Primitive Reason

Primitive Reason are an alternative cross-over rock band based in Lisbon, Portugal, with Guillermo de Llera (voice, percussion, didgeridoo), Abel Beja (guitar), Luís Pereira (bass), Tino Dias (drums), and Rui Travasso (Saxophone). Known for their musical experimentalism and fusion, they are one of the main alternative acts in the Portuguese musical scene, with a strong fan base in the country, as well as, in the U.S. (where they lived from 1998 to 2000), the U.K., and Spain. Their 6th full-length album, 'Power To The People', is scheduled for release on April 01, 2013.

Long time friends Guillermo de Llera (bass and voice), Jorge Felizardo (drums) and Brian Jackson (main voice) originally met in the coastal village of Cascais (a few miles from Lisbon, Portugal). In 1993, they decided to pursue their dream of becoming professional musicians and founded Primitive Reason. Soon after, they called in good friends from the Cascais night scene, Mark Cain (sax) and Mikas Ventura (guitar).

The diverse backgrounds (Portugal, Spain, U.K., U.S., Switzerland), musical tastes and lifestyles of each member were, from the first moment, a trademark in their first songs, and their anarchic and intense concerts soon became famous in the local scene.

Primitive Reason emerged on the Portuguese musical scene in 1996, when they released "Alternative Prison" (União Lisboa, re-issued in 2008 by Kaminari Records). Their first single, "Seven Fingered Friend" (reggae/ska mood, in an ode to marijuana), was an instant hit and, along with "Hipócrita" (afro and ska fusion), showcased their unique and unexpected mix of musical styles from rap, punk, hardcore, reggae, ska, tribal and African rhythms to jazz and funky. Songs like "So you say" and "Devil in June" are classic examples of their anarchic, no-rules sound. With "Alternative Prison", Primitive Reason won the major musical awards in Portugal (Blitz Awards), for best new act and best single.

This success took them to countless tours in Portugal and to the stages of the most important summer festivals in Portugal (Paredes de Coura, Super Bock Super Rock, Vilar de Mouros).

Amidst the success, the band works, in 1998, on a second studio venture, "Tips & Shortcuts" (Farol Música), that revealed a tighter production. The impromptu and aggressiveness of "Alternative Prison" (brilliantly captured by Joe Fossard) gave way to a more technical, experienced and clean production by Marsten Bailey. The album has brilliant moments, such as Guillermo's breathtaking rapping in "Man and the Mask" or the Madness-inspired ska piece "Object"(the chosen single). In this second proposal, the lyrics (composed by both Guillermo and Brian) are less politically explicit and more storytelling (from Indian paths to LSD trips).

Not long after releasing "Tips & Shortcuts", frustrated with the label's lack of interest in promoting the band internationally, Primitive Reason decide to take a bold step and move to New York, where they sign a contract with independent label Jah Notion.

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Wikipedia