Latin | Brazil Vinyl 196 Items

The fourth release from Jazz Is Dead records features Azymuth, one of the bands in Brazilian history, redefining Popular Brazilian Music. Having released almost 20 albums in their career, Azymuth proves to be a consistent source for an innovative mix of jazz, pop, MPB, and electronic music.

Composed and produced by Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad and recorded in the Linear Labs analog studio.

Afrosound's Mission Was To Emulate The Guitar-Heavy Tropical Sounds Emanating From Perú And Ecuador At The Time. To Add To The Hippie Vibe, There Were Plenty Of Whacky Improvised Vocal Asides (Called 'Inspiraciones'), Plus Custom Fuzz, Wah-Wah, Flange And Echo Effects Boxes For The Guitar And Keyboards. A Barrage Of Odd Sounding Synths, Drum Machines And Other Electronic Flourishes Were Also Sprinkled In To Spice Up The Proceedings. The Dozen Tracks On Afrosound's Debut Long Play Make For A Surprisingly Diverse Palette From Which These Colombian Musicians Painted Their Daring Portrait Of Peruvian Cumbia, Returning The Favor In Bold Colors That Still Resonate Almost 50 Years Later. "La Danza De Los Mirlos" Kicks Off With Most Famous Afrosound Hit Of All, 'Caliventura', A Genius Blend Of Funk And Cumbia. Aside From The Cumbia Amazónica Title Tune, There Are Several Other Covers Including Three Popular Songs By Nelson Y Sus Estrellas, Plus Radically Reimagined Versions Of Various Colombian Costeño Classics Published By Fuentes. Mario "Pachanga" Provides A Sad But Still Groove-Oriented Christmas Son Montuno / Cumbia Hybrid While Fruko Brings Us The Bomba-Funk Ditty 'El Chorrillo' And The Rocking Cumbia Andina Gem 'Cabeza De Chorlito' Where Sepúlveda Channels Enrique Delgado. Fruko Collaborator Hernán "Hercovalle" Colorado Vallejo Rounds Things Out With The Melancholic Psychedelic Cumbia 'Esperando Por Ti', Proving That Every Tropical Party Has To Have Its Down Side As Well. The Record Was Also Released In The Us, Ecuador, Perú, Panamá, Mexico And Venezuela, And Probably Had An Influence Of Its Own, At Least In South America. The Cover Of This Lovingly Restored Reissue Features The Artwork For The Peruvian Edition, Which Was Licensed And Issued By Lima's El Virrey Label In 1974. The Original Fuentes Artwork, With A Far More Outrageous "Cheesecake" Image, Can Be Seen On The Back Cover.

Dominican multi-instrumentalist Alex Malajunta is back on wax with a super hot, up-tempo, original merengue with "Rumbón." Party tested and dancer approved! The B-side is an updated version of the 1980s Ramon Orlando hit "Weo" featuring the merengue legend himself! Excellent call and response on this song for audience engagement.

This Highly Collectible Lp From 1974 Is A Nonstop Salsa Dura Party Album From Start To Finish, Comparable With Any Of New York's Finest Like Ray Barretto And Willie Colón From The Same Era, But With Its Own Unique Sound And Joyful Vibe. Includes The Anthems 'Mi Nuevo Ritmo' And 'Alma Y Sentimiento/ Soul And Feeling' Recorded At Different Sessions In Colombia And Peru. Presented In Its Original Artwork And Pressed On 180g Vinyl. The Highly Collectible Lp Alfredo Linares Y Su Salsa Star "Mi Nuevo Ritmo" (1974) Is A Nonstop Salsa Dura Party Album From Start To Finish, Comparable With Any Of New York's Finest Like Ray Barretto And Willie Colón From The Same Era, But With Its Own Unique Swinging Sound And Bright, Crisp, Joyful Vibe. There Are Plenty Of Straight Up Cuban-Roots Based Salsa Tunes, Plus Some Latin Jazz And Latin Soul And A Bolero. Trumpets, Hand Claps, Loud Cowbell, And Vigorous Vocals All Make For A Great Listen And An Even Better Dance Experience. As The Track 'La Música Brava' Proclaims, "Yo No Quiero Que Pare La Música Brava!" (I Don't Want The Badass Music To Stop!). The Record Is Actually A Patchwork Of Different Recording Sessions Made In Peru And Colombia, Featuring Differing Studio Sound And Musician Lineups. Linares Had Just Returned To His Adopted Home Of Medellín From A Period Spent In Peru And Was Looking For A Record Deal. He Had Brought Master Tapes With Four Songs Recorded In Lima And Was Shopping Them Around In The Hopes Of Securing An Album Contract. Linares Also Cut Some Colombian Sessions Which Feature Roy "Tayrona" Betancourt As Well As Henry Castro And Enrique Fabián. Unfortunately, Neither Discos Fuentes Nor Sonolux Or Codiscos Were Interested. At That Time, Vinyl For Making Records Was Scarce And Over-Priced Due To The Petroleum Crisis And Hence The Labels Were Reluctant To Try Out A New Artist. "There Was Nothing To Be Done. The Only Company That Had Vinyl Stock Was Ins. So I Did The Business With Them Even Though They Didn't Have A Known Name In...

Mokomizik Records presents the first-ever reissue of this ultra-rare Latin-Jazz masterpiece. The Fantastic Variety in the Music of Panama - The Winsor Style and Calypso Impressions was privately released in the early 1960s by Panamanian pianist and songwriter Alonso Wilson De Briano.
Alonso described Panama as a country "with a foot in each side", referring to its unique geography that connects North and South America. The blending of Latin and English-speaking cultures had a big influence on Alonso, whose work draws on elements from West-Indian, Afro-Cuban and Panamanian folk musical styles. From the upbeat mambo rhythms of "Amigo" to the unusual combination of Calypso and Tamborera styles used in "My Brother, Too," Alonso weaves a rich musical tapestry into his arrangements. Back in 50s Panama, Alonso enjoyed relative success, with the likes of Orquesta Armando Boza and Tito Contreras performing his songs. So distinctive were his compositions that people had started referring to them by their own style - El stylito Winsor (the Winsor style), a reference to a club that Alonso performed at. Throughout his music career, Alonso worked with a number of renowned musicians, several of whom appear on the record, including Cuban-Jazz pioneer Arsenio Rodríguez's main bassist, Alfonso Joseph; and saxophonist and flutist Gene Jefferson to name a few.
Sadly, not many copies remain of Alonso's music today and the few that have surfaced over the years have naturally demanded high asking prices. This limited reissue aims to shed new light on Alonso's work and make it available for a new generation of listeners to enjoy. Great care has been taken to restore this record, using quality mastering to ensure maximum listening pleasure and retaining the original artwork with lyrics and the song descriptions written at the time. Each record comes with an insert containing restored photos and detailed biography, which features quotes from a rare interview with Alonso from the 1980s along with information gathered from his family and Alfonso Joseph, the only musician we could reach who plays on the record.
Limited to 500 copies. 180g LP with tip-on sleeve.

Anilza Pinho de Carvalho, better known by her stage name Anilza Leoni was a Brazilian actress, singer, former ballerina and painter.

Balumba is uptempo samba jazz at it’s finest. Originally appeared on a very obscure 7” on Copacobana in 1967 entitled ‘Enfarte Musical / Festa Do Balamba’, and was included by Nicola Conte on his Viagem Vol. 4 compilation.

Sambalanço Trio were formed by Cesar Camargo Mariano, Humberto Clayber and Airto Moreira in 1960’s Sao Paulo. The group released some of the most important records of the period and in the genre of samba-jazz.

