Typical Girls: Women in Punk/Post-Punk/Underground Music (Circa 1975-1980s)

[Alex Milopoulos <amilopoulos AT yahoo.co.uk>]

Hi everyone

Dont know if anyone has heard of this comp on Soul
Jazz but I bought it from Rough Trade recently and it
is brilliant!

http://www.souljazzrecords.co.uk/release.php?ReleaseId=1509&NavId=1_1&Section=1

"As Mercenarias are an all-female punk/funk post-punk
group from Sao Paulo, Brasil. They began their career
over 25 years ago and this is their first ever
retrospective and first ever release outside of
Brasil. 
With influences as diverse as The Dead Kennedys, The
Slits, Public Image Limited, The Pop Group, Nina Hagen
and many more, As Mercenarias manage to combine the
energy, rhythm and sensibilities of American and
British Post-Punk along with a uniquely Brazilian
aesthetic. Today their music sits next to the
punk/dance attitude of strong female artists such as
Peaches, Mia, Chicks on Speed, Le Tigre and ESG. 
As Mercenarias are made up of Sandra Coutinho on bass,
Ana Maria Machado on guitar, Lou on drums and Rosalia
Munhoz on lead vocals. 
As Mercenarias were first featured on Soul Jazz
Records earlier "The Sexual Life of The Savages" -
which told the story of underground post-punk in Sao
Paulo, and how As Mercenarias led a musical movement
in Brazil that included many other bands such as Gang
90 and The Absurdettes, Smack, Fellini, Patife Band,
Nau and Akira S. 
These groups all took their influences from UK/USA
groups such as Joy Division, Gang Of Four, New Order,
A Certain Ratio, Liquid Liquid and mixed it all up
into a new Brazilian sound that was a million miles
away from the traditional sounds of Brasil – Samba,
Bossa Nova and MPB (Musica Popular Brasil). 
The album comes with full sleeve-notes, exclusive
photos and the vinyl comes with a super-limited free
7" that features early demos from the group. 
As Mercenarias are alive and well in Sao Paulo,
Brasil. The group will be performing in the UK for the
first time ever at the end of the year". 

You can get three audio samples on the Soul Jazz
website.


Alex