Tobruk - Ad Lib (1972)

Otro de los aportes que inundan nuestra sección de rock brasilero...aunque esta banda tenga una particularidad especial, y se refiere a que algunos han asegurado que la banda era yanky... y acá tratamos de rescatar la verdad (en algún lado de este puto mundo debe existir alguien que se esmera por los datos verídicos, aunque sea en un humilde blog cabezón) y te lo contamos en el posteo. Rock psicodélico y proto prog son los estilos imperantes del primer y único disco Tobruk. Todo un registro arqueológico que ahora revivimos para quienes gusten del rock setentero seminal, y bien difícil de encontrar, por cierto (yo diría imposible)...

Artista: Tobruk

Álbum: Ad Lib
Año: 1972
Género: Rock Psicodélico / Proto Prog
Duración: 34:35
Nacionalidad: Brasil

Situación difícil con esta banda de rock. Todo el mundo dice que está asociado con Brasil. Algunos dicen que los chicos habían emigrado a los Estados Unidos, mientras que otros dicen que los chicos no eran tan visitantes y estaba constituido por músicos estadounidenses. Tal vez no han entendido bien, seamos sinceros.

El sitio Time-Machine dice:

"Tobruk was formed by some Brazilian guys living in North America, and this wonderful album got released in 1972 on the Cash Box label (sometimes you can see the album named as if Cash Box was its title).
It's a pretty good psychedelic album with an astounding, original sound based in fuzz, organ, psychedelic effects and an eerie atmosphere. It's completely sung in English as well. 500 copies vinyl reissue, with remastered sound."

Traduzco....  El grupo fue fundado por chicos brasileros que viven en los EE.UU.
El álbum fue lanzado en 1972 con una cantidad de 500 piezas. En ese momento, era una rareza.

Vinyl Genius dice: 

"The name of the album cover art author is Sergio Lopes, aka Serge Holt Smith. He was also bassist of Lee Jackson, another famous Brazilian rock group of the Seventies.
Besides being musician, at that time Sergio was studying Architecture at Mackenzie University, Sao Paulo, Brazil. He did some odd jobs as illustrator in order to raise his teenage earnings.
Tobruk, you know, is one of the fake names of Brazilian pop-rock group Light Reflections, which issued several EPs and one LP in 1972. Tobruk/Light Reflections lead singer and composer was Brian Anderson, born Andre Barbosa Filho.
All of these groups took part in a movement called "Brazilian Singers", or "The Brazucas". In the first middle of the Seventies a large number of groups and singers composed, recorded and issued lots of vinyl albums sung in English.
In my humble opinion, the best of them all is "Sodom" (1971), by Kris Kringle. They started playing in Sunday ballrooms as Memphis. This LP is a highly well crafted gem. Tobruk's "Ad Lib", on the contrary, is fully made of rehearsal tapes and studio out-takes.

Finally, “Ad Lib” sounds quite amateur, except for the bassist, Ronnie Wells (born Rafael Moreno), the only real musician, and the one who holds the groove. The other ones seem to be kids playing at the garage. “Sodom”, for his turn, was played by professionals in their best shape."

Traduzco.... En pocas palabras...

¡Los músicos habrían cambiado su nombre! Sergio Lopes era realmente Serge Holt Smith, Ronnie Wells era realmente Rafael Moreno, Brian Anderson era Andre Barbosa Filho. Anteriormente, el grupo fue llamado "Light Reflections" y habían publicado varios EP y uno LP.

Según el autor del texto, este registro se compone de cintas de ensayos y fragmentos de estudio, que se llama en Inglés "out-takes".

 

Y suena así:

 

Seguimos con nuestra exploración musical:

Hippy-djkit dice:

"Tobruk were a five-piece who recorded in Brazil, and released this album in 1972. There has been a rumour that this band was really from America, but as it turns out it was a group of Brazilians pretending to be American to help push lp sales???
Obviously their country of domicile did not influence their music, as the album consists of fairly mainstream US 70's rock. "I'm In Love With You" is a fairly low-key opener, with a laidback vocal style giving it a West Coast Feel. "Theme From My Mind" employs a different singer, with a somewhat unusual vocal sound, but it does have some more inventive guitar-work than previously, and a weird spoken outro.
The almost side-long "Ad Lib" itself has a scat-sung central piece, spoken word soliloquy, chanted vocal backing, and an extended coda, which might sound like a bit of a mish-mash but actually works quite well. "Send It For Tomorrow" goes back to the mainstream rock approach to finish off the album, although once again the vocals let it down slightly.
It's a pretty good psychedelic album with an astounding, original sound based in fuzz, organ, psychedelic effects and an eerie atmosphere.It's completely sung in English as well."

Traduzco...
Los brasileños estaban fingiendo ser estadounidenses para aumentar el interés del público del propio país donde vivían.

Esto puede ser así, o así... o asá ...

Tal vez todos estos datos puedan ser tomados como piezas sueltas que pueden ser pegadas entre sí, para conseguir una historia más o menos cercana a la realidad. ¿O tiramos todas esas versiones y nos quedamos con una sola? Entonces, ¿qué nos queda?

Voy a decir que sin más preámbulos, y más allá de la historia de estos brasileros, el álbum me gusta mucho. Es aconsejable que presten atención. Recomendado!

 

Lo podés escuchar desde acá:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL8U9MIwezo

 

Lista de Temas:
1. I'm In Love With You (4:10)
2. Theme From My Mind (3:33)
3. Queens Are Made (4:38)
4. Hello Crazy People (2:30)
5. Heart Of a Sound Spirit (2:58)
6. Ad Lib (12:27)
7. Send It For Tomorrow (4:18)

Alineación:
Brian Anderson: guitrra, primero voz
Key Wilson: organ, teclados, moog
Lois Gee Brahman: gutarra, efectos
Ronnie Wells: bajo, voz
Billy Rogers: bateria, voz