VN006
20 April 2023
RAJADA – Windy Sounds from Aveiro
Various Artists
Listening to this record conjures an ancient Japanese habit: leaving the house to wander without a destination. In this cooperative work, each piece is a “trigger” of exuberance and boldness. Sometimes ethereal, others existential, depending on which corners you turn.
Henrique Amaro (Portugália – Antena3)
The origins of this record may be traced back to 1992. Attempting his very first guitar riffs at a birthday party, a young Jorge Loura is approached by a young Hugo Branco, who abruptly asks him if he can play Metallica. Jorge stares at the void. Hugo turns his back and leaves the room. Back to 2021, an older Jorge Loura is approached by an older Hugo Branco, who abruptly invites him to co-curate a compilation of unlikely collaborations between music projects from Aveiro. Both stare at the void and neither leaves the room. Ever.
Commissioned to VIC NIC by the Aveiro Municipality via Teatro Aveirense within the context of Drawing its name from Vasco Branco’s 1968 short film, Rajada is a subjective sonic portrayal of the current music scene in Aveiro —the coastal and windy Portuguese town chosen by VIC NIC as its main base of operations. Beyond a mere collection of songs, the collaborative angle of the project encouraged the invited artists to step outside their comfort zones and to adopt co-creation as a genre and boundary transcending tool.
The commitment and hard work of all the artists, thinkers and technicians involved in this experiment resulted in a rich sonic archive that manages to cut through genres such as rock, folk, electronica, jazz and experimental, ultimately bringing together 25 talented musicians and illustrating the fresh diversity of Aveiro’s contemporary music scene.
Tracklist
1. MEMA. VS piurso Fora de Fase 4:40
2. Siricaia VS Bwcolors OHOAIOU 3:32
3. Troll’s Toy VS Teresa Queirós & João Fino Trouble Lives In Words 4:32
4. Diana Combo VS Arianna Casellas Hojitas 3:21
5. J U P I T E R VS Paulo Gravato Raízes Carne 2:30
6. Musgos VS Caloriouz Tempo Suspenso 4:18
7. Vénus Matina VS Mind Safari Gran Missão 4:33
8. O Lendário Homem do Trigo VS SHANGE Trigger to the Change 7:16
RAJADA: As windy as it gets
Short ‘making of’ documentary by Nuno Barbosa
ra·ja·da
/xa’ʒada/ noun [ feminine ]
sudden gust of wind
by Bruno dos Reis
(…) Aveiro’s nostalgia tells the tale of a fertile, delirious and rich town, filled with young people who benefited from being the first generation whose parents turned the corner on April 1974, and who witnessed the arrival of the first European coin. This was yet to be a middle class, but was already one whose members could afford, nevertheless, to buy their early Ibanez, Washburns and Fenders. And, even if they couldn’t, they would make do with whatever they could get their hands on. (…)
Press
Credits
Concept by Hugo Branco
Curatorship by Jorge Loura & Hugo Branco
Mastered by Lucas Palmeira
Illustration by Lägrima
Design by Nayara Siler
Sleeve Notes by Bruno dos Reis
Photos by Joana Magalhães
Making of documentary by Nuno Barbosa
Commissioned by Teatro Aveirense / Aveiro Municipality
Support: DRCC – Direcção Regional de Cultural