Os Mutantes: Barbican Theater London 2006

Label: Luaka Bop

In the wake of so many disappointing reunions, I skipped this one when I heard that Rita Lee wasn’t involved. Now I’m kicking myself, because this document of the reunion sounds great. All the madcap juxtapositions, all the psychedelic whimsy and sonic adventure, all the prog-rock complexity, all the lush vocal harmonies return as if the 30 years since they last played together had been a mere month off. Well, not quite – they sound less like the heavy prog of their 70s end and more like the Tropicalia psych of their beginning, as they passionately revive hits and favorites over the course of two CDs. And the stand-in for Lee does a fine job, even on the archetypal “Baby.” (Steve)