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A Espetacular Charanga do França is Sao Paulo's most hyped carnival collective and brass band led by Thiago França - best known as a founding member of Afro-punk explorers Metá Metá. The collective combines retro horns with cumbia, baile funk, jazz and features Brazilian vocal legends such as Lucas Santtana, Tulipa + Jucara Marcal.

The Bongo Hop is the new afro Caribbean project presented by french trumpetist Etienne Sevet. On Satingarona Pt.1, friends from his Colombian years, like vocalist Nidia Gongora (Ondatropica, Quantic) rapper Maikcel (Zalama crew), but also famous producer multinstrumentalist Patchworks (Voilaaa, Dynamics, Taggy Matcher, Uptown Funk Empire,…) among others, join in for his first musical travel diary, inspired by 8 years as a Cali resident. In this first project, you can hear his personal take on tropical tempos, as he launches a storm of infectious grooves – ranging from highlife, to vallenato-meets-dub, dance hall, afrobeat, or kompa, combined with warm horns.

Lendas is the Brazilian guitarist Fabiano do Nascimento’s fifth album for Now-Again Records. Like his previous albums Prelúdio and Ykytu, Lendas features do Nascimento’s compositions, this time with orchestral arrangements by Vittor Santos and also special participation by Arthur Verocai. Vittor Santos is a composer, arranger, trombonist and music producer from Rio de Janeiro, who has worked in Brazilian music for over thirty years. Do Nascimento and Santos met in Rio in 2017 during the recording of Do Nascimento’s hero, and 70s and 80s Brasilian guitar catalyst Carioca Freitas album Aquarelas. The two bonded over a mutual appreciation for Do Nascimento’s uncle Lúcio and the Bossa Nova star Leny Andrade, both of whom largely influenced Do Nascimento’s musical foundation. In Santos, Do Nascimento found an arranger who was sensitive enough in his orchestrations that he could create an orchestral dialogue between stacks of strings and Do Nascimento’s plaintive plucking. It was only natural to invite the highest regarded, now legendary, 1970s Brasilian arranger, Arthur Verocai, to contribute. Verocai, who had worked with Do Nascimento on his forays in Los Angeles, was pleased to participate. In this way, the circle of old and new, so crucial in Do Nascimento’s work, comes together and flows outwards. “Lendas” translates from Portuguese as "legends,” but the literal translation itself doesn’t describe this album. With Lendas, Do Nascimento recalls memories from places that no longer exist; from fever dreams in the Amazon; from parts of the world we might never see or engage, but can imagine through music. Fabiano Do Nascimento’s Brazilian guitar meets a full orchestra arranged by Vittor Santos and with special participation by Arthur Verocai and his string quartet. Lush yet lively, standing alongside Jorge Ben’s work with Verocai, and Tom Jobim and Baden Powell’s work with Vinicius de Moraes.

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.

Picking up right where things left off...

Latin dancefloor afro bomb into a smooth boogie MPB type beach views vibe for the A side
Followed up on the back side, we have a heavy dose of lofi cosmic jazz dancefloor killers for those late nights.

Tito Puente's classic 'Guayaba' has been recorded by so many artists over the years and these two covers by Sonora de Lucho Macedo and La Logia Sarabanda are undoubtedly among the best ones. Here you are two proper dance floor shakers for the tropical heads out there, recorded under the influence of the early 70s Latino rock sounds, reissued on a 45 for the first time. Our series of tropical 45s aimed to shake up the dance floors presents two incredible versions of one of the best songs ever composed by maestro Tito Puente: Guayaba. In the late 1950s, rock'n'roll shook the foundations of music in Peru, and orchestras rushed to cover hit songs and explore the possibilities of mixing them with tropical music. Lucho Macedo followed this trend, even many years later. In 1972 his version of 'Guayaba' was published, combining elements of the emerging Chicano rock sound, popularized internationally by bands like Santana or Malo, blended with a Latin flavor loaded with elements of mambo, son montuno, boogaloo... Timbales and distorted guitars shaking hands in this very dance floor friendly version. La Logia Sarabanda would arrive all the way from Rio de la Plata but -despite their origin- they'd release their records exclusively in Peru and Mexico. Their only single opened with another very interesting version of 'Guayaba' that highlights the sounds of fierce and psychedelic guitars while keeping the Latin essence of the original song.

Two 1980s Brazilian boogie bombs from Sandra de Sá and Equipe Rádio Cidade get a remastered reissue as part of Mr Bongo Brazil 45’s series.

Sandra de Sá’s ‘Olhos Coloridos’ is an ‘80s MPB/boogie jam, taken from her self-titled 1982 LP on RGE Brazil, that sits perfectly alongside the likes of Tim Maia, Marcos Valle, Robson Jorge and Lincoln Olivetti. No surprise then that Lincoln Olivetti and Robson Jorge feature on the track, backed by some of the members from Banda Black Rio. A joyous combination of funk basslines and dreamy Rhodes that marry with jubilant horns and Sá’s incredible vocal tones.

On the B side, Equipe Rádio Cidade ‘Bons Tempo Sao Paulo (Good Times)’ was originally released on a rare promo only 7 inch from 1980. Giving a Brazilian boogie makeover to Good Times by Chic / Rapper’s Delight by Sugarhill Gang, the track is voiced by radio DJs from Sao Paulo wishing their listeners a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

This replayed version, heavy on the clavinet with a samba-infused, cuica-laced percussion breakdown, gives a true Brazilian spin on one of the most distinctive melodies out there.

Remastered with refreshed artwork.

For number 83 in the Brazil 45 series, we pulled out a real treat. It features two tracks from Roberto De Melo Santos. Born in 1949 in Recife (Brazil), and despite a small discography, he is considered among the true icons of Brazilian soul music under his artist alias, Di Melo.

His self-titled debut album from 1975 has long been collectible for its irresistible Brazilian-funk sound, pleasing the Brazilian, B-Boy breaks, funk collectors, and sample hunters alike. With original copies for the album now fetching crazy sums, we felt these tracks needed another moment in the sun for all to enjoy.

For this release we selected two of our favourite cuts from this cult album, ‘Kilariô' and ‘Pernalonga'. Coincidentally these two gems were released on Odeon Records in 1975 as a rare promo campacto (a Brazilian 7", which plays at 33rpm). 'Kilariô' is a pure Brazilian-soul classic. All the right elements gel together, whilst Di Melo works his relaxed vocal magic over the top. ‘Pernalonga', with its catchy guitar and horns intro, loose break-beat drum, has the feel-good factor which some may recognize as one of the samples behind N.A.S.A featuring David Byrne, & Chali 2na's 'The People Tree' from 2009.

Di Melo is still recording to this day, releasing an album with Cotonete on Favorite Recordings in 2019 - a true don.

A dazzling survey of the last, bohemian flowering of the so-called Golden Era of Ecuadorian musica national, before the oil boom and incoming musical styles — especially cumbia — swept away its achingly beautiful, phantasmagorical, utopian juggling of indigenous and mestizo traditions.

Forms like the tonada, albazo, danzante, yaravi, carnaval, and sanjuanito; the yambo, with roots in pre-Incan ritual, and the pasillo, a take on the Viennese waltz, arriving through the Caribbean via Portugal and Spain.

Exhumations like the astoundingly out-there organist Lucho Munoz, from Panama, toying with the expressive and technical limits of his instrument; and our curtain-raiser Biluka, who travelled to Quito from Rio, naming his new band Los Canibales in honour of the late-twenties Cannibalist movement back home, dedicated to cannibalising other cultures in the fight against post-colonial, Eurocentric hegemony. He played the ficus leaf, hands-free, laying it on his tongue. One leaf was playable for ten hours. He spent long periods living on the street, in rags, when he wasn’t in the CAIFE studio recording his chamber jazz-from-space, with the swing, elegance and detail of Ellington’s small groups, crossed with the brassy energy of ska — try Cashari Shunguito — and an enthralling other-worldliness.
Utterly scintillating guitar-playing, prowling double bass, piercing dulzaina, wailing organ, rollicking gypsy violin, brass, accordion, harps, and flutes. Bangers to get drunk and dance to. Slow songs galore to drown your sorrows in, with wildly sentimental lyrics drawn from the Generacion Decapitada group of poets (who all killed themselves); expert heart-breakers, with the raw passion of the best rembetica, but reined in, like the best fado.

Sumptuously presented, in a gatefold sleeve and printed inners, with a full-size, full-colour booklet, with wonderful photos and excellent notes. Limpid sound, too, courtesy of original reels in Quito, and Abbey Road in London; pressed at Pallas.

Minor writing on back cover.

Like new, seems unplayed. Original inner sleeve and insert included.

Fantastic Proto-Zouk from Georges and Pierre-Edouard Decimus NSI (New sound From the Islands) is a concept launched by the Decimus family, and the album was released at the end of 1981, at the same time as Kassav's Album "n'4" with the singer Jocelyn Moka.

