EP Review: The Solitaryman Monoband – Hipocrisia A Gente Vê Por

The Solitaryman Monoband, an outlet for multi-instrumentalist Cacá Côgo (Hey!, Oxiúrus di Mun-Há, Parallel Project 80), takes punk’s ‘Do-It-Yourself’ maxim to its eventuality. Fuelled by lockdown boredom and political agitation, the Brazilian armed himself with his guitar, a makeshift drumkit and modified recording equipment to produce this, his fifth EP, which follows on from April’s lockdown release ‘Um Punkynho e Um Violão’ – “a way to honor punk / HC bands that are part of the soundtrack of my life,” – made up of folky interpretations, recorded over two days at home. Côgo has also been prolific over on YouTube, with his twice-weekly ‘Punk Rock Quarantine Sessions’ featuring cover versions of the likes of Black Flag, Discharge and Ramones. ‘Hipocrisia A Gente Vê Por Aí’ features 4 new, original tracks, plus two remastered from 2018’s ‘The Solitaryman’ EP.

*As ever, punk’s attitude speaks across all languages, and although ‘Hipocrisia A Gente Vê Por’ can be enjoyed as it stands, lyrics are available HERE to better understand Côgo.*

The EP opens with the anti-fascist message of ‘Nobre Cidadão’. It’s ridiculously ramshackled – immediate and joyous and ‘full’-sounding. Written in collaboration with Alyne Pirovani (Hey!) around the time of Brazil’s 2018 elections, the lyrics target the titular ‘Noble Citizen’, who veils their bigotry and hatred in political speech. The narrative continues into ‘Bozo’, which could denote any number of world leaders, but in this case refers to the nickname given to the Brazilian president. The lo-fi din is chunky and pacey, whereas the next track ‘Eu Disfarço’ fuses more of a skate-punk vibe with an introspective outlook. The title track thumps and chugs, with a slinky guitar line scuzzing at the surface, while ‘Vendo Você’ is riotously straight-ahead, full of fury, and over in under a minute. Which leaves ‘O Maioral’ to close out the 13 minute EP in a blur of distorted chords and irony. Raw n’ ready.

Like informed, expressive punk fashioned in the truest sense of independence? ‘Hipocrisia A Gente Vê Por’ is available through Bandcamp. The Solitary Monoband is active on Youtube, and has Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to follow.