I feel a little spaced out.

Person 1: Hey there, have you heard of the Brazilian band Os Mutantes?

Person 2: Yer, didn’t they use one of their songs on a McDonald’s adverts?

——END CONVERSATION——

So they may have let A Minha Menina slip a couple of times into ads (PROOF), but Os Mutantes are the most important rock band of Brazilian history. Their 1968 debut set a benchmark for experimental rock music and jetted them (and Gilberto Gil) off as they honed in on the Tropicalia sound.

Forty two years on, when they’re not chilling out in the studio with Beck, Os Mutantes are still a formidable force live. Playing a one off gig at the Royal Festival Hall last night as part of the Southbank’s Brazil Festival, founding member Sergio Diaz & co get a SEATED CROWD jumping (god knows how, but it happened) with their kooky jives.

It may sound like a bit of a cop out, but if you want to check them out it literally is best to start with their best of Everything Is Possible! From there check out their ‘English-orientated’ later stuff such as the Tecnicolour album as well as their 2009 reunion album Haih Or Amortecedor which sees them reunite with writing Brazilian amigos Tom Ze and Jorge Ben.