Augusto Martins Côrtes, better known as Lula Côrtes, was one of the driving forces behind the late 60s and early 70s psychedelic rock scene in Recife (North East Brazil). The albums he produced and recorded – from the dueling guitars of Satwa to Marconi Notaro’s groundbreaking No Sub Reino dos Metazoários to his own Rosa de Sangue – put forth a revolutionary bent with a striking originality during Brazil’s military dictatorship. His albums were almost all self-released, many on Solar, his own imprint, only furthered his legend.
Lula is most renowned for his Paebiru album, written and recorded with Ze Ramlho in 1975. This white whale of a record – a double LP encapsulating a book within its gatefold – took Brazilian psychedelic rock to its zenith. Stunning and timeless, Paebiru will help help keep Côrtes’ memory alive for years to come.
