All Categories — CDs  

A wicked dip into Colombian music – focused around the work of two true giants of the scene! CD1 features 21 massive tracks from Fruko – one of the hardest-hitting artists working in Colombia in the 70s – often in a sound that starts out in New York salsa, but takes all these weird little twists and turns as it adapts to the local rhythms! Joe Arroyo's tracks start where Fruko's leave off – pushing the groove even more with a bolder, more confident Colombian style – still filled with some great jazzy riffs that you'd hear in salsa, but moving into some especially nice tropical touches too! The production on the material for both artists is great – often filled with some sweet studio tricks – and the booklet features notes on the artists, plus images of lots of vintage album covers too. 38 tracks in all – with tracks billed to each artist separately, or The Latin Brothers, La Verdad, or Afrosound – on titles that include "El Preso", "El Violento", "Tu Sufriras", "La Pintosa", "Ocho Dias", "El Esclavo, "Tifit Hayed", "San Juan De Puerto Rico", "Palenque", Pobre Naci, "El Son Del Caballo", "Baila Simon, "Musa Original", "Matigua", "Vuelve", "Son Apretao", and "En Barranquilla Me Quedo.

Sweet soulful fusion from guitarist Volker Kriegel – a player who's definitely tighter here than in his more psychedelic days – but who still has a wonderful sense of sound, space, and timing! The record features some great tones from Volker – sliding along with this slight undercurrent of spaciness, in a lineup that features keyboards from Rainer Brunighaus, trombone from Albert Mangelsdorff, and acoustic guitar, drums, and some mighty nice percussion! Players shift a bit throughout the session, giving the record a nice depth of flavors and colors – really fleshed out in a nice way that goes way beyond the usual fusion outing of the time. Titles include "Bahia Next Year", "Tribut", "Let's Say Windmill", "Saturnalia", "Circus Gambet", "Hallo Albert", and "Sister Matic".

A tropical combo, but one with a definite Haitian bent – from the French-language lyrics, right down to the warm rhythms at the core! The album's got a really great blend of trumpet, guitar, and accordion – the last of which is used more like an organ, in ways that are slow-paced, without the solo flourishes you'd hear in other genres – so that the instrument has this cool space-filling quality that's mighty nice! All three group members sing – and titles include "Papa Loco", "Plasir Teenagers", "Anita", "Information", "Timan Man Fe'm Douce", and "Information".

A superior second volume of tropical cumbia from Vampi Soul – and a more expansive set than the first one, too! The vast majority the the great stuff here comes from the psych and immediate post-psych years– and it has the tripped-out sounds to show for it – but those are anchored nicely, by feverish percussion and tight tropical rhythms. Beyond that are some some great wah wah guitar, trippy organs, Moog and synth grooves – for a really great sound! This volume is also pretty heavy with instrumentals, but there's some standout vocal tunes, too – with numbers by Los Destellos, Compay Quinto, Los Yungas, Grupo Celeste, Juaneco Y Su Combo, Los Demonios Del Mantaro, Los Ecos, Los Beta 5, Los Orientales De Paramonga and many more. Comes with a nice little booklet of photos, with notes in both Spanish and English. 34 tracks on 2CDs: "Mi Choza, Mi Chacra Y Mi Mujer" by Manzanita, "Boogaloo Del Perro" by Los Destellos, "Baila Flaquita Baila" by Los Ecos, "Illimana" by Los 5 Palomiullas, "Recordando A Fachin" by Juaneco Y Su Combo, "Sin Exito" by Grupo Celeste, "Selva, Selva" by Juanaco Y Su Combo, "Colegiala" by Los Ilusionistas, "El Panadero" by Los Beta 5, "Peti Pan" by Los Demonios Del Mantaro and many more.

A beautiful collection of heavy grooves from Panama and Colombia – all put together by an artist we definitely trust when it comes to all things funky! Quantic's been spending plenty of time down near the equator in recent years – turning his initial funky ear to more Latin-styled rhythms – but always with the same hard and heavy feel of his best American-styled grooves! There's a massive blend of northern funk and equatorial rhythms here – really unique little tunes that are bound to please the ear of anyone who digs a collection of funky 45s – yet with styles that are more than complicated enough to also set fire to a lover of global grooves too! The package may well be the best so far in Nascente's Experience collection – and titles include "Getting It Together" by Mauricio Smith, "El Lobo" by Wganda Kenya, "Soul Cucaracha" by The Soul Fantastics, "Full Salsa (excerpt)" by Fruko, "Bayesa" by Wganda Kenya, "Hiko Iko" by Little Grancisco Greaves, "Puyalo Ahi" by Pedro Beltran, "Caracuche Che Che" by Los Autenticos De Garmo, and "Palo Bonito" by Pedro Beltran.

The best album so far from this up-and-coming Colombian group – a great mix of rootsy elements and more electronic production – served up in the forward-reaching style we've come to love in recent projects from the Soundway label! Bomba Estereo are easily one of the most contemporary groups to hit the imprint of late – and they've got no trouble at all moving between upbeat, soulful styles and more earthy levels of instrumentation – all fused together with the kind of warmth and joy we might expect in some of the older productions from Luaka Bop, but with a bit more edge too. Titles include "Bosque", "Bailar Conmigo", "Pa Respirar", "Mozo", "Pajaros", "Pure Love", and "Caribbean Power".

Tropical funk, hazy rhythms, and simmering Afro funk & soul from the Caribbean – a killer collection put together by Hugo Mendez– fantastic stuff from Barbados, St Lucia, Jamaica, Trinidad, St Vincent and beyond! Tropical Funk Experience does a great job of pulling together the a diverse set of funky sounds – with lots of funk that carries both JBs and Afro funk styles, harder grooving and more tripped out sounds, and reggae – with tropical versions of funky standards, and even more numbers that are totally fresh to our ears. Titles include "Spouge Explosion", "Let Me Get Stoned" by Boo & The Tru Tones, "Take The Funky Feeling" by Blue Rhythm Combo, "Cissy Strut" De Boys En Dem, "Fugitive Dub" by Skatalites, "Basa Bongo" by Yoruba Singers, "Smokey Feeling" by The Organization"," New Bag" by The Exciters, "Jive Samba" by Llans Thelwell And The Celestials and more.

A killer batch of boogaloo material – but not from the usual sources! Although boogaloo is a genre normally associated with the New York scene at the end of the 60s, the music here all hails from Peru and represents a great new sound – music inspired by the Nuyorican originals, but which often take things into whole new directions! The Peruvian approach to boogaloo is a bit looser than the New York one – a bit more open and free, and often heavily touched by jazz music as well, resulting in a sound that's also got plenty of hard-jamming descarga elements too! Given the racial makeup of the Peruvian scene, there's a bit less soul influence going on too – lyrics are more often in Spanish, and less inspired by the Harlem sound – but the overall rhythms still share plenty with the Latin soul styles of New York, and provide a great foil for some of the jazzy instrumentation. This package is a massive discovery in music – one that goes way beyond some of the few Peruvian Latin titles from the time that have been reissued – and it's overflowing with amazing work that's totally new to our ears! Titles include "Vives Boogaloo" by Charlie Palomares, "Baby Boogaloo" by Nilo Espinosa, "Hilton's Descarga" by Los Hilton's, "El Pito" by Alfredo Linares, "Guayaba" by La Sonora De Lucho Macedo, "Que Rico Sabor" by Al Valdes, "Ensueno" by Mario Allison Y Su Combo, "Yo Traigo Boogaloo" by Alfredo Linares, "Juan Jose" by Nico Estrada, "Do The Boogaloo" by Nilo Espinosa, "Guajira" by Al Valdes, "El Diablo" by S Montez Y Sus Guantanameros, and "Clap Your Hands" by Tito Chicoma.

