Brazilian Girls preview

Brazilian Girls
Metro, Chicago
Saturday, November 25, 2006

Given the knee-jerk reaction to world music in the U.S., it was a chancey proposition for Brazilian Girls to name themselves what they did with only one girl, non-Brazilian at that, in the band.

It could be the sort of kooky misdirection New York artsy types are known for, or it could simply be because Sabina Sciubba sounds so international when she sings (frequently in harmony with herself). Whatever the reason, it hasn’t stopped them from making dance music aimed at no one and everyone. Their second album, Talk To La Bomb (Verve Forecast), finesses mid-’80s Talking Heads, Stereolab, light industrial shading — well, to cut short, we’ll say everything but Anglo and American idioms like trad folk, country, blues, gospel, and punk rock. Sung in up to five languages (Spanish, English, French, German, and Italian — Swiss Girls?), the whole of the album but especially “Nicotine” come off like “The Girl From Ipanema” wearing heavy, glittery mascara, no bra, and nose-candy residue.

The Prairie Cartel open. This is a late (midnight) show. Fear Factory headline a 6 p.m. concert at Metro.

— Steve Forstneger

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly