Abdias Dos 8 Baixos

A long long time ago I happened across a compilation called Brazil: Forro - Music for Maids and Taxi Drivers. It's the hillbilly music of northeastern Brasil, fat with accordion and totally rockin'. I found myself spoiled when I later discovered the more famous forro stars such as Jackson do Pandeiro and Dominguinhos and they did nothing for me. The comp is several songs each by four acts: Toinho de Alagoas, Duda de Passira, Jose Orlando, and Heleno dos Oito Baixos. I've been searching for more from any of these people ever since. Finally I got a hit on the word "Baixos," but it wasn't Heleno, it was Abdias dos Oito Baixos. I snagged three of their albums a couple weeks ago, Segura o pe de Bode (1967), 8 Baixos pra Frente (1971), and Forro do pe Rapado (1971). It is the real deal. I have not been able to find any information on this band at all. I have no idea what they are singing about. It don't matter. All I need to know is that this is the raw scorching pure white hot forro sound I obviously craved ever since before I was born.

Come to think of it, I'm sure they are singing about drinking, pretty girls and how working in the mine sucks. Country music is country music wherever you go.

Added 4/2/07: In my quest to add links to the performer or fan sites for these recent posts, I found that this blog is the third hit for this band and the only one in English. Which I guess makes me America's foremost authority on this band already, haha.