A spicy mix of Latin styles from the Peruvian scene of the late 60s – a wonderfully mixed up batch of modes that goes way beyond the more familiar grooves of the New York scene! The work here is a bit like some of the most inventive styles from Colombia and Panama at the same time – music that definitely gets an inspiration from up north, but then really grooves away in its own direction – changing up rhythms, instrumentation, and production styles – all with lots of groovy twists and turns that really keep things interesting! The track selection is great – with a strong focus on upbeat, lively numbers – and (dare we say it?) this volume may well be the best so far in the Gozalo series – filled with lots of stuff we've never heard before, and beautifully packaged with some great images from the original records too. Titles include "Bailando Boogaloo" by El Combo De Pepe, "Volando" by Coco Lagos, "Gozalo" by Al Veldez, "Macedo's Boogaloo" by La Sonora De Lucho Macedo, "Boogaloo Girl" by Alfredo Linares Y Su Sonora, "Shake Baby" by Los Hiltons, "Que Sera" by Compay Quinto, "Sabor Tropical" by Alfredo Linares, "El Negro Bembon" by Nico Estrada, "Me Quedo Con El Shing-a-Ling" by Bossa 70, "Me Voy A Morir" by Silvestre Montez, "Louie Louie" by Mario Allison, "Mr Trumpet Man" by Tito Chicoma, "Mulata A Go Go" by Sonora Lucho Macedo, and "Oye Mi Descarga" by Carlos Munoz.

A fantastic set in Vampi Soul's Gozalo series of tropical grooves from Peru – cumbia, mambo, boogaloo and other of the late 60s sounds that work together masterfully, and lay the groundwork for international salsa and other Latin styles to come! Gozalo Vol 4 features numbers by Coco Lagos, Los Diablos Rojos, Chivirico Davila, Los Kintos, Pedro Miguel, El Combo De Pepe and other orquestas & leaders – a truly wonderful entry in one of our favorite series from our friends at Vampi Soul! Includes "Kintos Instrumental" by Los Kintos, "Saludo Maracaibo" by Pedro Miguel Y Sus Maracaibos, "Cumbayea" by Mario Allison Y Su Combo, "La Guarachera" by Nico Estrada Y Su Sonora, "Malambo" by Los Diablos Rojos, "La Charanga Del Espacio" by Carlos Pickling Y Orquesta, "Busco Una Chiquita" by Coco Lagos Y Sus Orates and many more. 28 tracks in all.

Features Tito Puente, Hilton Ruiz, JP Torres & others.

Incredible work from the obscure African Music Machine – a southern funk combo led by bassist Louis Villery – a legendary batch of funky singles, finally brought together as a full album! The band has a very unique sound that involves a lot of rolling bubbling basslines, spacey organ grooves, tight choppy guitar riffs, and punchy horn blasts – almost with the African elements promised in the title, but served up with a deeper funk sound all the way through! In a way, the group's a bit like Cymande or some of the other 70s hybrid ensembles – yet they've got a lot less dub, a much more direct funky groove, and plety of raw southern elements in the mix as well! This is the funky 45 material we first cut our teeth on back in the day – and the original singles are legendary! Includes massive cuts like "Black Water Gold (Pearl)", "A Girl In France", "Never Name A Baby (Before It's Born), "Making Nassau Fruit Drink", "Camel Time", "The Dapp", "Tropical", and "Mr. Brown".

Creative electronics from Uwe Schmidt – aka Atom (TM) and dozens of other pseudonyms! Atom (TM) And Friends make these great pop music pastiches laced with electronic textures – putting modern electronica, classic funk, pop, rock, bossa nova and more in a blender – and coming out with material that's easy to love, but hard to categorize! Includes his tropical clubby cover of "Smoke On The Water" as Senor Coconut, an icy Euro funk takes on James Brown's "Superbad" and Bowie's "Ashes To Ashes" as LB, straight up original soundscapes as Atom and other strange, yet accessible numbers recorded as Erik Satin, The Stereonerds, Los Sampler's, The Rogertubesound Ensemble and more. 17 in all: "Duck Cha Cha" and "Showgirl" as Lisa Carbon, "Mp3 (MoralPovertyThree)", "Suck My Groove", "Bowman Suite" and "Daddy's Song" as Atom, "Music (For The Library Of God)" as The Roger Tubesound Enemble, "Dropshadow Disease" as Dropshadow Disease, "La Vida Es Llena De Cables" as Los Sampler's and more.

What a dream! The work of Chico Buarque is arranged by Edu Lobo – and the sound is fantastic! We've always loved Chico's songwriting from this period – but it's made even better by Edu, who's working here in a sharp jazzy mode, similar to that which he used on his Missa Breve album from 1972. Arrangements are big and baroque, and the approach to the material opens things up a lot more than usual – especially from Chico's late 60s albums that are more in a "singer with orchestra mode". All tracks feature music by Ruy Guerra, whose style works very well with Lobo's sound – and Chico has a sweet edge in his voice that pushes things even further. Titles include "Prologo", "Barbara", "Ana De Amsterdam", "Fado Tropical", "Fortaleza", "Cobra De Vidro", "Nao Existe Pecado Ao Sul Do Equador/Boi Voador Nao Pode", and "Tatuagem".

Classic stuff from the man who brought the Exotica sound to the mainstream! We hardly need to tell you about these albums – as they're virtually the blueprint for countless exotica albums to come, a mixture of 50s easy listening, strange tropical rhythms, and odd little sound effects! Denny's playing with his original combo of Arthur Lyman, Augie Colon, and John Cramer – in a mixture of piano, percussion, vibes, and lots of bird calls! Tracks include "Stone God", "Island Of Dreams", "Escales", "When First I Love", "Bacoa", "Ebb Tide", "Rush Hour In Hong Kong", "Singing Bamboos", "Jungle Flower", "Busy Port", "Lotus Land", and his hit recording of "Quiet Village".

A great illustration of the way that Martin Denny expanded his groove in the 60s – on some sweetly inventive records like this! On Latin Village, Martin Denny changes the rhythms from tropical to Latin – but the overall groove is still highly in his best exotica mode, and nicely augmented by some additional instrumentation! There's some traces here of the shift in production for instrumental music from the time – a bit of electric bass echoing out at the bottom of some cuts, more echo than usual on the piano lines, and a floating quality that's almost even more sublime than the original Liberty sessions. But the core Denny elements are also still in place – tinkling piano, island percussion, and a playful approach to familiar rhythms that never fails to please. The Latin is more of a nod to harder Latin modes than anything else, but it does make for a nice, if subtle change – one that works especially well when Denny's piano is out front, but compressed a bit in the mix. Titles include "Flying Down To Rio", "Ho Ba La La", "Something Latin", "Girl From Ipanema", and "Latin Village". The Versatile Martin Denny definitely lives up to the versatile in the title – working through a whole host of different 50s and 60s easy tunes – played in ways that are much wider-ranging than usual! Some are percussive and slightly exotic, some have more strings and tinkling piano, and some get slightly playful instrumentation – in a very nice way. Titles include "Little Bird", "Theme From Mondo Cane", "Exotique Bossa Nova", "Quiet Village Bossa Nova", and "Strawberry Tree".

A great mix of glam grooves and electronics – served up with almost the same sort of gothy undercurrent you see in the title! Gina X is probably a singer more rooted in the disco/downtown modes of artists like Christina or The Waitresses – and this record definitely would have been right at home on Z Records. But some tracks also percolate with more of a Euro/electro vibe that seems to skirt punk attitude without ever picking up its aesthetics – that cool late 70s German way of dabbling in so many genres at once, yet never pledging full allegiance to any! Titles include "No GDM", "Nice Mover", "Be A Boy", "Exhibitionism", "Tropical Comic Strip", and "Black Sheep".