When the group split in 1965 Airto formed Quarteto Novo with Hermeto Pascoal, and Cesar Mariano went on form Som Tres.

Sam Blues is a Mr Bongo HQ favourite - uptempo bossa jazz fusion, taken from their self-titled LP originally released on Audio Fidelity (Brazil) in 1964.

‘2 Minutos De Um Novo Dia’ – pacey samba-funk-MPB that originally appeared on a 7” from 1969 released on Odeon Brazil. Soaring vocals, strings and horns over alternating full and half-time funk drum breaks. Very big indeed.

‘Candomble’ has been a resident in our DJ sets for a long, long time. A retrained, deeper opening section drops into drum heavy, rich uptempo jazzy-MPB. Super catchy vocal hooks and piano lines sit over the top from start to finish. Taken from their self titled album from 1975 on RCA.

Arthur Verocai’s first appearance in the series – a double A-side featuring
tracks from his incredible self-titled LP, soon to be reissued on Mr Bongo.
Sylvia is a warm guitar-led instrumental orchestral samba, laced with
percussion and woodwind.
Na Boca do Sol is a firm favourite from the LP – a perfect mix of drums,
rhodes, vocals and strings.

Music With Soul returns with another genre-defying instant classic, expanding the limits of the Tropical Dance music universe.
Staying true to the label's essence, founder Alex Figueira places a high bet with this new release, introducing a brand new breed of traditional “Hindoestan” (Indian diaspora in Surinam) music and Cumbia. Taking the music of underground Surinam musician and empresario A. Bechan for an explorative excursion into the depths of the Colombian caribbean coast, this explosive combination raises the bar unquestionably. Equally weird, groovy and trippy, this 45 will turn any party upside down, regardless of any factors. The only problem you will encounter is what to play after. The solution is right on the other side. Just flip the record and give them the Instrumental version, featuring electric guitar, an alternative percussion set up and the beloved classic Juno-60 synthesizer in the leading role for another 4 minutes of dancefloor catharsis.

A journey to far outlands: this is exactly what one can feel when listening to Béliz. Entitled Mémoires, the album from the band Béliz, explores new territories where the Guadeloupean musical tradition meets the harmonic universe of the harp. Béliz is the dialogue between the world of classical harpist Anne Bacqueyrisse, percussionist Olivier Maurières and multi-instrumentalist and singer Edmony Krater, fervent supporter of the Gwo Ka, the ancestral musical tradition coming from Guadeloupe. Founder of the band Zepiss, once a member of Robert Oumaou's collective Gwakasonné, Edmony Krater has always had the will to open the Ka to other cultures and to incorporate new sounds. Indeed, with Ti Jan Pou Vélo, his tribute album in the memory of Marcel Lollia known as Vélo (one of the greatest drummers of Guadeloupe), released in 1987, Edmony Krater brilliantly mixed jazz-fusion, Occitan folklore, synthesizers with the distinctive Ka rhythms. The meeting of Anne Bacqueyrisse, Olivier Maurières and Edmony Krater at the Music Academy of Montauban, gave birth to Béliz. In 2009 the group of three musicians-teachers, under the impulse of one of their pupils, decided to record in studio their project, Mémoires. Béliz, with its innovative and singular artistic approach, is a true invitation to travel. The title Arawak É Karayib is a vibrant tribute to the native west indian people. Gwadloup - an acoustic version of the song already featured on the album Ti Jan Pou Vélo - is an ode to Edmony’s beloved island. Natibel, an hymn to Nature - another cover from the Zepiss band - makes sense here in a minimalist version. A true fusional object, Béliz moves us to new horizons, both imaginary and poetic.
Limited to 500 copies

Brownout’s legendary status as a “Funk Powerhouse” (Stereogum) is a reputation well deserved. The band of musicians have an impressive resume performing with Prince (RIP), GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, Bernie Worrell (RIP), and accolades from Ozzy Osbourne for their Brownout Presents: Brown Sabbath project. The latter helped grab the attention of Fat Beats Records, who worked with the band to release the critically acclaimed Public Enemy instrumentals project Fear of A Brown Planet in 2018. The Austin 9-piece is back with their first full length album of original music in over 8 years. The album, aptly titled, Berlin Sessions (out March 6, 2020 on Fat Beats) was produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos and is the first with lead singer Alex Marrero, whom they originally collaborated with on their wildly successful Brown Sabbath records. Berlin Sessions finds the group merging a multitude of styles, from rock to psych and of course the Latin Funk and Breakbeat on which they have built their sixteen-year career and reputation as Austin's premier party-starters. NPR recently featured the band on their heralded “Tiny Desk Concert” series, performing songs off the new album. NPR described the diversity of the band, stating, “One of the things you need to know about this band is that they can change traditions or genres almost on a dime. The core members dip into soul, Latin funk, a form of Peruvian cumbia called chicha, and funk covers of both Black Sabbath and Public Enemy. What each configuration has in common is the almost telepathic bond the band has developed after 15 years of working stages across the country. As you can see on the video, it's so infectious that Prince once used them for a while as a back-up band.”

Following highly praised releases by Hermeto Pascoal & Grupo, Leonardo Marques, Xenia Franca, Moons, and Gus Levy, 180g and the legendary Disk Union continue to explore the best of today's Brazilian music scene with this wonderful album by Bruna Mendez. A chill, mellow and futuristic musical masterpiece with funky and electronic flavours, Corpo Possível leads the way to the new era of Brazilian R&B.

Bruna Mendez is a female singer/songwriter from the inland city of Goiânia, Brazil. Originally a lyricist, she began her musical career in 2008 to express herself as a musician, joining several bands in Rio as well as in her hometown Goiânia. After releasing her debut EP "Pra Ela" in 2014, Bruna released her debut solo album "O Mesmo Mar Que Nega a Terra Cede à Sua Calma" in 2016, which received critical acclaim in Brazil.

After this first album, Bruna also finds interest in electronic sounds and textures, and starts incorporating these elements into her music. Her second album here, "Corpo Possivel", is the result of such an encounter between electronic beats, addictive melodies and a band and musicians playing a tight and propulsive sound. All of this makes Corpo Possivel an album standing out in today's Brazilian music scene, where many extraordinary talents are produced. 180g and Disk Union are proud to release Corpo Possivel for the first time outside of Brazil. This is an essential LP by an artist promised to a bright future on the Brazilian and international scenes.

This album comes on 180g vinyl format.

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Credits:

- Recorded in Curitiba / PR / Brazil, between April and July of 2019 by Pedro Soares (jack) at Chucreza Beats, Guigo Berger at Rec'n'Roll, Tiago Brandão at Voxdei, Vinicius Braganholo at Nico's Studio; in Goiânia / GO by Braz Neme at UpMusic, and in Lisboa / Portugal by João de Carvalho at The LX Sound.

- Produced by Gianlucca Azevedo (jan) - Co-produced by Machado (tracks A3 and B1), Pedro Soares (jack - tracks A4 and B2) and Lucas Romero (track B3)

- Voices: Bruna Mendez, Lilian Soares, Layane Soares and Machado - Guitars: Bruna Mendez and Gianlucca Azevedo - Bass: Machado, Leomaristi dos Santos, Rayssa Almeida, Nikko Novak and Gianlucca Azevedo - Saxophone: Gianlucca Azevedo - Drums: Pedro Soares, Eli Lage and Jean Ramos - Vocal Producers: Lilian Soares and Gianlucca Azevedo

- Edit: Bruna Mendez, Gianlucca Azevedo and Amadeus Marchi - Post-production by Bruna Mendez - Mixed by Guigo Berger at Rec'n'Roll Studio (Curitiba / PR) - Mastered by Anderson Guerra at Bunker Analog (Belo Horizonte / MG)

- Art direction: Junior Ribeiro and Bruna Mendez - Album cover photo by Junior Ribeiro - Graphic design: Félix B. Perini - LP additional design by Nicolas Kerembellec (nker.fr)

- Executive Producer: Cecília Brito - LP vinyl production by Greg Gouty (180g) and Yusuke Erikawa (Disk Union)

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180gdulp06 - Manufactured and distributed by 180g in collaboration with Disk Union Japan, under license from Bruna Mendez.

