CASSIM

I am introducing to my readers my old friend Cassiano Fagundes currently knowed like Cassim. He played in a smart band called Magog in the 90's. I remember the Magog's show at 92 Degrees, (the Curitiba answer to CBGBs in NY) playing their "art/surf/rock" never imitated for other bands in southern Brazil. Meanwhile Cassim, or Cassiano turned an easy rider traveling by bus all south american trying news landscapes in Argentine, Chile, Bolivia and others wild countries. Also he lived in USA forming with american friends a band named The Soundscapes. The following realease is copied of his site. Cassim, see you in the other side. (Neri)

Cassim was born in Curitiba, south Brazil. His first venture in music was the garage outfit Magog, which had local hits during the early nineties and was praised by producer of Nirvana fame Jack Endino in an interview for the Brazilian music magazine Bizz. Citing The Birthday Party and Blue Cheer as influences, the band released singles by their own and had some of their songs included in Brazilian alternative rock compilations, Magog disbanded in 1996.In 1998, Cassim left to New York, USA, where he worked for Brazilian newspapers as an international correspondent and writer. During the next four years, he would write songs thoroughly, influenced by his research on American and Irish folk music as well as on his diet of an almost daily gig-going in the city that never sleeps. The result was a collection of songs that would be recorded and played with his new band - the alt. folk rock group Bad Folks - upon his return to Curitiba. Cassim shares the Bad Folks’ songwriting with two other members - Caio Marques and Andre Scheinkmann. They released a single, two EPs, and are currently doing pre-production for the band’s first album. Bad Folks are well known in the Brazilian indie scene, mostly for their distinctive sound and memorable live performances.In late 2005, Cassim started writing songs for a solo project, influenced by bands like Faust, American soul artists, The Flaming Lips, XTC and his travels in Brazil and elsewhere. Sometime later, he recorded five songs at home using the Garage Band software and its Motown drumming loops. Cassim intended the recordings to be a demo that could guide him through future productions. But as he realized he had created good and original music, regardless of the lo fi limitations of the technology available, he decided to put those recordings in his MySpace page. The response to the songs was surprisingly positive, and thus, as someone put it, Subtropicalia Rock was invented. Songs such as “This Place Called Feeling”, “Maelsrom SOS” and “That Old Spell” are interesting pieces that blend soulful rhythms with noisy guitars and freaky ambiences, while "Why Do You Cry Every Morning" testifies Cassim' s folk and alt. country rock background. This set of songs also includes "A Minute Ago", which suggests what the Subtropicalia Rock would be, with its gothic latin soundscapes and shoegazing guitar riffs. Cassim is currently rehearsing with his backing band, for he wants to travel with it to introduce his music to the world. If he does so, and I believe he will very soon, you should check him out. After all, Cassim is an artist you don’t meet everyday.

Cassim on Myspace - Magog on Trama Virtual

Cassim F. - Guitar, Vocals, BassBrazilian backing band:Jansen B. - BassAndrezza A. - DrumsRaphael M. - Guitar * Cassim also has a NYC based backing band - The Soundscapes.

This Place Called Feeling

That Old Spell

Why Do You Cry Every Morning?

A Minute Ago

Maelstrom SOS

Blixa