When thinking of Brazil, the things that usually come to mind are soccer, beautiful beaches, beautiful women, and the thong bikini. The last thing that would come to one’s mind is psychedelic rock.

Brazil actually had an interesting psychedelic music scene in the 1960’s. Some bands, like Os Mutantes, blended psychedelic and tropical sounds and became major influences on today’s music. Just like their predecessors, Os Haxixins also hail from São Paulo, Brazil and are a young psychedelic band. However, the approach Os Haxixins is extremely fuzzy, organ-driven, psychedelic/garage rock that is in much of the same primitive style that is heard on Nuggets, Pebbles, and Back from the Grave compilations. Not only does their music sound quite authentic, but their style does as well.

They look like they belong on the San Francisco Haight-Ashbury scene circa ’67!

They have recently released their self-titled 14-track album under the Groovie/Meteorito label, and have even toured Europe earlier this year. 12 of the tracks on this album are originals sung in their native language of Portuguese which includes my favorite Onde Meditar, and the other two are covers: One of the classic U.S. psychedelic/garage tune Dirty Old Man by the 60’s band the Electras, and the other an extremely obscure song by the Turkish 60’s band Istanbul Erkek Lisesi titled In the Deep End. All songs are amazing and are even recorded using vintage equipment that will leave you hearing fuzz guitar and feedback for the rest of the day. This is definitely something to get your hands on…that is, if you can find it! Here’s a tip…Myspace them!!!

www.myspace.com/oshaxixins