Cerrero, Llorona Records Founder's Solo Project, Joins Young "Gaita Flute" And Trumpet Wizard El "León" Pardo (Ondatrópica) For An Acid Cumbia Infused Dub Journey To The Underground Electronic Sound Of South America. Blend Of Ritualism And Futurism, Rough Ethereal Sound, Melancholic Voices And Analog Dub Mixing For A Unique Record That Presents The Work Of The Thriving Electronic Acts From Colombia. Llorona's In-House Act, Cerrero, Teaming Up With Another Colombian, Gaitero And Trompetista, El Leon Pardo. The Enigmatic And Cult Like Figure Has Featured On Many-A-Colombian Record In Recent Years, Including, Ondatropica And Velandia Y La Tigra. Though This Might Be One Of The Most Exciting Match-Ups Yet. Cerrero's Minimalistic Electronic Beats Channeled Through An Analogue Console Alongside The Abraded Howls Of Gaita And Accentuated Trumpet Work. The Deep And Bassy Four-Track Ep, Canción Para Un Amigo, Was Justly Named To Mark The Meeting Of These Two Brilliant Minds. Mixed In The Extemporaneous Ambience Of A Live Recorded Session, It Makes For A Riveting Listen. Six Standalone Tracks, Bound Through Crescendoing Loops Which Culminate In An Ethereal And Atmospheric Ritual Of Sound Which Evokes Colombian Ancestry. From The Spellbinding Opening Of Gaita-Led "Canción Para Un Amigo", The Ep Evolves Through "Todo Te Llevaste", A Track Skillfully Stitched Between Its Vocal Interludes By The Rat-A-Tat Of Accented Tambor, A Fanfare Of Trumpets And Underpinning Bass Line. Closing Out Via "Cumbia En Lejanía"'S, Gaita / Trumpet Led Interplay Into "Despedida", A Pining Jazz Melody Soaked In Reverb, It's As Complete Of A Work We've Heard Yet From Cerrero And Represents Another Glistening Gem In The Ever Increasing Bows Of The Llorona Catalogue. Inescapably Mesmeric As It Is A True Delight.

The release comes in a gatefold cover.

Supreme MPB/bossa-nova vibes here on both tracks from our leading Brazil 45’s lady, Claudia.
‘Diexa o Morro Cantar’ features on Claudia’s very first 7”, relaeased in 1965 by RGE Brazil.
Claudia’s version ’Mas Que Nada’ is more of a jazzy, folk-funk take on the Ben classic. A relatively recent discovery made during our last trip to Brazil!

Our leading lady of the series, Claudia, is back once again, this time
with a double A-side.
‘Macumba’ is taken from one of her several self-titled LP’s, the one in
question released in 1970 on Premier, Brazil. Sought after in its
original form.
Psychedelic, orchestral, MPB, exotica with hints of Bollywood! Horns
strings and spaced out male vocals back Claudia’s amazing lead. Highly
unique.
‘Baoba’ is taken from Claudia’s all-killer-no-filler Jesus Cristo LP,
from Odeon released in 1971.
Heavy on the strings and tough on the funk drums, before it breaks into
a vocal jazz section, then back into the groove. Reminiscent of Swedish
folk-funk singer Doris, whose album we reissued in the past.

Claudia - Garra

Rich, sweet, orchestral bossa nova/MPB from the excellent Claudia, another of our favourite artists and featured several times in this series. Taken from her ‘Você, Claúdia, Você’ LP released in 1971 by Odeon Brazil.

Os Tres Morais - Freio Dynamico

Uptempo, cinematic, vocal MPB/Jazz with muted trumpets, pinging bass guitar strings and even a little bit of fuzz for good measure! Os Tres Morais we’re two brothers and a sister; Jane Vincentina, Sidney and Roberto do Espírito Santo. They formed in 1963.

‘Freio Dynamico’ is taken from the groups self-titled LP on Odeon 1971.

Conjunto Papa Upa returns with “Todo Parao” (“Total Shutdown”), another boundary pushing tropical smasher. Bringing you the ultimate (humourous) hymn to the pandemic over an exquisite blend of highly danceable Caribbean rhythms (zouk, cadence, kompás, guaracha) and classic synths. Backed by a deep sea dub on the flip, complete with resplendent cowbell(!), timbales and Wurlitzer solos. Another stepping stone that showcases yet another angle of the unique and radical production style of Alex Figueira. Drop this 45 at your next virtual party and watch everybody leave their computers in a desperate search of a dancing partner. Conjunto Papa Upa is the Afro Caribbean centered solo project of Figueira, backed live bysome of the best musicians from Amsterdam’s Latin and free jazz scenes. Their debut LP was recently released on legendary American indie label Names You Can Trust. Figueira is also known for his percussive work on tropical psych power trio Fumaça Preta or his regular live incursions with Amsterdam’s turkish psych folk powerhouse, Altin Gun. Having spent the whole night working on the melodic structure of the song, Figueira took a break to take advantage of the different time zones and check on his dad in Venezuela, and ask how the pandemic was unfolding there. His answer: “Todo Parao” (“Total Shutdown”). The same two words he had used multiple times before, this time pronounced in a hilarious Rum-infused way, giving Alex an unexpected flush of inspiration in the form of an instant infectious chorus. He excused himself and immediately got locked back in the studio. The result is this incredibly catchy tune, displaying the optimistic approach of a boyfriend to the chaos, uncertainty and worrying of his girlfriend about the pandemic, presenting her with his own lascivious lockdown plan for the two, declaring at a certain moment: “while everyone is lamenting, you and I are going to enjoy”. In the musical side, rhythms from Haiti, Guadaloupe, Martinique, Puerto Rico and Cuba are unscrupulously mixed with the most diverse and strikking elements: strident cowbells that evoke the toughest salsa of 70's New York, harmonized guitars evidencing the inconfesable influence of 80’s heavy metal, a delicate Wurlitzer piano reminiscent of Black America’s greatest Soul ballads, Casio keyboards rescued from a child’s toy cabinet and a whole plethora of half-broken classic Synths, to create an equally irresistible and unclassifiable hybrid. On the flip side, Part 2 opens with a prominent dose of the lead guitar that appeared briefly on the A side, working as a preamble to an instrumentalist frenzy that is not concerned about displaying technique. Its mere intention is to tell you the rest of the story without using words. A few bars into the song, the first gear shifts with a monumental solo given by the least probable of all “soloist” instruments: the cowbell (!). After it, a crispy Timbal crashes the party, making a statement out of its only appearance in the entire recording. Finally, the longed-for turn of the melodious Wurlitzer, who left everybody craving for more on the other side of the record, giving the modest keyboard skills of Figueira an imposing pentatonic virtue.

