Falsos Modernos

Falsos Modernos formed in São Paulo in 1982 around brothers Ronaldo and Rodrigo Ferrari, with guitarist Wander Wildner. They came up during a period when Brazilian pop had settled into comfortable patterns, and their sound felt deliberately rougher and more experimental than what was on the radio at the time. Their first album came out in 1984, followed by 'Adeus Zaratustra' two years later.

Their music pulled from different places, some rock, some punk, a little reggae and electronic texture, but it never felt like a smooth blend. It was more like a collision. Songs like 'Adeus Zaratustra' and 'Balada Sem Lei' had a raw, unsettled energy that connected with listeners who found mainstream pop too polished. The lyrics often circled themes of alienation and pushing back against expectations.

They developed a cult following, particularly among alternative music fans, while drawing criticism from more conservative corners for their approach and subject matter. The band's active recording period was relatively brief, but those two albums left a distinct impression on a certain slice of Brazilian music from that era.