Sérgio Bartolo Releases “Galaxicografia”
Brazilian bassist Sérgio Bartolo has released a cool new EP called Galaxicografia, which tells an unusual story in an instrumental form. The bassist and composer, known for his work with bands like Karnak and Funk Como Le Gusta, took inspiration from a story his grandfather wrote.
“This album tells the story of an unlikely romance between a journalist and an extraterrestrial, set in 1940s São Paulo. The inspiration came from a spirit-written text by my grandfather in 1965, which I heard countless times during my childhood. When he turned 90, I visited him at his home in Peruíbe and recorded his recitation on one of those old-fashioned recorders. This recording can be heard in the track ‘1965,’” Bartolo says. “My grandfather believed in extraterrestrials — humanoids of incomparable beauty, advanced technology, and tight-fitting scaly suits. He claimed to have traveled in a UFO and experienced a romance with a Venusian named Kástor. And me? Well, I believed in my grandfather.”
“With this recording,” he continues, “I created the script for an imaginary movie: a tropical film noir with a touch of Brazilian Blaxploitation. The songs make up the soundtrack of this imaginary movie, with each track narrating a part of this story. It’s an original, instrumental work, with influences of funk, cinema, black music, and grooves wrapped in strings and brass, along with many moogs and clavinets.”
Get a feel for the album with the track “1965,” featuring samples of his grandfather telling his story.
Galaxicografia is available now on digital services, including Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more.
Galaxicografia Track List:
- 1965 (ft. Ruben Di Souza)
- Disco Thriller (ft. Ruben Di Souza)
- Songoz (ft. Ruben Di Souza)
- Cine Marabá (ft. Ruben Di Souza)