Those two über-hip expatriate Colombian ‘salsapunks’ are back. Contento’s first album, Lo Bueno Está Aquí, was an artistic and critical success: chosen, for example, by the UK’s discerning national newspaper, The Guardian, as their global album of the month in November last year. Their follow-up, En Lancha Pal Futuro, builds seamlessly on its predecessor. Yet it could not have been recorded in more different, and difficult, circumstances.

The duo’s debut was laid down between 2016 and 2019, a period when the two European-based Colombians, who met at an Eddie Palmieri concert in Berlin, were able to take some serious time off from their diverse individual projects to explore a new vision for salsa. Paulo, a member of Acid Coco, Jaguar and El Dragón Criollo; and Sano, a DJ and producer known for his minimalist Latin house releases for the Cómeme label, crystallized on their debut what Paulo describes as “a new salsa sound that may also make [listeners] want to discover some of the older sounds, too.” That sound is a kind of ‘retro-smart’ combination of Nuyorican boogaloo from the ‘60s and cumbia from the golden age of Discos Fuentes. Contento’s contemporary electronic twist suggests, if you like, a kind of post-modern variation on Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez’s “Happy Hook With an Organ”.

Limited to 300 copies. West African and Venezuelan inspired dance floor 45 from Cyril Diaz the 1950's Trinidadian bandleader playing the roots music of his Afro-Venezuelan parentage. His father Gordon Diaz migrated to Trinidad sometime in the early 1900's. Throughout the 1950's Cyril Diaz and his big band calypso orchestra toured the Caribbean and South America recording culturally inspired hybrid calypsos with an African and Latin tinge. Showcased here is his fascination with West African shango on "Mme Killio" Mme Killio is a famous beauty contest in Africa, Diaz’s version being recorded by Emory Cook in November 1957.

Di Melo's Debut Album Was Originally Released In 1975 And It's A Fusion Of Genuinely Brazilian Rhythms With Funk, Soul And The Right Amount Of Psychedelia. Di Melo Is One Of The Main Brazilian Soul Music Artists, Seen By Many As Talented And Musically Creative As His Peers Jorge Ben And Tim Maia.Di Melo Went Missing In Action From 1976 To 1997, The Year His Song "A Vida Em Seus Métodos Diz Calma" Was On The Collection "Blue Brazil" From Blue Note Record Label. The Word On The Streets Was That He Was Dead Until 2011, When The Documentary Called "Di Melo, O Imorrível" (Di Melo, The Immortal) Was Released. In This 2021 Edition The Album Contains The Original 1975 Insert With Lyrics Plus Photos From Personal Family Archives And For The First Time The Full Credits With All The Name Of Every Single Musician Who Took Part, Among Them, Hermeto Pascoal.The Young Man Of 25 Coming From The Outskirts Of Pernambuco Was At The Peak Of His Success. Psychedelic Drugs And Cinema References Were Blowing His Mind Away When He Realised That He Was Being Conned By Music Industry Rats. His Songs Were At The Hit Parade On The Radio And His Music Had Been Recorded By Some Of The Biggest Names In Brazil, But What He Was Being Paid For Made No Justice To That. People Say That After Watching The Movie "Blow Up" By Antonioni, Di Melo Himself Beat The S*** Out Of The Publisher Who Paid Him Less Than 10 Dollars For His Rights For The Past Three Months.Such Events, Ran By The Same Strong Personality That Initially Opened Doors, Made Di Melo Ostracized By The Ungrateful Brazilian Music Industry. Perhaps That's What It Took To Make Such A Mythical Album.

Recorded in 2003, 2009, 2012 and 2013 by Alfredo Bello in little communities, beaches, friends' houses and studios.
Edited between 2009 and 2013 by Alfredo Bello in trains, boats, planes, hotels rooms, waiting rooms and other spaces.
Mixed by Maira Martucci at Studio Itamundo and Banzai Studio - São Paulo, Brasil.
Produced by DJ Tudo vs. Mad Professor vs. Dr. Das.

Dom La Nena’s new album, Tempo, is about time. Not that it demands a lot of your time: most of the songs barely pass the three-minute mark. But the Brazilian-born, Paris-based singer, songwriter and cellist has created a series of small, crystalline moments – sometimes sunny, often dreamy, and occasionally laced with that beautiful nostalgia the Brazilians call saudade. Tempo is La Nena’s third full-length release, after 2013’s critically acclaimed Ela, and her internationally-flavored indie-folk collection called Soyo in 2015; she’s also half of the duo called Birds On A Wire with Rosemary Standley (from the popular French band Moriarty). Add to that her time spent playing with Jane Birkin and collaborating with Julieta Venegas, Jorge Drexler and Piers Faccini, and you have an artist with an eclectic, multi-lingual style that’s hard to define but easy to like.

With its blend of pop, world, and chamber music, you may hear Tempo as a response to, or a respite from, difficult times. And you wouldn’t be wrong, although La Nena says that wasn’t intentional. “We give value and attention to so many things,” she explains, “but we forget the essentials: our time and focus, being present, which is the most precious thing we have.” And so each song reflects a moment in time: birth, anticipation, aging, death.

You may also hear Tempo as a lush tapestry of synthesizers, strings, and percussion instruments. This time, you would be wrong. In a remarkable display of arranging and orchestrating ability, Dom La Nena created all the sounds on the album herself, using layers of her voice, her cello, and a few piano parts. Even the percussion sounds were made on the cello. “My intention on this album was to explore new ways to use my instrument,” she says; “so I have used lots of pedals, guitar amps, and effects, to change the original sound of the instrument and take it somewhere else.”

The album, despite its sonic surprises, doesn’t come out of nowhere: its vibrant, tropical languor could be heard on 2015’s Soyo. And the homey, intimate sound also appears on her 2016 EP of covers, called Cantando. Still, Tempo marks the return of a distinctive and unusual musician. It’s about time.

‘Barumba’ is an uptempo funk-jazz monster with heavy drums and piano right from the off. Soaring horns add to the drama. Originally released on his self titled LP on CBS Brazil in 1974. ‘Morre o burro, Fica o Homem’ is the third Osmar Milito track to feature in our Brazil 45’s series. A classic samba-rock track; funk drums fills and punchy horns underpin the MPB vocals, building in tempo slightly over the track. The song was originally written by Jorge Ben. Taken from his expensive and hard to find ‘Nem Paletó, Nem Gravata’ LP released on ATCO Brazil in 1973.

The best kept secret of the new album by El Dragón Criollo, the jewel in the crown, a song that, like the best of Latin music, comes with dynamite, gasoline and candela for the dance floor as well as reflective and sensitive with the reality of our countries, especially Colombia, where the oppressed are getting worse and worse and those from above always fall on their feet. But let's not forget that dance is catharsis and a good song is the key that opens our senses. "Sentencia " plays this wonderful role, not in vain has it been the last song on the album to be finished with this objective clearly in mind and verified before the release and, gentlemen, the dance floor does not lie. People get lost in this pure fantasy. "Sentencia " goes beyond the ordinary, it is the product of the countless styles that Paulo Olarte has perfected throughout his career as a producer, at a sound and musical level, it has innumerable elements that have influenced his entire personal life and that, without a doubt, comes to shake us with its extreme flavor. "La Número Uno" Dedicated to love and the dancefloor, hot as the earth, a song with the intention of transmitting the most authentic vibes of affection with movement and party. “La Número Uno” arises from El Dragón Criollo’s love for the four women in his heart. At the same time, it does not skimp on fanning the heat of the track. An arsenal of classic elements of champeta and Panamanian reggae from the 90s. The presence of the classic Casio Sk-5 and samples that you will recognize instantly if you are a connoisseur of this real sound, the kind that ignites the rumba in the neighborhood. It is a dedicated theme to fill the energy track while dedicating it to your number one.

