It is astonishing. Here in Brazil, even with all the strength and popularity of reggae, Jamaican music has not yet fully arrived. Although "reggae" nights reign across São Paulo — and all of Brazil — there is still a long way to go before the sounds of Jamaica gain their emancipation. Although there is no consensus, specialists, critics and artists recognize that there is still much ground to cover. Above all, albums by artists devoted to other sounds from the island are missing, such as traditional ska and dub, to cite just a few examples. That is where a band with firsthand knowledge and great taste comes in: Firebug.
Formed by an American producer and a Brazilian duo, Firebug is built around bassist and multi-instrumentalist Victor Rice, drummer Rodrigo Cerqueira and guitarist/vocalist Felipe Machado. The group ranges practically across all Jamaican rhythms [from ska to rocksteady, from reggae to dub] and also draws influences from other musical styles as distant as surf and country music, blending classic timbres with a modern sound and strong identity.
The debut album, recorded at El Rocha studio in São Paulo during several sessions throughout 2003, reached stores in mid-December 2003 with 20 tracks, released by Radiola Records and distributed by Tratore.
In addition, the Swiss label Leech handles releasing the album in Europe in early 2004.