Rare work from British easy maestro Ron Goodwin – one of England's most important orchestral talents of the 50s and 60s! Disc one of the set features Goodwin's instrumental singles of the 50s – many of which were done in a style that's similar to some of Les Baxter's pre-exotica work for Capitol. Like Baxter, Goodwin came from a more traditional style of mood music, but was also willing to work in farther-reaching modes – and would pick up traces of some of the more ambitious easy styles of his time. The second disc features Goodwin's soundtrack work of later years – much of which was done in highly dramatic styles that often supported historical narratives, war stories, and other films of an epic nature. Together, the 2CD set makes for a great look at Goodwin's oft-neglected work – and is packaged with a great set of notes and a huge amount of tracks! Titles include "Concetta", "Red Cloak", "The Melba Waltz", "Messenger Boy", "Jet Journey", "Tropical Mirage", "Josita", "Wagon Train", "Aces High", "Departure", "Frenzy", "Decline & Fall", "Cafe Royal Waltz", "Return My Love", and "When Eagles Dare". 53 tracks in all!

Dirty beats with some sweet earthy touches – and a record that we like a lot more than usual for this sort of thing! Guts mixes it up with a host of classic influences – bits of spiritual jazz, cinematic soundscapes, 70s funk, dancehall, and electro – but all wrapped into something nicely fresh, especially given their great sense of melody throughout – which makes most tracks a lot more tuneful than you might expect! Titles include "Come Closer", "Ghetto In Paradise", "Freedom", "Lassier Lucie Faire", "What Is Love", "Senza", "Mi Isla Tropical", and "Little Black Cat".

A trio of Blue Note albums from guitarist Stanley Jordan! First up is Magic Touch – a crucial album for the jazz guitar in the 80s – the debut effort of Stanley Jordan, and a set that exploded with a very fresh sound! Jordan has a really unique way of handling his instrument – playing up and down the fret board with both hands – in ways that are often so lyrically compelling and musically complicated that Blue Note had to package the album with a "warning" that there were no overdubs or production tricks on the set – as you might find from other contemporary players on labels like ECM! Instead, Stanley's got a sound that's surprisingly warm and personal – and which, in a way, is recorded with a style that echoes the legend of his initial discovery by the label, while playing in the subway. Titles include "A Child Is Born", "Fundance", "Angel", "The Lady In My Life", "Round Midnight", and "Eleanor Rigby". On Standards Vol 1, guitarist Stanley Jordan takes on a set of standards – not just older tunes from the American songbook, but also some gorovy soul and pop numbers as well! Jordan plays solo throughout – in that open, lyrical style that we loved on his debut – and titles include "Sunny", "The Sound Of Silence", "Send One Your Love", "Moon River", "Guitar Man", and "My Favorite Things". Flying Home features Stanley Jordan in a new sort of soulful setting – one that takes his guitar from the previous solo setting of initial Blue Note albums, and gives it a fuller and smoother groove overall! The production and arrangements are by Preston Glass – a master of smooth jazz in these early years, and one of the few who could still keep things deeply soulful, even while adding in some more mainstream elements – in this case just the right touches to help get Jordan's guitar across to the same 80s audience that was digging cats like Earl Klugh or Bob James. Glass plays a fair bit of keyboards in the set – and titles include "Tropical Storm", "Can't Sit Down", "The Music's Gonna Change", "Flying Home", "The Time Is Now", and "Brooklyn At Midnight".

Classic 70s work from KC & The Sunshine Band – a record that's not as hit-heavy as previous efforts, but still a plenty great set that's filled with catchy dancefloor funk! KC's clearly feeling the heat of the disco fire he helped to ignite a few years before – and there's definitely an ear hear towards tracks that would boom out nicely on a heavier sound system – kind of a deepening of the sometimes bargain basement production the group got on earlier TK records. That approach doesn't dampen the groove, though, and there's still a nice mix here of soul, funk, club, and tropical modes – sometimes a bit off the mark, but still a heck of a lot better than most of the group's contemporaries! Titles include a remake of "It's The Same Old Song", plus "Who Do Ya Love", "How About A Little Love", "Sho-Nuff'" and "Come To My Island".

A more elegantly-composed soundtrack than you might expect from a film titled Nude Odyssey – and one that's actually quite dramatic to start – and gets more playful as it goes along! We know nothing of the film, but Angelo Lavagnino's music for 1961's Odissea Nuda begins with lush, subtle strings, and progresses with with kind of a tropical island-inspired style. Really solid work from maestro Lavagnino! This great GDM CD edition includes the 7 tracks from the original 45 RPM EP – plus a wealth of alternate sequences from the film – with more than 70 minutes of music! 29 tracks in all.

Funky fusion with plenty of Latin touches – a really compelling set from the Nicaraguan scene of the 70s! The album's got the same criss-crossing of influences you'd hear in some of the best Bay Area projects of this type – no surprise since Jose Chepito Areas is a key member of the group on percussion – and there's a wonderful blend of acoustic and electric instrumentation, rootsy rhythms and free-thinking fusion – all of which make this sweet little set feel like some lost Impulse Records gem from the early 70s – particularly the label's releases that get a bit more global in their outlook! Alfonso Lovo plays loads of sweet Fender Rhodes, and also sings a bit – and titles include "Nueva Segiova", "Firebird Feathers", "Rio San Juan Drums", "Los Conquistadores", and "Tropical Jazz".

Two sweet 80s scores from Michel Magne – still very much at the top of his game here! First up is the sexy soundtrack for Emmanuelle 4 – done in a style that's very similar to some of the 70s films in the series, but with some slight 80s twists in the instrumentation and overall execution. Instrumentation includes the requisite sweet keyboards needed to convey Euro sexiness – but there's also a few nice Brazilian touches which open up some of the more tropical scenes in the films. A few numbers feature vocals – by David Rose and Christiane Legrand – and titles include "La Pampa", "La Bergerie", "Bach Anal", "Prisoner Of Love", "Fuite D'Emmanuelle", and "Bresil My Love". Next up is SAS A San Salvador – obviously a more serious film at some level, yet handled by Magne with some 80s "action" modes that are heavy on processed keyboards and electric touches – very much what you'd expect for a film like this at the time. David Rose again sings two numbers – and titles include "Sex Love & Money", "Theme Cubain", "Theme Malko", "To Be My Love", and "SAS A San Salvador".

Great grooves from Sergio Mendes – a contemporary reworking of his older Brazilian rhythms, very much in the best spirit of his other recent records! There's a warm blend of jazzy instrumentation, Brazilian percussion, and well-crafted beats on the set – all to set the stage for great keyboards from Sergio, and vocals by a host of Brazilian and American talents who include Gracina Leporace, Seu Jorge, Milton Nascimento, Carlinhos Brown, and even Sergio himself! A number of cuts are clever reworks of older classics, taken to dancefloor territory – and titles include "Pais Tropical", "The Real Thing", "Maracatu", "Orpheus", "Ye Me Le", "Caminhos Cruzados", "Emorio", "You & I", and "Caxanga".

Remixed cuts from Sergio Mendes' Bom Tempo album – a record that's already pretty strongly pointed at the dancefloor, making it a perfect fit for a project like this! Many of the tracks here are very heavily remixed – using only key hooks and vocal elements from the originals, much in the style of the Verve Remixed series – although a few of our favorite mixes here keep more of the core flavor intact, or even bring something new and rich to the table. Perhaps the best cut in this way, is the great Nicola Conte Zona Sul Version of "So Tinha De Ser Com Voce" – which is a warm bossa number that could almost come from Conte's own Schema Records. The set also features some remixes of cuts that weren't even on the original Bom Tempo record – and tracks include "Pais Tropical (Roger Sanchez release yourself mix)", "Magalenha (Moto Bianco rmx)", "Orpheus (Funk Generation mix)", "Ye Me Le (Chuckle rmx)", "Maracatu Atomico (Paul Oakenfold club mix)", "You & I (Cutmore rmx)", "Mas Que Nada (Nervo rmx)", and "The Real Thing (Bimbo Jones rmx)".