‘Ye Mele’ double sider, featuring Elis’ version and an incredible Turkish cover by the wonderful ?enay. Luiz Carlos Vinhas ‘Le Mele’ is an all time favourite of ours, and these versions take it in brilliant new directions.

Elis’ starts in a similar vein to LCV, building with huge vocals and soaring synths, before dropping into a latin-esque section. Appeared on 7” in 1968 on Philips Brazil, not easy to find.

?enays psychedelic soul version is a B-side from a rare Turkish 7” released in 1972. Her classic 1980 LP Honki Ponki has just been re-issued too, which is equally as great.

'Eu Bebo Sim' is a samba-rock master class from Elizeth Cardoso originally released on Copacabana in 1973, as featured on her Disco de Ouro in 1974. Another find at Tony’s Hits in Sao Paulo.
She released around 40 albums during her career, most of which appeared under the name Elizete Cardoso.

Elza, Queen of Samba, is one of the most prolific, successful and well-known Brazilian artists of all time.

In 'Deixa A Nega Gingar' she delivers a top 10 Mr Bongo HQ favourite - Bossa nova underpinned with a Montuno-esque piano line, backed with percussion and horns that would rival Tito.
This 7” cut sounds particularly enormous on a sound system.

‘Os Orixas’ is rich in layered percussion, horns and guitars. Singer Eloah’s lead vocals are reminiscent of the likes of Ellen McIlwaine, Elza Soares and Joyce. Samba, funk, folk, jazz and MPB over ijexa and African grooves, that combine beautifully across the moods. Os Orixas refers to one of the manifestations of the ’supreme God’ in the Yoruba faith.

The songs were written by Luis Berimbau, assisted by Ildásio Tavares. Berimbau was a very influential multi instrumentalist, poet, writer and composer from Bahia, Brazil. He produced the wonderful folk/psychedelic rock group Perfume Azul Do Sol’s ‘Nascimento’ LP amongst many others.

Septuagenarian Brazilian music icon Elza Soares teams up with the cream of São Paulo's avant-garde musicians for an album of apocalyptic, experimental samba sujo (‘dirty samba’) that tackles the burning issues of 21st century Brazil: racism, domestic violence, sex and drug addiction.

The Woman at the end of the world is Elza’s 34th studio album and her first to feature previously unrecorded material, exclusively composed for her. Voted ‘Best Album of 2015’ by Rolling Stone Brazil it will now be released worldwide by UK based label Mais Um Discos on June 17

Over a sprawl of distorted guitars, squalling horns, taught strings and electronic shards, samba is savaged by rock ‘n’ roll, free-jazz, noise and other experimental music forms as Elza sings, spits and screams tales of a life in Brazil that is anything but a tropical paradise. A true legend of Brazilian music Elza has an incredible musical oeuvre that stretches back over seven decades mixing samba with jazz, soul, funk, hip hop and electronica, whilst her life-story is a rags-to-riches-to-rags rollercoaster of triumphs and tragedies that has made her a voice for Brazil’s repressed female, black, gay and working class populations.

Folkloric Brasilian/Afro-Brasilian music taken into the future. Featuring Airto Moreira. Dança dos Tempos is the debut album from thrilling, young Brazilian guitarist Fabiano do
Nascimento, and it features legendary percussionist Airto Moreira in his first album project in
over ten years. Dança dos Tempos follows folkloric Brazilian music as experienced through the
mind and able fingers of an expansive musician, not yet thirty years old, and combines the
heady ‘60s and ‘70s experimentalism of Hermeto Pascoal and Baden Powell with the childlike
elegance of music played and passed down by native Brazilians for generations. It is the
second Brazilian album released on Now-Again, following Seu Jorge and Almaz.
Moreira, the bandleader, songwriter and producer who recorded a bevy of titles under his own
name, with his wife Flora Purim, and whose resume contains the names of - seriously - every
musician worth mentioning from America or Brazil from the past 50 years - plays percussion on
the album and is joined by do Nascimento's long time drummer, Ricardo "Tiki" Pasillas on trap
drums. Do Nascimento and Kana Shimanuki handle vocals on what is otherwise an airy instrumental
album that allows the guitarist's virtuosity to shine through originals, folkloric Brazilian
songs, and select covers by the likes of Pascoal and Powell, both formative influences on the
guitarist.
These duets show the camaraderie that two master Brazilian musicians - of two different
generations, but of the same spirit - share with comrades of ages past as they imagine music
for the years to come. These tracks were recorded live in the studio with no overdubs, straight
to 2” analog-tape, and only sparingly mastered to focus on the subtleties of the performances.

Tempo dos Mestres (Time of the Masters) is the second album from the tireless, young Brazilian guitarist Fabiano Do Nascimento.
It finds its roots in the depths of the Amazon rainforest, passed down through generations of Native Brazilians, and is imbibed by
the Afro-Brazilian culture that arose after Portuguese colonization. This blend is not new in Brazil, and is represented musically by
great Brazilian musicians both known and celebrated - the guitarist Baden Powell and catalyst Hermeto Pascoal, both direct
influences on Do Nascimento - and less exposed, like the experimentalist Carioca, one of Do Nascimento’s mentors, and the
Brazilian psychedelic pioneer Lula Cortes, whose album Paebiru rewrote Brazilian rock’s history in 1975.
It is the third Brazilian album released on Now-Again, following Seu Jorge and Almaz and Do Nascimento’s debut Dança dos
Tempos. Do Nascimento's is joined on Tempo dos Mestres by his long time percussionist, Ricardo "Tiki" Pasillas on trap drums
and percussion, and Sam Gendel on saxophone and flute. Vocals are performed by Thalma de Freitas and Carla Hasset.
These tracks were recorded live in the studio with no overdubs, straight to 2” analog-tape, and only sparingly mastered to focus
on the subtleties of the performances. Do Nascimento’s fans include legendary percussionist Airto Moreira, who recorded Dança
dos Tempos and can be found playing live with Do Nascimento. "He’s Brazilian but (his mind is) from a place in Brazil that is not
common.” Moreira states. “Fortunately, we still have some musicians who like to play music and who like to touch the instrument
and who like that energy!”
Do Nascimento takes his music, and his place in Brazil’s lineage, seriously, and he often travels the vast country, spending time in
the rainforest, living life as it was lived in the distant past, while studying with still living masters as he searches for new directions
of the path trod by the geniuses whose influence abounds in contemporary music, but whose names are still unfamiliar.
“Being a musician - feeling, studying, experiencing, living music -this comes first, right?” Do Nascimento questions. “ Second,
we hope that the depths of knowledge in the music from the masters before us can be shared more, each time, to the younger
generations coming.” In Tempo dos Mestres Do Nascimento answers himself with a beautiful entry into the evolving language of
timeless Brazilian music.

