Artist description Since 1996, Primitive Reason's eclectic mix of reggae/ska, funk, Hardcore/metal,urban grooves, and world music, has gained a cult following worldwide. 'The Firescroll' is their latest release...

Music Style Alternative, Roots, Rock, Reggae, HipHop, Ska, Metal, Hardcore, World & Tribal Sounds

Musical Influences any band with an original sound...

Similar Artists ...what is original, should be the usual...

Artist History From an unlikely place, an unlikely band. Not subscribing to any particular scene or style and yet fitting in many, Primitive Reason have the rare ability to just be themselves and let their music speak for itself. Playing together for over ten years, Spanish born Guillermo de Llera and Swiss born Jorge Felizardo grew up in the coastal town of Cascais, Portugal. With a common interest in skateboarding and street culture, as well as their diverse musical tastes which encompass reggae, punk, world music, hip-hop and hardcore, they formed Primitive Reason straight out of high school. After releasing two critically acclaimed albums in Portugal (Alternative Prison 1996 and Tips and Shortcuts 1998) Guillermo and Jorge were looking to further their musical experience and relocated to the vibrant melting pot that is New York City. Their third album, Some of Us, was recorded in NYC during the fall of 2000 and featured friends they had made in the N.Y scene such as Buford O´Sullivan from the Scofflaws and members of The Toasters and the New York Ska Jazz Ensemble. Shortly after the completion of the album, guitarist Abel Beja and bassist James Beja joined the band. The brothers, NYC natives, were long-time friends who had met Guillermo and Jorge during time spent in Portugal. Primitive Reason quickly became a fixture on the NYC circuit, playing such renowned venues as CBGB’s, The Mercury Lounge, The Knitting Factory and The Wetlands, to name just a few. To kick off the release of Some of Us, Primitive Reason set out on their first U.S. Tour. In three months they passed several times through every major city, touring with acts such as Fishbone, The Misfits, Murphys Law and The Pilfers. Following their successful national tours of the U.S., the band returned to Portugal in 2001 to promote the European release of the album. After two sold out headlining concerts in Lisbon and Porto, the band spent most of the year playing the European festival circuit alongside such diverse international acts as Manu Chao, Soulfly, Lamb, Rammstein, Bush, UB40, Slipknot and Nickelback. In early 2002 the band took a break from touring. Each member went to a different part of the globe: Guillermo to Asia, James to South America, Jorge to the U.S., Abel to Europe, exploring their individual musical interests and other cultures. These experiences would help inspire the music that became their new album The Firescroll. On reuniting and sharing their experiences, the band decided that they would finance the next album themselves. They spent the rest of 2002 writing new songs and playing shows to fund the recording. Primitive Reason re-teamed with friend and producer Marsten Bailey to record The Firescroll during three weeks in the winter of 2003. The Firescroll is a culmination of Primitive Reason’s learning experiences. From the intense grooves of “Kindian” to the mellow moods of “Had I the Courage” and the hard hitting power of “White Tree”, the band weaves a unique musical soundscape that gives life to the mystical story-telling of Guillermo. Instruments such as the Indian tabla and sitar bring a touch of eastern flavor to the eclectic mix of ska/ reggae, funk, hardcore, world music, and urban grooves which is Primitive Reason.

Group Members Primitive Reason are: Guillermo de Llera : vocals, didjeridoo and percussion James Beja : bass and vocals Jorge Felizardo : drums and samples Abel Beja: guitars and vocals

Albums The Firescroll (2003), Some of Us (2000), Tips and Shortcuts (1998), Alternative Prison (1996)

Press Reviews House of Blues CD Review...I suppose any breakthrough genre or musical movement will sooner or later burn itself out. Video and radio helping the process along its merry way, rubbing the genre until it's a blinding shine, and then rubbing it again until the buffed wax and fresh paint crack and flake. Then it will end, quickly, in a flash; but somewhere in this , these breakthroughs occasionally yield some music that is part of the movement, yet original, fresh and optimistic. Primitive Reason is this creative ray of light in the current rapcore cloud. —Their debut album, Some Of Us…, sharpens its focus on words and language, immediately separating them from the pack, while the music, though has its share of crunch and squall, is primarily steeped in reggae and early ska. So prominent is the sound of horns and echo fading beats one might be surprised to find the band is not from Kingston, Jamaica but Portugal of all places. Yes, even Portugal it seems has been hit with America's aggression, but thankfully, Primitive Reason hasn't bought the gimmick hook, line and sinker.—Taking a more relaxed approach to the vocal delivery, the band's main frontman, Guillermo De Liera eases into the music with an understated spoken word, whispering lyrics like "And while I was out walking the wind spoke to me," "Everyone, yet no one feels the way I do" and "The more she contains the less she explains." The best of De Liera shines through on the mellow groove in "El Plumero" and the all-in-one bundle "Wanea," a track driven by creeping guitars, spooky Korn-like ambience and quick shifts from easy ska to hardcore to rap and back to ska. —The distinguishing aspect of Primitive Reason is that no matter how heavy their music gets (when it is heavy, it's smart and selective), the band opts for enunciation over the now predictable emo-scream. At the beginning of Some Of Us…, rapcore may be an easy label to give Primitive Reason, but by the time "Dream 2831" and "Dah Dah Te" pass (featuring the soulful vocals of Ms. Jess King), it's fairly obvious that no single description is sufficient. It's as if they knew what was coming, the genre box and all its fixings, and delivered an album that plays hopscotch with metal, hard core, rap, reggae, soul and ska.” --Review By: Peter Short October 16, 2000Napster Review...—“Primitive Reason's stylistic mix of ska, reggae, funk, and hip-hop accented with a hint of hard edge creates an eclectic, enjoyable sound that will take anyone back to their roots. These catchy songs have a bouncy hip-hop beat that makes these Portuguese rhythm-makers a Napster favorite and will have you humming as you walk about.”--NAPSTER (featured artist Nov. '00)

Location New York City, Cascais, Portugal - Portugal

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