Not just 70s New York salsa, but a range of different styles – all packaged together with a focus that's mostly aimed at the Latin dancefloor ! Most of the work here is still relatively rootsy – pulled from the Salsa International/Mary Lou Records catalog – with a sound that's got a bit more grit than contemporaneous work from labels like Fania or Vaya. But that doesn't stop the music from being great – and the racks here really roll out with a very vibrant feel throughout! Titles include "I Regret" by Orchestra Capri, "Aprendelo Como Yo" by Bobby Quesada, "Puerto Rico Guaguanco" by Orchestra Tentacion, "Descarga 72" by Willie Rodriguez, "Salsa Tropical" by Orchestra Capri, "A La Memoria Del Muerto" by Dominica, "Sono Mi Guaguanco" by Raphie Martiniez, "Los Que Lloran Son Los Ninos" by Willie Rodriguez, and "Something Right" by Cucaracha Brass.

A far reaching triple platter of Afro Colombian grooves from the late 60s & 70s – propulsive percussion, bursts of brass, hot and heavy Afro Latin funk & soul, with some surprisingly heady and otherworldly sounds permeating some of material – all culled from the vaults of Colombia's Discos Fuentes label! Afrosound Of Colombia Vol 1 is one of best compilations yet from Vampi Soul – shining a much needed light on Discos Fuentes, but on top of that it's simply a great collection of funky Afro Latin sounds you may not have heard before! The numbers cover a lot of territory – salsa, cumbia, boogaloo, tropical funk, and chicha recordings abound – but the shared elements of killer percussion and feverish vibes overall make for a cohesive flow throughout. Excellent! 43 tracks on 2 CDs plus excellent liner notes, photos and artwork. Titles include "El Abanico" By Wganda Kenya, "Cumbia De Sal" by Cumbia En Moog", "Caliventura" by Afrosound, " El Ascensor" by Los Corraleros De Majagual, "La Negra Celina" by Los Golden Boys, "El Caminante" by Fruko Y Sus Tesos, "Nostalgia Campesina" by Rodolfo Con Los Idolos, "Rosalia" by Wganda Kenya, " Salsa Boogaloo" by Sexteto Miramar and much more!

One of the deepest digs we've ever seen into the rich array of grooves from Colombia – a double-length page that covers a much wider range of sounds than you might expect! Colombia's unusual amongst Latin American nations, in that it's got kind of a "crossroads" sort of role – a place where other South American sounds come into contact with music from North America, the Caribbean, and even Africa as well – resulting in some mighty heavy styles that are perfectly summed up on these 2CDs! The package is way more than just an armchair look at Colombia – and is heavy on the sorts of funk and offbeat grooves we've come to expect from the Analog Africa label – a key imprint in bringing the sounds of the globe to Anglo groove diggers like us. Rhythm is definitely at the core – as promised in the title – but the package also has plenty of great notes to help us understand the rich cultural history as well. Titles include "Calambre" by Conjunto Barbacoa, "Lumbalu" by Calixto Ochoa & Los Papaupas, "Schallcarri" by Grupo Abharca, "El Caterete" by Wganda Kenya, "Enyere Kumbara" by Julian Y Su Combo, "Wasamaye" by Wasamaye Rock Group, "Bajo El Troupillo Guajiro" by Sexteto Manaure, "Pegale A La Nalga" by Fuentes All Stars, "Juipiti" by Grupo Folclorico, "Shakalode" by Wganda Kenya, "Santana En Salsa" by Crecencio Camacho, "La Motilona" by Los Alegres Diablos, "Pajaro Madrugador" by Alfredo Gutierrez, "La Bulla" by Los Curramberos De Guayabal, "Busca La Careta" by Andres Landero, "La Cascada" by Pianonegro, "Eco En Stereo" by Sonora Dinamita, "La Veterana" by Peyo Torres, "Lluvia" by Sonora Tropical, and "Agoniza El Magadlena" by Ramiro Beltran. 32 tracks in all – and it comes in a great hardbound package with a 60-page booklet.

The Hurst selection here is mighty nice – a wonderful blend of contemporary soul numbers, put together with a great focus on greatness still to be discovered, and served up with some rare mixes too! The quality level of the set is great all the way through – the best in mature, positive soul – with only a few numbers aimed at the club, and the rest just perfect for soulful listening in a very laidback mode. Titles include "Wah" by randy Skinner, "Clementine Sun (Mass Sheen rmx)" by Khari Simmons, "Rubber Soul (Omar S rmx)" by Live Tropical Fish with Omar, "I Got Sunshine (Mass Sheen rmx)" by Avery Sunshine, "Dance To This (unrapped mix)" by Nothende, "So Claudia (2011 rework)" by Claudia Hayden, "In Your Eyes" by William Green, "Feels Like Love" by Kabanya Chemise, "Sunny Day" by Victoria Urusova, and "Hope" by Milton Suggs.

The Hurst selection here is mighty nice – a wonderful blend of contemporary soul numbers, put together with a great focus on greatness still to be discovered, and served up with some rare mixes too! The quality level of the set is great all the way through – the best in mature, positive soul – with only a few numbers aimed at the club, and the rest just perfect for soulful listening in a very laidback mode. Titles include "Wah" by randy Skinner, "Clementine Sun (Mass Sheen rmx)" by Khari Simmons, "Rubber Soul (Omar S rmx)" by Live Tropical Fish with Omar, "I Got Sunshine (Mass Sheen rmx)" by Avery Sunshine, "Dance To This (unrapped mix)" by Nothende, "So Claudia (2011 rework)" by Claudia Hayden, "In Your Eyes" by William Green, "Feels Like Love" by Kabanya Chemise, "Sunny Day" by Victoria Urusova, and "Hope" by Milton Suggs.

There's a heck of a lot of great music here – a whopping 35 tracks of contemporary and vintage soul, all put together for the price of a regular single CD! The package is the latest in the excellent Luxury Soul series – based around artists who have worked the UK series of the same name – and who really come together here in a warm array of the best contemporary soul styles! There's plenty of Neo Soul numbers, a handful of classics, and a few more modern elements too – and titles include "I'm Not That Tough" by Ashford & Simpson, "Rubber Soul" by Live Tropical Fish with Omar, "Things That I Do" by Gianna, "Enough Is Enough" by Dennis Taylor, "Music & Love" by Victor Haynes, "Just A Simple Love" by Sheree Brown, "In The Meantime" by Johnny Britt, "Crystal Clear" by Howard Hewett, "Just Let Me Be Close To You" by Valentine Brothers, "I'll Come Running Back To You" by June Yamagishi with Bobby Womack, "So In Love" by Chapter 8, "Slow Down" by Al Olive, "Priority" by Kloud 9, "It's Just One Of Those Things" by Incognito, "I Want It" by Soul Talk, "Wake Up Everybody" by Eric Benet, and "Anything" by Angela Johnson.

