Mormaco Quiema

Mormaco Quiema is where it all began for Ana Frango Electrico.

Raw, quirky and lo-f, it's a debut album brimming with attitude and youthful energy, characteristics that would go on to define their sound. Previously released digitally in Brazil in 2018, with a private press CD version in 2020 and later a Brazilian vinyl version in 2022, here at Mr Bongo we felt it deserved a much- needed worldwide edition for all of us to savour.

A charming, idiosyncratic blend of MPB, Tropicalia, and indie from a talented singer- songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer who would later become one of Brazil's brightest international stars. Mormaco Quiema has a cool, laidback, swagger channelling '90s bands such as Pavement. The arrangements feel loose and easy, the opener, 'Farelos' (Crumbs), seems to ebb and fow on a razor's edge before the percussion and Antonio Neves' trombone draws the song into a structure.

Another highlight is 'No Bico Do Mamilo', which has a free-flowing vibe, Ana pushing, pulling, and playing with the song's energy, keeping listeners constantly on their toes. Tracks such as 'Roxo' lean more into a punk attitude, with the pendulum swinging from easy-going to frenetic. The longest song on the album 'Picles', continues to sway the pendulum this time moving from DIY punk-funk into a psychedelic workout Co- produced by friends and fellow future collaborators Guilherme Lirio, Gustavo Benjao, Marcelo Callado, and Thiago Nassif, Mormaco Quiema is a playful showcase of Ana Frango Electrico's distinctive style.

Plotting Ana's musical career, it's clear they are not one to be pigeon-holed, nor to be confned to a single genre. Instead, they are ever evolving and this captivating debut album was the building block for a career that has already seen them gain multiple Latin-Grammy awards and tour the world with their music.