Os Mutantes

Os Mutantes is a musical institution that goes back to the mid '60s, a particularly vibrant era of music in Brazil and elsewhere. They were one of the early adopters of the tropicália sound when they started in São Paulo originally as a trio comprised of brothers Arnaldo Baptiste and Sérgio Dias and vocalist Rita Lee. They were out in front of an experimental movement with their brilliant combination of pop, classic rock, psychedelia, and Brazilian rhythms, and remained active through the '70s, frequently working with legends like Gilberto Gil. The band split in 1978 only to be re-reformed in 2006 with Dias, the only original member, at its core. Their post 2006 work marks a new era with a new batch of musicians and a shift towards English vocals. Their music still features a psychedelic streak, an irreverent attitude, and sharp melodies, particularly notable in albums like 2009's Haih or Amortecedor.