Ykytu is Brasilian guitarist Fabiano do Nascimento’s fourth album for Now-Again Records. Produced by Nascimento’s longtime engineer Jason Hiller, this album is do Nascimento’s first solo guitar album and, like his previous album, Preludio, is reliant on do Nascimento’s own compositions, with a little help from like-minded musical travelers. In keeping with the trajectory of his previous albums, including Dança dos Tempos and Tempo dos Mestres, Ykytu follows folkloric Brasilian music, Brasilian jazz, bossa-nova and samba as experienced through the mind and able fingers of an expansive musician, this time in a minimalist, meditative manner. “Even though this album is a bit experimental and even abstract at times, It is meant to be a calming and easy listening experience,” do Nascimento offers. “I choose to keep the songs and arrangements intentionally very bare and stripped down. Just adding few layers and colors here and there.” The album came together during the Covid-19 pandemic, but one hears anything but isolation in Ykytu’s grooves. Do Nascimento performed the album almost entirely with a Strimon Timeline pedal, with a few loops and overdubs, and the result is a full-fledged, if quiet and subtle, conversation Do Nascimento has with himself, as he ruminates about this stage in his life, in his musical journey, and his music’s place in the world. Ykytu means "wind" in the indigenous Brazilian Guarani language. In his own way, as he was quarantined in Los Angeles, Do Nascimento has succeded in journeying outwards, in heeding the call of the open world. At the same time, he has remained true to the spirit and calling of his forebears, hearing their whispers, amplifying them, augmenting them, and allowing them to flow outwards.

Gary took 25 years to make his debut Gods in Brasil but less than 1 year to make his follow up. Songs from the vaults newly recorded with the same great band featuring touches of Steely Dan, Marcos Valle & Leon Ware, Brazilian Boogie, 70s Samba Soul and even a hint of Scott Walker. “A joyous revival of 1970’s musical moods, under smart contemporary arrangements and sweet interpretations.” Arnoldo Medeiros

As the album title suggests, this work represents a big step forward for Gerardo Frisina, an artist that has always been open to any influence and whose unstoppable creativity has given birth to a 2-LP’s worth of new material! Nu-latin, Afro and electronic beats merge with Afro-Cuban rhythm into a massive dancefloor groove!

For number 89 in the Brazil45 series, we present a no-nonsense Brazilian funk / samba rock double-sider courtesy of the mighty Golden Boys and Silvio César.

The Golden Boys were a quartet formed in 1958 by the Correa brothers; Renato, Roberto, Ronaldo, and their cousin Valdir Anunciação. They enjoyed a stellar recording career, from the 50s through to the 90s, with members of the group still involved in music to this day. For this selection we headed to their self-titled 1975 album released on Odeon and cherry-picked one of the group’s funkiest moments, 'Segura Na Cintura Dela (O Gavião)'. By now performing as a trio, they enlisted Paulo Debétio of Lemos E Debétio fame as executive producer and, on the controls, producer Milton Miranda. Miranda was a silent figure behind so many of the much-loved classic Odeon / EMI releases of the 60s and 70s.

'Beco Sem Saída’ is another Odeon release, and another classic produced by Milton Miranda. Taken from Silvio César's self-titled 1971 album, here the prolific singer and composer delivers a swinging samba rock / groove. With fantastic arrangements by Geraldo Vespar, this addictive swing was reconstructed in the 2000s when Drumagick sampled it for their track 'Sambarock'. So here we have two slices of Brazilian dancefloor pressure just waiting to take centre stage again.

Discos Más has managed to squeak one more stellar release across the finish line for 2021 with Grupo MAJEZZA's most popular dance floor inferno, "La Chica Pikosita" backed with the equally blazing bhangra tinged "Cumbia de los Puchikas" on the flip. Vinyl only DJs and sonideros of the world will finally have access to these cumbias released here for the first time on wax.

In 1990 at a small recording studio located in the infamous Bazurto market in Cartagena de Indias Colombia, Mariano Perez aka the “bionic accordionist” and Champeta godfather Hernan Hernandez teamed up to create the band Grupo Renacer. These recording sessions would prove to be extremely fruitful culminating in the bands first self-titled album Grupo Renacer - Vol. 1 Ushering a new sound by blending local folkloric rhythms from Colombia’s Caribbean Coast along with strong musical influences and styles from the Greater Caribbean region and Africa the result was a blistering set that included songs like “Rastafara” “Las Amargadas” and the local hit “La Bolsa”. Capitalizing on their success Mariano Perez went on to record a follow-up album Grupo Renacer Vol 2. Songs like “El Colera” and “Uhey Le La” would further cement Mariano Perez and Hernan Hernandez as legends in the local “pico” aka soundsystem subculture scene that had taken hold of Cartagena and Barranquilla respectively. While both original albums remain elusive and under the radar, Worldwaxrecords has decided to compile in one single album the songs that we feel best represent the work and achievements of Grupo Renacer and the vital role this band has had in shaping Champeta soundsystem culture not only in Colombia but all around the world. Ironically the word Renacer in Spanish means “rebirth” or to be “reborn.” We hope that with this timely release we can commemorate the arrival of a new year and the beginning of a new dawn. ( By Sanjay Agarwal)

Any DJ set tells you, unconsciously or not, about its author.

Through the record choices and the way they are organized, one can feel the DJ’s state of mind and find out a bit more about the musical deposit discovered that is being shared and dug through by him or her at the moment.

The appetite for diggin’, the quest for a novelty or a forgotten rarity is what makes a DJ set a true organic living matter constantly fueled although not always, unfortunately, respected.

Time stretching. Too many DJ’s made a pact with this diabolical creature. A true digital steamroller that runs over the rhythm to fix the tempo while leaving behind an agonizing drummer whose sole crime was to have been carried away by his energy and having moved forward the BPM. At the end, everything that gave charm and life to the track, its imperfections and the peculiar fact that it makes you dance faster towards its end… all these along with all the lively movements contained within the track are reduced to nothing.

My conception of music and DJ sets is the exact opposite. Since the first volume of Straight From The Decks, my DJ sets have been redesigned, refreshed and improved. However, there was no preexisting plan, they evolved naturally following my new desires. The famous core of my indispensable musical choices started to morph little by little into something different without losing sight of its center of gravity which remains undoubtedly afro-tropical.

No matter which track, its style and its origin, the quality of the music that is brought to my ears is always my sole and primary concern.

In this selection, you’ll find 7” vinyl records available to everyone sitting proudly next to some rarities found online and acquired through nerve-raking auctions battles. There are indeed exclusive remixes along with titles that until now were only available in their digital formats. Now for the first time they are available here in vinyl format. Obviously, if you have chosen the CD format, that precision doesn’t really matter… Sixteen titles which have become the heart of my sets throughout this past year. A heart which in a year will beat to a certainly different drum…

Pura Vida

Guts

Brazilian arranger and composer Hareton Salvanini was born in Bauru and grew up in Campinas. S.P 73 is his first LP – he worked tirelessly with his right man and brother, Ayrton, was a theatre director. The 'Hareton + Meta' EP was written and recorded for one of Ayrton’s productions – Hareton wrote the music, Ayrton the lyrics – which was given out at performances.

S.P 73 was recorded with the full Campinas Teatro Municipal Orchestra, the same orchestra that that featured on ‘Hareton + Meta’ EP. It is a wonderful, deep soundscape of filmic MPB melodies, strings, organ, woodwind, drums and vocals. A record that sits alongside Verocai’s self-titled LP perfectly.