Under exclusive license George Decimus

A doctor by day and a musician by night, Leon x Leon has been producing songs in his Parisian home studio since 2013, where house, italo-disco and boogie are mixing. When he was younger, he was immersed in music by taking jazz drum lessons at the conservatory, and especially by seeing his father, a sound engineer, who had been building his own synthesizers since the 1970s. As a tribute, he used one of these unique synthesizers on a title of the disc.
After a remarkable remix of Cerrone's "Funk Makossa" and several tracks on various from “Red Laser Disco”, he released his project My Solar Brass on the same English label in 2017. Organizer of many Parisian parties, he also participated in the founding of the publishing label “Good Plus". With the release of Rokanbo on Cracki Records, Leon x Leon signs a mature EP with the influence of different styles.
The first eponymous title is a manifesto mixing Acid, House and Zouk. As soon as we launch the track, the pop & acid 80's sounds takes us to another world... A UFO from the Islands! The other parts of the EP don't leave us in the lurch! “Formant Sweep” delivers a soft and groovy bass that responds to an endless, spatial synthetic takeoff. On “Red Footpath”, the harder kick cleverly blends with an atmospheric blanket and a bright, lively flute solo straight from an abandoned piece of bamboo on a deserted beach. After that, “Jungle Juice” lets a crazy keyboard solo resonate in the middle of tropical fauna and flora, and finally on “Horizon”, the EP ends in beauty with an airy atmosphere. This last piece sounds like a beautiful sunset at the end of a long summer day.
Through all these tracks, Rokanbo EP offers us a clever contrast between synthetic notes and the warmth of tropical groove, and places our gaze towards the horizon, seeking the groove to disturb its line on the infinite sea.

Japanese pressing without OBI! Cover with sema split!

An absolute Banger from Ms. De Grasse’s 1959 LP La Cita.

I first got hip to her a few years ago on the @Panama45s account on instagram a few years ago with the title track from that album and was instantly taken with her voice—it’s fucking killer. And not that it matters, but she happens to have been stunning as well. I found a copy that’s been in heavy rotation ever since at my house and found myself wishing that I had 'El Chicotazo' on 7-inch. She was one of the first on my long list of dream 7s to put out, and I can’t front; I got a little emotional when I heard back from the amazing folks at Ansonia Records that they were willing to work with me on this.

The flip side is 'Matando Los Chivos', another smash hit in my opinion. A very similar rhythm but a slightly different vibe, and would probably mix very well, should you be so inclined to do so."—Devin

Limited run of 500 copies.

Cover is close to VG+!

The legendary music publisher KPM, famous for its iconic music library catalogue, commissioned a group of musicians in 2018 to write and record an authentic tribute to the early 70’s Latin Soul Boogaloo. Although not intended for commercial release, this vinyl LP is a limited pressing of just 500 copies and features 15 new grooves inspired the greats of the era such as Tito Puente, Ray Barretto and Machito. Ray Lopez and his band recorded the session in the traditional way using the same microphone direct to reel tape. Vamanos!

Cover with OBI has tiny wear. Vinyl has some slight paper scuffs. Original Japanese pressing.

Japanese pressing, comes with Obi and inserts.

In the story of Los Sanders, many sources can be found to understand the emergence of “chicha”, a style associated with the life of migrants in the city that saw its heyday in the 1980s, but also to understand the connections between youth music, “new ola”, and rock with tropical rhythms.

Los Sanders serve as a bridge between periods and styles, and their ability to adapt to musical genres and reinvent them has given them a unique style. Los Sanders de Ñaña reflect a Lima that was transforming, giving way to a new face and a new urban soundtrack.

In the universe of Peruvian tropical music, one can distinguish a wide variety of styles. One of the most unique is known as the “carretero” style, also referred to as the “Carretera Central” sound, which alludes to the sound developed by a series of musical groups that became known during the 1970s in the areas surrounding this major highway. At that time, this area received a large influx of migrants from the provinces who came to the capital in search of a better future. The initiators of this carretero style were Los Sanders de Ñaña, and following them, other groups emerged, not only creating a unique style but also establishing a circuit.

Far Out Recordings kicks off its 30th anniversary celebrations with the long awaited first ever vinyl pressing of The Ipanemas’s Samba is Our Gift. Originally released in 2006, the album combined Afro-Brazilian-bossa grooves with classic vocal samba: a step back in time to 1960s Rio de Janeiro.

The Ipanemas, aka drummer and vocalist Wilson Das Neves and guitarist Neco, were instrumental in breaking bossa nova in the 1950s. In the decades following, they recorded with practically every Brazilian great there is, including Elis Regina, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Wilson Simonal, Chico Buarque & Elza Soares to name a small few. Bringing together jet-set swinging bossa, with the roots samba and Candomble music of the religious black Brazilian working class, ‘Samba is our Gift’ united two sides of Brazilian culture that rarely met.

Alongside Wilson Das Neves and Neco, the album featured Azymuth’s original drummer Ivan Conti who helped put the project together and shared drum and percussion duties with Das Neves. Neco passed away in 2008, Wilson Das Neves in 2017 and Conti in 2023 but between the three of them, they left us with an enormous body of beautifully joyous music spanning over half a century.

With a remaster and vinyl cut by Stuart Hawkes at Metropolis Music, Samba is our Gift will be released on vinyl LP for the first time ever for Record Store Day 2024 via Far Out Recordings.