REVIEW: Portastatic, De Mel, De Melao (Merge)
- Christina Apeles
So indie rock bands have covered Carpenters' songs, adapted hip-hop tunes and each other's hits, but Portastatic ventures into new territory, Brazilian popular music. If you couldn't imagine the talented frontman Mac McCaughan (also of Superchunk) singing in anything other than his native tongue, prepare for his Portuguese vocals, with occasional English translations, in Del Mel, De Melao (Of Honey, Of Melon). Hard to swallow at first, McCaughan inevitably triumphs in his tribute to Brazilian artists like Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Gail Costa.
Opening with the sexy classic "Baby," a darling lo-fi interpretation of "Nao Identificado" and ending on the marvelous "Clareana," expect the same musical artistry that the band has displayed on its previous releases, always finding room to be inventive and elegant. Joined on this album by Matthew McCaughan (drums and percussion), Jeb Bishop (trombone), Matt Brandau (bass) and Brian Paulson (production), McCaughan continues to outdo his musicianship with Portastatic's creative rendition of five songs that he loves, by artists the world admires, skillfully preserving the beauty of the original tune fused with modern pop cognizance.