It's About Time To Uncover The Most Unknown Brazilian Music Style. Unlike Other Brazilian Musical Traditions As Samba And Bossa-Nova, Never Ever Anything Of Caipira Music Has Been Released Outside Brazil. Repairing This Huge Gap, Vampisoul Presents Helena Meirelles - A Rainha Da Viola Caipira, A Stunning 25-Track Compilation Of The Revered Queen Of The Viola Caipira, Mrs Meirelles.A Stunning Compilation Of The Revered Queen Of The Viola Caipira, Helena Meirelles, Once Included In The Top 100 World's Guitar Players By Guitar Player Magazine.On This Double-Lp Anthology You Will Face Some Of The Most Expressive Helena's Creations. 'Guaxo', For Examplecontains An Ultra-Melodic Guitar Riff That Will Stick In Your Ears For Ages While 'Mercedita' Has An Evolving Rifferama. 'Saudades Do Meu Velho Pai', On The Other Hand, Is A Typical Baiao, A Very Peculiar Northeasternrhythm In Brazil, De-Constructed By Her Very Own Style. 'Flor Da Guavira' Is A Delicious Caipira-Ballad. These Are Only A Few Great Ones, Amongst So Many Other Exquisite, And Unusual Delights.A Fascinating Journey Into One Of The Lesser Covered Brazilian Genres, Caipira, Rich In Folk And Country Music Elements. Reissued On Vinyl For The First Time.Considered By The Guitar Player Magazine, One The 100 Greatest Guitar Players Of All Time, Don't Miss The Chance To Discover A Brand New Kind Of (Brazilian) Folk Music.

Henri Guédon is an artistic legend from Martinique. Musician, painter, sculptor and one of the main architects of modern Caribbean/Antilles music. Taking the music to truly new and progressive territory from the late 1960’s onward. Karma, his 2nd album is one of the holy grails of the Caribbean cosmic Latin/Jazz scene, near impossible to find in this day and age. Released in 1975 on a small Parisian label, La Voix Du Globe, a label releasing Algerian, Moroccan and Egyptian records, the album was an anomalous release in their catalog. Karma was a convincing and unswerving statement following his stunning landmark debut LP (Cosmozouk Percussion). Incorporating African, Latin and West Indies styles (Gwoka, Mazouk, Biguine, Bel-Air, Bomba...) with cosmic synths swirling all over intense roots percussion. The songs are propelled with a spiritual Jazz vibe mixing with deep ethno-folk music from Martinique and Guadeloupe. The LP belongs to the same vein as as Marius Cultier, Louis Xavier or William Onyeabor for its totally original take on a hybrid music.

Two brothers, two guitars, two distinct identities, who become one soul when they compose music. Stephan and Alejandro, are the Hermanos Gutierrez, an instrumental music band with an unmistakable genre that is rooted in Western and Latin American sound. Born from an Ecuadorian mother and a Swiss father they grew up being forged by both cultures, bridging between two worlds, both of which are home.

Their mix of identities, that constant search across different countries clearly emerges in their songs. Their music takes the audience on an intimate journey through time evoking remote spaces. A magical sound that touches the heart, that sparks passion and nostalgia. An open invitation to a constant dialogue of melodies and instruments.

Playing together since their early childhood, a profound musical and interpersonal symbiosis ties the two brothers. If one of them has a melody, the other one completes it with harmony. There is a deep understanding between the two of them, without any need for words.

Active as a band since 2015, they have recorded four albums: “8 Años” (2017), “El Camino De Mi Alma” (2018), “Hoy Como Ayer” (2019), and the newly released LP “Hijos Del Sol” (Children Of The Sun). A body of work that has been inspired by their journey through the vast natural landscapes of Mexico, the silence of the desert, the sun, and their love for this country that made them feel “like going home”, as they affirm. Out came a soundtrack of the sceneries they’ve been exploring.

"Eternamente“ is the perfect introduction to Hermanos Gutiérrez and their unique
"Instrumental Western Sound". This collection features 12 selections spanning four
albums, including songs; "Hijos del Sol", "El Jardin", "Esperanza" & many
more. Packaged in a stunning Gatefold and meant to be passed with love to our
next generations.

Two brothers, two guitars, two distinct identities, who become one soul when they compose music. Stephan and Alejandro, are the Hermanos Gutierrez, an instrumental music band with an unmistakable genre that is rooted in Western and Latin American sound. Born from an Ecuadorian mother and a Swiss father they grew up being forged by both cultures, bridging between two worlds, both of which are home.

Their mix of identities, that constant search across different countries clearly emerges in their songs. Their music takes the audience on an intimate journey through time evoking remote spaces. A magical sound that touches the heart, that sparks passion and nostalgia. An open invitation to a constant dialogue of melodies and instruments.

Playing together since their early childhood, a profound musical and interpersonal symbiosis ties the two brothers. If one of them has a melody, the other one completes it with harmony. There is a deep understanding between the two of them, without any need for words.

Active as a band since 2015, they have recorded four albums: “8 Años” (2017), “El Camino De Mi Alma” (2018), “Hoy Como Ayer” (2019), and the newly released LP “Hijos Del Sol” (Children Of The Sun). A body of work that has been inspired by their journey through the vast natural landscapes of Mexico, the silence of the desert, the sun, and their love for this country that made them feel “like going home”, as they affirm. Out came a soundtrack of the sceneries they’ve been exploring.

Compilation of the best tracks of Mocko Jumbie's only two albums, infectious blend between funk/soul/soca, has a disco tinged feel on 'Children Children' and a electronic edge on 'We Can Live Together', flipside holds lovely soca tunes. The second youngest of eight children, Hugo Leanzo Moolenaar was born on September 23rd, 1948, in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. His mother was from Puerto Rico; his Dutch-German father worked as a contractor, but also played the guitar and had a 6-piece band that performed at house parties. The young Hugo was a born entertainer. Watching his elders, particularly an uncle who played the ukulele, he began to teach himself to play guitar, practicing on his own. Eventually he began to perform his own songs as he gradually gained confidence and ability. As well as being a proficient musician, Hugo would also become a highly skilled Mocko Jumbie — a performer of the carnival stilt dancing tradition which has had a presence in the Virgin Islands for several hundred years, and which historians consider to have been brought to the Caribbean by enslaved West Africans. Carnival in the Virgin Islands was revived in 1952, and from then on it became an annual event. The two most famous Mocko Jumbies at this time were John Magnus Farrell and William Richardson (to whom Hugo would dedicate his second album). The pair mentored a young talent named Alvin “Allie” Paul who later in turn would go on to teach many others. In 1964, at age 14, Paul entered the St. Thomas carnival as a stilt-dancer, and revolutionized the Mocko Jumbie style. While Farrell and Richardson would perform in a more European influenced outfit — usually a conical shaped hat, a female dress and a wire mask — Allie brought back some of the older African influence, wearing what some say is a Ghanaian-style hat and striped pants to cover the stilts. Paul founded his own troupe in the late 1960s. He was the first to allow female students, starting by teaching family members and friends. One of his best students was Hugo Moolenaar, who quickly became known as one of the fastest dancers on the 6’ stilts, and was renowned for adding kung-fu-style moves to his performances. In 1968, Hugo enlisted in the US army. He served in Vietnam, where he was severely injured. In 1970 he was honorably discharged and was awarded the prestigious Purple Heart for his service. Nevertheless, his injuries did not stop him from returning to Mocko Jumbie performance, and his reputation continued to grow. He also began to work for local government in St. Thomas. In the fall of 1982, Hugo was asked to become a resident performer at the Hotel Shibui in Contant Hill, St. Thomas after a convincing audition for the manager. Hugo brought in his girlfriend Juanita, a singer since high school, and a duo was born. Together, they performed Hugo’s compositions. Eventually, Juanita started to learn Mocko Jumbie as well. The couple, who were married in 1983, later founded a Mocko Jumbie school, that at its peak had 75 students. The steady income from the hotel residency provided financial opportunity that the entrepreneurial Hugo seized. Travelling with their band to Puerto Rico, Hugo and Juanita hired a local horn section and created Hugo’s first album, entitled High, High, High, a reference to the Mocko Jumbie tradition. The cover depicts Hugo dressed in a golden outfit on stilts, on a palm beach, holding a guitar while Juanita looks on from the ground, holding their two children. Hugo’s second release, Mocko Jumbie Jamboree, came out not long after and also featured original compositions. It was recorded at the local Virgin Island studio Turtle Point. Both albums were self-distributed and feature a heady cocktail of island and popular sounds – from jump-up calypsos and kaisos to drummachine modern soul and upful disco. During his career, Hugo performed the Mocko Jumbie on many neighboring Caribbean islands, as well as in the US, in New York, Portland, Oregon, and at the 1979 Super Bowl show in Miami, alongside the Grammacks band from Dominica. He also performed in Japan, as well as at the Festival de Música del Caribe in Cartagena, Columbia, where he appeared in a bullfighting arena with a group of the finest Mocko Jumbies and a local Virgin Islands band. But in 1989 a hurricane — ironically named Hugo —destroyed many of the Moolenaar’s belongings, including master tapes and photos, leaving them with very little to show for their long careers. Hugo retired in 2008, after working 32 years for the local government. In 2009, the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism adapted a new logo, a Mocko Jumbie. I’d like to think Hugo Moolenaar was a part of the reason. Hugo passed away on January 25th, 2012, from cancer. It is thought that the disease may have been a result of exposure to Agent Orange during his military service in Vietnam. To his very last day, Hugo lived by his motto: “Peace, Love and Happiness Always”.