70s psychedelia from the northeastern state of Pernambuco, Brazil – incredible stuff that combines rawly percussive tropical sounds with a world of psychedelic creativity and possibilities – one of the best compilations ever put together by Mr Bongo! Lula Cortes was a pivotal figure in the scene and he's pretty well represented here, including his influential recordings with Ze Remalho. Even more exciting, though, is the stuff we've never been fortunate enough to hear before now – and there's a pretty good deal of it! The fusion of global psych and folk sounds into a distinctly Brazilian sound is nothing short of amazing – regional and traditional percussion underneath sitars, lutes, keyboards and more. It features songs by the great Lula Cortes & Ze Ramalho, Geraldo Azevedo & Alceu Valenca, Marconi Notaro, Flaviola E O Bando Do Sol and The Gentleman. 19 tracks in all: "Sorriso Delvagem" by The Gentlemen, "O Tempo" and "Desespero" by Flaviola E O Bando Do Sol, "Antropologica", "Maracatu" and "Fidelidade" by Marconi Notaro, "Mister Misterio", "Virgem Virginia" and more by Geraldo Azevedo & Alceu Valenca, "Bailado Das Muscarias" and "Maracas De Fogo" by Lula Cortes & Ze Ramalho, "Noite Preta" by Lula Cortes and more.

A treasure trove of 50s and 60s music from Puerto Rico – and a killer compilation centered around the pioneering work of percussionist Rafael Cortijo and singer Ismael Rivera! Essentially, this a blueprint for the global salsa, tropical and Latin scenes to come – and it's invigorating, tightly grooving and wonderful stuff all the way! Wall-to-wall Afro and West Indian-indebted percussion and rhythms, with tight horns and incredible vocals. It's filled pioneering work, but this is hardly a history listen – it's a fun set, and a sprawling one at that! Includes "Cortaron a Elena" by Cortijo (as Canario & Su Grupo con Raful), "En Orbita" by Baltazar Carrero, "Habla Cuembre" by Los Caballeros Del Ritmo, "El Plenero" by Mon Rivera Y Su Orquesta, "Dejalo Que Suba" by by Cortijo (as Canario & Su Grupo con Raful), "Belinda" by Chivirico, "Cucala" by Cortijo Y Su Combo con Ismael Rivera, "Ron Con Coco" by Mon Rivera Y Su Orquesta and more. 30 tracks on 2CDs.

No soundclash here – as the grooves are all right on the money, and fit perfectly together throughout – a blinding blend of tropical-styled sounds that really lives up to the promise of the package! Sofrito have outdone themselves here – and come up with the kinds of tracks we'd never have found in a million years of digging – mostly vintage numbers from the late 70s and early 80s tropical scene – mixed with a few contemporary numbers that seem to have an equally classic sort of vibe! The package is an instant global grooves party right from the start – and titles include "O Ti Yo" by Midnight Groovers, "Cumbia Y Tambo" by La Pesada, "Ebolo" by Bell'A Njoh, "Vibrations Groove" by Lord Shorty & Vibrations International, ""Mwekuru Muthao" by Melodica Teens Band, "La Zorra Y El Perol" by Grupo Canalon De Tinbiqui, and "The Path (Sofrito edit)" by Concept Neuf.

A smokin bit of salsa from 70s Brooklyn – one of a rare few albums cut by The Brooklyn Sounds, a totally great group with a really firey spirit! The set grooves hard from the first moment – with tight horn blasts over fast rhythm, and soulful vocals that really capture the spirit of the time. Lyrics are in Spanish, but the appeal of the grooves is international – and caught at that perfect moment when 60s Latin soul was giving way to 70s salsa – with all the youthful energy of both genres firmly in place. Titles include "Calma Tu Llanto", "Las Margaritas", "Guaguanco Tropical", "Libre Soy", "Chango Santero", and "Esta Vida".

A stellar solo set from John Edwards – one of the tightest talents of the southern scene in the mid 70s, and a singer who would later break big with The Spinners! This album's got a really unique vibe – with some slight tropical touches hinted at by the cover image – and some deeper production from David Porter down at the Malaco and Ardent Studios – which ensures that the deep soul component of the music still stays strong! The whole thing's unlike anything else we can think of – and is a definite bridge between 70s soul scenes at the time – echoes of folks like Al Green or Sam Dees, but a tighter approach at points too. Titles include "You, Trouble, & Me", "That's That", "The Key To My Life", and "Baby, Hold On To Me".

A stunning tribute to the music of Jorge Ben – a host of classic covers from the 60s and 70s, all of which share Jorge's love for an upbeat, soulful groove! The set's exploding with life and energy – that new sort of groove that Ben first unleashed on Brazilian music in the 60s, which was quickly taken up by most of his contemporaries – as you'll hear on the wonderful tunes in this set! There's a ridiculous amount of music on the collection – over two dozen tunes, a number of which we'd never heard before – and although Jorge doesn't sing on any of them, the vocalists are all clearly inspired by his sense of warmth and soul. Every cut's a groover – and titles include "Que Mandou" by Osmar Milito, "Zazueira" by Wilson Simonal, "Pulo Pulo" by Elza Soares, "Se Voce Quiser Mas Sem Bronquear" by Doris Monteiro, "Tenha Fe Pois Amanha Um Lindo Dia Vai Nascer" by Salinas, "La Vem Salgueiro" by Os Originais Do Samba, "Carolina Carol Bela" by Os Brazoes, "Speed" by Sonia Santos, "Rei Do Maracatu" by Cyro Aguiar, "Cosa Nostra" by Os Mutreteiros Grilados, "Fio Maravilha" by Marijo, "Pais Tropical" by Wilson Simonal, and "Mas Que Nada" by Elza Soares.

A far reaching late 70s set from Gato Barbieri – a record that blends fusiony jazz funk, lush stings, and Latin rhythms and fluid solos on a varied batch of tunes! One of the more interesting things about the production is that those varied approaches often come into play within the same tunes – with clean, lean fusiony bass and percussion underneath swelling string accents, showing Barbieri was unafraid to intermingle myriad influences at the time. Titles include a take on Caetano Veloso's "Odara", plus "Poinciana (Song Of The Tree)", "Latin Lady" (which guest Carlos Santana trading solos with Gato over tropical jazz funk backing), "She Is Michelle", "Where Is The Love", "Evil Eyes" and "Bolero".

One of the more far out-sounding records we've heard on Far Out Records – a wild one from Rio's Dos Cafundos! It's a sometimes funky, sometimes noisy, but always evolving sound – with raw tropical funk mixed with diverse strains of noise rock and jazz, a la Zorn and Zappa. It's never predictable, even if they proudly wear myriad influences on their sleeves! It's got lots of great acoustic and electric guitar work, plus heavy drums and percussion, flutes, violin and more in the mix. There's a lot going on here that would make the group sound right at home on Ipecac Records as much as they do on Far Out – but the Brazilian roots are still very strong! Includes "Coriza", "Disse Me Disse". "Tupraca", "Carnica (O Barao Da Birosca)", "Carranca", "Un -Berum" and the 5-part epic title track.

A sweet bit of funk from Hawaii – and a legendary bit of free soul that's been winning global fame for decades! Lemuria is the brainchild of Kirk Thompson – who plays piano, bass, keyboards, and vibes on this very spiritual set of tracks. Master Henry Gibson was one of the executive producers, and he also plays conga on the set – which recalls some of the more spiritual collective funky projects from the early 70s Chicago scene, given a bit of a tropical twist. Many tracks feature vocals by "The Ladies Of Lemuria" – a lovely trio that's got a bit of an Emotions sort of sound – but the jazziness of the tracks is a lot freer than the backings the Emotions ever got, with more of a west coast Fantasy Records kind of approach, touched with some Stevie Wonder-like warmth. Really great all the way through – and impeccably put together, despite the indie origins of the record. Titles include "Get That Happy Feeling", "Hunk Of Heaven", "Dreams", "Mister U", "The Making Of You", and "Mystery Love".

