what could only be brought to the stage by us three.
I don’t feel comfortable presenting something to the public that’s very distorted from what was recorded, but obviously the energy of the moment leads to unexpected directions! We always seek to bring something new to the audience.” dl