Ipek Yolu is the Turkish name for the Silk Road which connected the East and the West. This band does not deal in silk but they connect flavors, smells and sounds from different corners of the globe, connecting the world.
The band merges bass-heavy electro-tinged cumbia grooves, saz riffs and surf guitar into a multicultural melting pot of South American rhythms, Anatolian folk music and 60s psychedelic rock. A unique universe of sound that bridges the tropical jungles and the dusty deserts in a kaleidoscopic blend of music. Ipek Yolu has used 2020 to write their debut album Tropical Anatolia and are ready to hit the venues and festivals.
The members of Ipek Yolu first got together for an improvised jam session during the Aarhus Roots & Hybrid Festival in 2018. The show was set up as a special one-time-only show merging members from the bands Hudna & Junglelyd. The show ended up lasting for almost three hours. It didn’t take them long to discover they were onto something special. If you know any of these bands mentioned you know you’re in for a body-shaking party, characterised by musical curiosity and improvisation.
The three members of Ipek Yolu have all been part of the Danish music scene for several years. The band leader, Orhan Özgür Turan, is a well-known and respected saz player all over Denmark, and has made a name for himself through his efforts in the Anatolian Folk band Hudna. In 2018 he won an award as Global Roots Artist of the year at The Danish World Music Awards. Olaf Brinch and Lasse Aagaard have worked together for many years making high energy cumbia with their band Junglelyd and Afrobeat with their band African Connection. Olaf is also an integral part of the Danish band AddisAbabaBand. In addition, Olaf and Lasse have toured and recorded with great musicians such as CC Yoyo, former drummer of Fela Kuti, in both Ghana and Denmark. All of the past experiences collided to create Ipek Yolu.

The release comes on 180g vinyl. For the second 12” of the series we’ve enlisted two of the most on-fire producers in Germany: Max Graef and Glenn Astro, along with one of the UK’s brightest ascendant producers. Back fighting, kicking and beating as strong as or perhaps even stronger than ever before, Ivan ‘Mamao’ Conti is releasing a brand new solo album next year. Now fitted with a new iron hip- thanks to the immense generosity of his fan base who crowdfunded the operation – the Azymuth drummer still remains one of the greatest and outright funkiest drummers alive anywhere in the universe as he enters this new bionic era. As people of earth are not yet quite ready to hear the explosively ethereal cosmic samba of his new album just yet, we’re easing into it with a series of appropriately propulsive percussive jazz-headed remixes. For the second 12” of the series we’ve enlisted two of the most on-fire producers in Germany: Max Graef and Glenn Astro, along with one of the UK’s brightest ascendant producers.

Jaguar mine the sounds of the Colombian Caribbean and global dance sub cultureson a debut album that veers between psychedelic salsa, taut cumbia-disco and zouk party jams.



Rave culture never hit Colombia in the 90s – an internal civil war and a music industry fixated on blandness and payola made sure of that – but if it had then Jaguar would have been one of its leading lights. On their debut album this Colombian duo excavate the sound of their country’s dance floors, uniting the classy, brassy sounds of cumbia, porro and salsa with the earthier DIY vibrations coming from Afro-Colombian street parties on the coast, melodies and guitar lines learnt from imported African vinyl filtered through drum machines and hand-painted picó sound systems with the bass so high it threatens to knock you over.

The twosome mark out their stall on album opener “Bailalo Tu También” (“You Dance It, Too”), urging all to come and dance on a tune that references champeta (the #1 sound of Afro-Colombian block parties), zouk and calypso, as well as doffing a cap to disco and Brit funk, uniting the underground dance cultures of Colombia, the Caribbean, New York and London in one fell swoop. The cumbia card comes out on “Contra La Corriente” (“Against The Tide”), which with its subtle influences of global bass and minimal post-disco gives this classic rhythm even more thrust. “Ten Presente” (“Keep In Mind”) represents another side step, a salsa orchestra stripped down to just vocals, percussion, killer horn section and raspy charango, with the groove never in doubt.

Yet, if 90s rave culture represented a response to the darkness of the 80s, then something similar is at play here, the image of the Caribbean as a warm, happy and danceable place coming in contrast with the poverty that is the reality for many living there, and this dark underbelly is not ignored by Jaguar. “Is it possible that the people united could become invincible?” they ask on “Guadalupe”, offering a message of hope that one day the inequality, poverty and neglect that is everyday life for many people in Colombia will be diminished by getting behind the same cause. Driven by an 80s-inspired zouk beat, they dream of there one day being a united people with the strength to fight back against the authorities. “¿Será posible, será posible?” they sing, “Could it be possible, could it be possible?” This dichotomy of emotions crops up again on “Siguele El Paso” (“Keep Up”), a pure Caribbean groove that is impossibly infectious with lyrics that speak of keeping those hips moving but can’t help but mention reality, the protagonist of the song dodging bullets and nefarious forces while still keeping their rhythm on the dance floor. It’s a perfect encapsulation of Jaguar’s modus operandi, this is music to make you dance, but it remains grounded, in Colombian and Caribbean musical idioms as well as the hard times that many Colombians are living through. It’s a rhythmic elixir, but with bite; rum straight from the bottle.

Jaguar are two Colombians based in Europe, Paulo and Raúl. Since the 90s their paths crossed, their names mentioned by mutual friends, but it would not be until 2017 that they finally got to know each other. Quickly they established a musical rapport, forming a band with some friends that fell apart just as quickly, but they knew that wasn’t the end, and they continued working on songs, finding their musical language; a path that led them to Madremonte and a sound that imbibes cumbia, salsa, bolero, rock, zouk and champeta, music from across Colombia, from the Caribbean, its Pacific Coast and high into the Andes, all the while transposing these sounds to the dance floor.

New Wave and Afrofuturism With a unique mix of music roots and cosmopolitan sounds Jaime Roos would become one of the most successful and significant artists of Uruguayan music. Released in 1984, Mediocampo absorbs the new wave trend in a unique way, blending the sounds of synths and electric guitars with Afro drums and Latin rhythms. The songs jump from candombe to rock, from ballad to murga roots, from pop to experimental music. The album paved Roos’ path to stardom in Uruguay and is considered nowadays as one of his most substantial works. 500 copies. 140 gramms vinyl, 12 page booklet included!