The funky side of the Jewel & Paula labels – surprisingly jazzy work for a company that's best known for its blues recordings! Most of the tracks here come from a creative early 70s stretch for the label – and there's a number of cuts that show a strong connection with the AACM and Chicago undergrounds of the time – mixed with other tracks that show more of the southern roots that you might normally expect from Jewel/Paula. Electric and acoustic sounds mix together wonderfully in the track selection for the package – and titles include "Just A Feelin" by Ronnie Kole, "Chi Congo" by Art Ensemble Of Chicago, "Tropical" by African Music Machine, "L&T" by Tony Valor Orchestra, "Ode To Billie Joe" by Ronnie Kole, "First Thing In The Morning" by James Moody, "I Love Every Little Thing About You" by Odell Brown, "Toussaint Shuffle" by Toussaint McCall, "Got To Get Over" by Sonny Stitt, "One For Bud" by Mal Waldron, and "Great Stone Bottle" by Ronnie Kole.

A hip little set from The Beat Boys – an Argetine group working in late 60s Brazil, supposedly with a bit of an influence on the sound of Tropicalia! The sound here is a bit straighter than the work of Caetano Veloso or Os Mutantes – a bit in the Jovem Guarda sound of more mainstream Brazilian rock, but with some hipper influences too – including a strong Beatles influence that makes for some great harmonies on the vocals, and instrumentation that really pushes beyond the standard straight Anglo rock modes of the time. Instrumentation features some fuzzy guitars, which are occasionally a bit tripped-out – plus organ, bass, and drums – all topped by echoey vocals from the group. Titles include "O Meu Tamborim", "A Time For Remembrance", "A Felicidade", "Wake Me Shake Me", "Sempre Esperando", "Aria Para A Corda Sol", and "Era Uma Menina". CD reissue features some great notes on the band, plus some vintage photos – and also includes the bonus track "Canudinho".

A wealth of early work from the lovely Celly Campello – one of the biggest girl pop icons in the Brazilian scene of the 60s! Celly's work is more inspired by American rock and roll than previous Brazilian styles – and as such, these records are a crucial part in the formation of the jovem guarda sound of the pre-Tropicalia years – the bright, bouncy approach to Brazilian music that's perfectly summed up in the sounds of Celly! The package features six full albums from Campello's years at EMI/Odeon – the classic Estupido Cupido (1959), plus Broto Certinho (1960), A Bonequinha Que Canta (1960), A Graca De Celly Campello E As Musicas De Paul Anka (1961), Brotinha Encantador (1961), and the compelling Celly album from 1968 – which shows a surprising maturation of her style. All packaged in a sweet slipcover – with bonus tracks too!

Finally a strong full-length from Nu-Mark – the myriad strengths of which were amply hinted up via the epic 10" series that led up to it – and an album that packs plenty of diverse, timeless beatcraft and stellar guests on the mic! Nu-Mark's got a sharp, crisp edge with his beats – one that really seems to set a new sort of fire without ever being too overly-aware of its own style – often with these soulful undercurrents that help his music reach way past the usual, too! Vocals and rhymes are by a great batch of A-list talents – including Aloe Blacc, Charles Bradley, Bumpy Knuckles, Ernie Hines, Large Professor, J-Live, and Tiron – and one cut even features some sweet funky touches from Quantic. This deluxe CD edition features the album Disc 1. Disc 2 is a CD-ROM – featuring the instrumentals and acapella versions of most tracks, plus some bonus beats – with 32t tracks in all! tour and in-studio photos, the cover images from the Broken Sunlight 10-inch series and more! Disc 3 is a DVD – featuring the mini-film/video Nu-Conduit with live and behind the scenes footage. Amazing! Titles include "Oya Indebure", "Tropicalifornia", "Tough Break", "Feel The Way About It", "Vengeance Is Mine", "Dumpin Em All", "Our Generation (re-edit)", "When You Sleep", "Never Be Wrong", "Times Is Rough", and "Tonight".

An incredible bit of soundtrack work by Gilberto Gil – and one of his best albums! The record was originally recorded to accompany the work of director Rogerio Szanzerla, and it's a wonderful mix of samba, jazz, and post-Tropicalia psychedelia – all recorded in a warm intimate style that's similar to Gil's legendary London recording from 1971! The tracks are some of the most pioneering that Gil ever recorded – and they break free of the time and space constraints of some of his studio albums, stretching songs out into long open-ended explorations, 4 of which are over seven minutes long. Gil's vocals are extremely soulful, and his guitar playing is free and jazzy, often interspersed with some nice funky flute and percussion work. Titles include "Diga A Ela" in two versions – plus "Mr. Sganzeria", "Blind Faith", "Yeh Yeh Yah Yah", and "Tomorrow Vai Ser Bacana".

Gilberto Gil's first album after a few years exile in England – and a really explosive record that recalls the brilliance of his Tropicalia years! The record's an incredible blend of rootsy percussion, raspy guitar, and tripped-out production – all delivered with an instrumental sensibility that's even more sophisticated than before, and a lyrical interplay that's really amazing – extremely poetic at points, even if you can't understand the language! As with Gal Costa in the early 70s, Gilberto Gil manages to keep some of the best experimental elements of his music burning bright, even after the collapse of the Tropicalia movement – and as with some earlier Tropicalia gems, this album features some great work on bass and guitar from Lanny Gordin, not to mention drums and percussion from Tutty Moreno, who's better known for his later work with Joyce. Tracks include "Back In Bahia", "Expresso 2222", "Oriente", "Chiclete Com Banana", "Pipoca Moderna", and "O Sonho Acabou".

A sweet bit of Brazilian experimentation that recalls all the inventive spirit of the work of Caetano Veloso and the Tropicalia generation – put together with lots of great twists and turns, and a spirit that's both playful yet straightforward as well! These guys mix things up as much as the "liquidifacador" in the album's title – yet never make the music sound gimmicky at all – and instead really crest on that great wave of Brazilian experimentation that seemed to begin over a decade ago, yet which few folks are doing this well any more! Like Veloso's best music, the songs have a sense of heart that goes way beyond the boundaries of language – and which shows that Graveola isn't just being clever for clever's sake. Titles include "Blues Via Satellite", "Desdenha", "Farewell Love Song", "Kg De Pao", "Babulina's Trip", "O Cao E A Ciencia", "Lindo Toque", and "Desmantelado".

Post-Tropicalia work from Leno – a Brazilian singer who'd worked as part of a duo during the Jovem Guarda years, but who really sounds great here on his own! The style's a bit more straightforward rock than the Brazilian sound of a few years back – a bit fuzzy and compressed at times, yet still with a really strong edge, and light years from more mainstream American rock of the time. Many tracks were supposedly banned by the censors in Brazil at the time, although from today's perspective they've got a hard-rocking charm that's more innocent than anything else – a quality that makes the record ripe for rediscovery today! Lion productions have done a wonderful job with the notes and packaging (as usual!) – and titles include "Johnny McCartney", "Por Que Nao", "Lady Baby", "Deixo O Tempo Me Levar", "Peguei Uma Apolo", "Pobre Do Rei", "Sentando No Arco-Iris", and "Bis".

A contemporary set, but one that's unlike any other recent Brazilian recording we can think of – given the very unique vibe that Mauricio Maestro is going for! You might know Mauricio from his mid 70s work with Joyce on Visions Of Dawn – and although this set is a recent recording, it has a same sort of classic feel overall. The sound here has deep rhythms and folksy touches – a warm acoustic mode, but topped with some slight electricity and larger arrangements – a bit like some of the more creative sounds in the Brazilian underground during the post-Tropicalia years – yet with a richness that takes it much farther too! Maestro handled the arrangements, and he brings in a jazz-tinged quality that's not unlike the Milton Nascimento generation – yet the overall approach is earthier too, and vocals are handled by Mauricio, percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, and Kay Lyra – swirled up with a bit of light string backings that really help the record soar to the skies! We'd rank this one right up there with classics from the 70s by Joyce or Edu Lobo – but we also recognize that it's very much it's own record too. Titles include "Jungle Bells", "Agua Clara", "Canto Do Paje", "Todos Os Santos", "Ciclo Da Vida", "Ouvindo Estrelas", "Upside Down", and "Horizonte".

