''Postmodern Platos'' is an EP by the Brazilian musician
Tom Zé
Antônio José Santana Martins (born 11 October 1936), known professionally as Tom Zé (), is a Brazilian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who was influential in the Tropicália movement of 1960s Brazil. After the peak of t ...
, released in 1999. It contains remixes of tracks found on his album ''
Com Defeito de Fabricação
''Fabrication Defect'' (''Com Defeito de Fabricação'') is an album by the Brazilian musician Tom Zé, released in 1998. It is a concept album about the likelihood of humans becoming androids due to the forces of economic manipulation; "genetic d ...
''. The album and the EP helped to increase Zé's popularity in the United States and Brazil.
Zé supported the EP by touring North America (for the first time) with
Tortoise
Tortoises () are reptiles of the family Testudinidae of the order Testudines (Latin: ''tortoise''). Like other turtles, tortoises have a turtle shell, shell to protect from predation and other threats. The shell in tortoises is generally hard, ...
; Zé sold the EP at his concerts and online.
[ The remix EP conforms to Zé's philosophy of ''arrastão'', where art can be "stolen" and repurposed.
]
Production
The tracks were remixed by the High Llamas
The High Llamas are an Anglo-Irish avant-pop band formed in London circa 1991. They were founded by singer-songwriter Sean O'Hagan, formerly of Microdisney, with drummer Rob Allum and ex-Microdisney bassist Jon Fell. O'Hagan has led the group si ...
, John McEntire
John McEntire (born April 9, 1970 in Portland, Oregon) is an American recording engineer, producer, drummer and multi-instrumentalist, based in Chicago, Illinois. He is a member of both Tortoise and the Sea and Cake.
McEntire started playing dr ...
, Sean Lennon
is an American–British musician, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. He is the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and half-brother to Julian Lennon. Over the course of his career, he has been a member of the bands Cibo Matto, The G ...
, Amon Tobin
Amon Adonai Santos de Araújo Tobin (born February 7, 1972), known as Amon Tobin (), is a Brazilian electronic musician, composer and producer. He is noted for his unusual methodology in sound design and music production. He has released eight ...
, and Sasha-Frere Jones (as Gene to Gene). Zé was surprised that his music was so appreciated by artists working in various genres; he also was pleased that some songs sped up his rhythms.[ "Canudos" was a new song by Zé.][
]
Critical reception
''Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...
'' wrote: "When, four minutes into the almost seven- minute-long nebulaic journey, Tobin breaks out his trademark frenzied rhythmic assault, he casually casts off the best one-and-a-half minutes ''Postmodern Platos'' has to offer."Spin
Spin or spinning most often refers to:
* Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning
* Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis
* Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...
'' determined that "rarely has weird alien funkaplinking been so relaxing." The ''Star Tribune
The ''Star Tribune'' is the largest newspaper in Minnesota. It originated as the ''Minneapolis Tribune'' in 1867 and the competing ''Minneapolis Daily Star'' in 1920. During the 1930s and 1940s, Minneapolis's competing newspapers were consolida ...
'' noted that the remixers "breathe their own musicality into Ze's songs." The ''Orange County Register
''The Orange County Register'' is a paid daily newspaper published in California. The ''Register'', published in Orange County, California, is owned by the private equity firm Alden Global Capital via its Digital Fiest/Media News subsidiaries. ...
'' labeled the EP "little more than an appetizer for his full-length CD—but it's tasty nonetheless."[
The '']Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...
'' deemed the EP "a kind of '90s pop music echo of the eclectic, cut-and-paste avant-garde music of the '60s, an early influence on Ze during his student days." ''The Village Voice
''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the crea ...
'' concluded that "McEntire's 'Defect 2: Curiosidade' remix ... doesn't demonstrate particular insight."Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' wrote that "the High Llamas dismantle é'ssong into free-floating radio transmissions that murmur above a plaintive, warbling synthesizer."[
]
Track listing
References
{{Authority control
Tom Zé albums
1999 albums
Luaka Bop albums