Certainly one of the greatest albums by this excellent (and oft-overlooked!) group from the 70s! The band of young Bahians deliver a great mix of tracks tinged with bits of rock, funky samba, and even a few psychedelic influences – with alternating male and female vocals, and some excellent songwriting that places the record right up there with some of the best work by Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil from the same time! We love this one to death, and find it to be one of the few records by the group that we return to again and again – a real post-Tropicalia classic that's filled with great songs. Tracks include "Preta Pretinha", "Besta E Tu", "A Menina Danca", "Swing De Campo Grande", and "Tinindo Trincando".

Mindblowing work from Sergio Ricardo – really one of his best albums ever, done with an incredible sound that's unlike anything else we've ever heard from him! There's a hip, folksy, post-Tropicalia vibe running through the record – of the sort you'd hear on some of the more obscure independent Brazilian albums of the period – as Sergio's joined by a hip group of young musicians, who play acoustic guitar, woodwinds, percussion, and other stringed instruments – in a style that's both jaggedly folkloric, and with some of the frenetic jazzy touches of some of Hermeto Pascoal's work of the time! The sound is hard to describe in words, but breathtakingly wonderful from the start – the whole album's as beautiful as it is revolutionary, and titles include "Calabouco", "Deus De Barro", "Sina De Lampiao", "Antonio Das Mortes", and "Beira Do Cais".

The third and best album yet from Sao Paulo Underground – formed by Chicago scene veteran and sonic adventurer Rob Mazurek – with a sound that's informed by the rhythms and creatively boundless possibilities of Tropicalia era Brazil and well beyond, along with the cosmic spirit of other Mazurek projects such as the Exploding Star Orchestra. This is hypnotic, attention seizing work that pushes boundaries and challenges tradition while still respecting it – it's never less than fully engrossing and pulls you right in, but it also skirts convention on just about every level. Mazurek's on coronet and electronics that fracture and fuzz out the atmosphere, creating some really dynamic interplay with instrumentation. Mauricio Takara is on cavaquinho, drums and percussion, Guilherme Granado on keys, loops, samples and percussion and Richard Ribeiro on drums. A pair of excellent tracks feature fellow modern greats with roots in the Chicago underground – vibes player Jason Adasiewicz and drummer John Herndon on "Just Lovin'" and "Six Six Eight" – the latter also featuring bass player Matthew Lux. The entire album is no less impressive, though! Titles include "Jagoda's Dream", "Pigeon", "Carambola", "Colibri", "Lado Leste", and "Rio Negro".

Great late 60s work from Ronnie Von – an under-appreciated Brazilian rocker, and one with a sound that sits nicely between the Jovem Guarda generation and some of the headier groups to come in the 70s! There's a nice array of psychedelic influences at play here – strong echoes of British work of the time, but used in much more sophisticated ways than any Jovem Guarda acts – never a simple copycat approach, but also never as arty as some of the Tropicalia recordings of the time either. Ronnie's voice has a depth that allows some nice changes in mood from track to track – lightly lyrical one moment, a bit darker and more tripped-out the next – bringing a sense of variety to the record that almost recalls Caetano Veloso during the time, but a bit more rockish overall. Titles include "Atlantica", "Dindi", "De Como Meu Heroi Flash Gordon", "Foi Bom", "Rose Ann", "Comeci Uma Brincadeira", and "Mares De Areia". CD features 4 bonus tracks – earlier singles that include "Meu Bem", "Paraiso", "O Pequeno Principe", and "Meu Mundo Parou".

A collection of two wonderful early 70s albums from Tom Ze, recorded just after the Tropicalia years! Estundando O Samba is one of Tom Ze's best albums ever – a fantastic blend of post-Tropicalia styles – and it features some strange arrangements that perfectly illustrated Ze's insane approach to songwriting. As with much of Ze's music, the actual sound is incredibly hard to describe – and the album bristles with imagination and creative fire. Includes a haunting spare version of "A Felicidade", plus the nutty instrumental "Tom", and the original tracks "So", "Ma", "Vai", "Ui!", "Hein?", and "Mae". Se O Caso E Chorar has a number of tracks with a samba sound at the base – but there's more than enough fantastic material to keep the record fresh, and Tom's writing is as great as ever. There's a vocal group that sings with Ze on many of the tracks on the record – but they also seem to sometimes act as a Greek chorus, in response to breakaway vocal passages that are dominated by Ze. Includes the excellent baroque funky number "Dor E Dor", plus the tracks "Sonho Colorido De Um Pintor", "A Baba", "O Sandalo", "A Briga Do Edificio Italia Com O Hilton Hotel", and "Happy End".

Some of the wildest work we've heard from Tom Ze in years – a set that returns to some of the darker themes of his famous 70s recordings, and one that features a great balance between experimental sounds and more playful modes! The rhythms are especially compelling – fresh sounds learned from some of the younger generations that Ze's influenced over the years, and who've worked with him too – and the instrumentation is really varied from cut to cut, keeping a freshness to the record that really has us digging in more deeply as the set rolls on – held more rapt by Tom's genius than we remember in years. Titles include "Tropicalia Lixo Logico", "Jucaju", "Navegador De Cancoes", "Aviso Aos Passageiros", "Capitais E Tais", "O Motobi E Maria Clara", and "Tropicalea Jacta Est".

The sound of The Beatles, completely re-imagined by a host of hip acts from Brazil – a stunning lineup that includes some under-discovered talents from the younger generation, plus a few key artists from earlier years as well! As you'd guess from the "69" in the title, most of the tracks here are from the final years of the group – and lots of titles here are from separate solo projects – opened up and given a whole new sort of energy here – showing the rich inspiration the fab four were still able to provide, even at the end! Beatles music has been a crucial influence on Brazil, from the 60s Jovem Guarda and Tropicalia scenes onward – and the work here really shows the range of influences, extrapolated through really creative instrumentation, vocal arrangements, and production techniques. The whole thing's hardly another "tribute to" session – and instead is more like an extended poem inspired by the work of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Titles on this second volume include "The Ballad Of John & Yoko" by Front, "Old Brown Shoe" by Twiggy & Holics, "Hot As Sun" by Surfadelica, "The Back Seat Of My Car" by Aerocirco, "Another Day" by Ze Ramalho, "Isn't It A Pity" by Hevelyn Costa, "Behind That Locked Door" by Sergio Reis, "Beautiful Girl" by Emmerson Noguiera, "I Found Out" by Saomer Zwadomit, and "I Live For You" by Tantra.

The sound of The Beatles, completely re-imagined by a host of hip acts from Brazil – a stunning lineup that includes some under-discovered talents from the younger generation, plus a few key artists from earlier years as well! As you'd guess from the "69" in the title, most of the tracks here are from the final years of the group – a fair bit of material from Abbey Road – opened up and given a whole new sort of energy here – showing the rich inspiration the fab four were still able to provide, even at the end! Beatles music has been a crucial influence on Brazil, from the 60s Jovem Guarda and Tropicalia scenes onward – and the work here really shows the range of influences, extrapolated through really creative instrumentation, vocal arrangements, and production techniques. The whole thing's hardly another "tribute to" session – and instead is more like an extended poem inspired by the work of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Titles on this third volume include "Here Comes The Sun" by Joyce, "Something" by Flavio Venturini & Aggeu Marques, "Polythene Pam" by Autoramas, "The End" by Milton Nascimento, "Mean Mr Mustard" by Joao Donato with Paula Morelenbaum, "Because" by Aretha, "Golden Slumbers" by Elis Regina & Milton Nascimento, "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" by Pouca Vogal, and "Her Majesty" by Silvia Machete.

A cool take on the Beatles' White Album – served up by a host of different Brazilian artists who really make the most of the music! The record is easily the most experimental set ever issued by The Beatles – and the artists here definitely keep that fact in mind – shifting their styles nicely from track to track, and taking plenty of chances with the tunes – which makes the whole thing way more than just another cover record or tribute album! Given the huge influence The Beatles had on Brazilian music – from the jovem guarda to the Tropicalia scene and beyond – the set's a great illustration of that power. Tracks include "I'm So Tired" by Dissonantes, "Martha My Dear" by Marcio Greyck, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by Manfred, "The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill" by Daniel Tendler, "Wild Honey Pie" by Bacalhau, "Back In The USSR" by Rodrigo Santos & George Israel, "Dear Prudence" by Ze Ramalho, "Birthday" by Pato Fu, "Revolution 1" by Tantra, and "Good Night" by Jerry Adriani & Tantra.

An amazing introduction to one of the most significant cultural movements in the latter half of the 20th Century – the groundbreaking years of Tropicalia in late 60s Brazil! The music and legacy of Tropicalia are referenced often, but hardly ever presented this well – and this package is everything we could have hoped for as an introduction to the movement – filled not just with great music, but also an overwhelming amount of notes that trace the history of Brazilian music and art through their changes in relation to Tropicalia! In fact, the notes are almost worth the price of the compilation alone – very densely written over 48 pages in the CD booklet, with more information in one place than we've ever seen before. But as you might imagine, it's the music that really makes the set special – and Soul Jazz have done an excellent job of pulling together key late 60s works from the most important musicians associated with Tropicalia – an great starting point for the movement that's filled with most essential tracks! Titles include "Bat Macumba" by Gilberto Gil, "Tuareg" and "Sebastiana" by Gal Costa, "A Minha Menina" and "Panis Et Circenses" by Os Mutantes, "Alfo Mega" and "Tropicalia" by Caetano Veloso, "Gloria" and "Jimmy Renda-Se" by Tom Ze, "Procissao" by Gilberto Gil, "Ave Genghis Khan" by Os Mutantes, "Take It Easy My Brother Charles" by Jorge Ben, "Quero Sambal Meu Bem" by Tom Ze, "Lost In The Paradise" by Caetano Veloso, "Bat Macumba" by Os Mutantes, "Domingo No Parque" by Gilberto Gil & Os Mutantes, and "Irene" by Caetano Veloso.

A landmark album – not just in Brazilian music, but in all modern music in general! The set's a legendary manifesto for the Tropicalia movement in Brazil – and features key works by all the leading musical luminaries in the movement – including a few later stars who are heard here at their most edgey! The work is as groundbreaking today as it was at the end of the 60s – a brilliant testament to the power of artists to really break down boundaries in art and music, and find a way to mix the political with the popular at the same time. Titles include a fantastic version of Gal Costa and Caetano Veloso singing "Baby", the "Tres Caravelas" duet between Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, Gil's great reading of "Bat Macumba" with Costa and Veloso, Nara Leao singing "Lindoneia", Os Mutantes performing "Panis Et Circenses", Gilberto on "Geleia Geral, Caetano doing "Coracao Materno, and Rita Lee, Gal Costa, and Caetano Veloso singing "Enquanto Seu Lobo Nao Vem". Brand new remastering – approved by Caetano Veloso himself!

One of the most mindblowing albums ever recorded – anywhere, anytime! This 1969 set stands as one of the greatest records ever cut by Gal Costa – done at the height of the Tropicalia movement, and featuring a sublime mix of styles that really gets the spirit of the movement right. Arrangements are by the legendary Rogerio Duprat – who effortlessly shifts the backings between stark electronics, sweet bossa, gliding strings, jazzy piano, and baroque orchestrations that dance around with a surprising amount of grooves! Tunes include some classics by Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben, and Gilberto Gil – served up in amazing new versions by Gal and Duprat! Titles include "Nao Identificado", "Lost in the Paradise", "Que Pena", "Sebastiana", "Namorinho De Portao", "Divino Maravilhoso", and "Deus E O Amor".

Amazing music from Nara Leao – all of her classic albums for Philips from the 60s, packaged together in one sweet set – along with a bonus 2CD set of rare material, a booklet, and lots of bonus tracks as well! Nara during this time was a completely unique singer – an artist with roots in bossa, but inflected with a folksy depth, and more than enough sophistication to help make her a key figure in the Tropicalia movement as well! This package brings together everything that makes Leao so wonderful – dark albums from the mid 60s that really set a whole new tone for MPB – a few live performances that show Nara's collaborative and spontaneous side, and some important late 60s material that already show a tremendous evolution as an artist. Each album is in its original artwork, with bonus tracks on individual CDs – and albums include Nara (1964), Opiniao De Nara, O Canto Livre De Nara, Show Opiniao, 5 Na Bossa, Liberdade Liberdade, Nara Pede Passagem, Manha de Liberdade, Vento De Maio, Nara (1967), Nara Leao (1968), and Coisas Do Mundo. Plus, the bonus 2CD set features lots of obscure cuts from singles and other unusual sources – 33 more numbers that include duets with Maria Bethania, Chico Buarque, Quinteto Violado, and Fagner – and lots of other solo tracks too.

Mariana Aydar's really blowing our mind since the last time we heard her on record – stepping forth here with her deepest, most complex material ever – an album as rich in sounds and styles as some of our favorite Brazilian material from the 70s! There's this confidence to the presentation that's completely genre-transcendent – that feel of making new musical space we loved in the Tropicalia era, and the MPB generation of the 70s – a mode that few other Brazilian singers, especially female ones, can match this well these days. The record speaks volumes on its own – so much so that we'd be daft to try to pin it down with just a few words – but we can definitely say that once you hang on for the ride, Mariana got plenty of places to take you through the course of the set. Titles include a great remake of "Nine Out Of Ten", plus "Galope Rasante", "Floresta", "A Saga Do Cavaleiro", "Solitude", "Vinheta Da Alegria", "Cavaleiro Selvagem", and "Porto".

Quite a different album than Nara Leao's other record from 1969 – the one produced by Rogerio Duprat! This one's much sparer and rootsier – almost in a samba mode at times – but even more so in a slightly folksy style that puts Nara's vocals highly upfront in the mix, supported by just a bit of percussion and guitar – in a way that's darker and without the sweetness of her earlier albums, and which has some of the careful presentation and sly interplay that made Leao a surprising force in the Tropicalia generation. Arrangements are by Sidney Miller, with all the depth of his own 60s work – and titles include "La Columbe", "Apanhei-Te Cavaquinho", "Poema Da Rosa", "Little Boxes", "Azulao", "Tambores Da Paz", "Parabien De La Paloma", "Fez Bobagem", and a great version of Caetano Veloso's "Atras Do Trio Eletrico".

One of the loveliest of all the bossa singers is caught here in some superb arrangements by Oscar Castro-Neves, Maestro Gaya, and Dori Caymmi! This loaded compilation of material features the entirety of Nara Leao's classic self-titled Phillips album from 1967 and the album Vento De Maio – both excellent records that showcase a move away from simple bossa nova into the work that would make her one of the key figures of the Tropicalia scene! The tracks have a wonderful feel – with moments that are rootsier than your average bossa record, and others that are baroque enough to hint at the direction Nara would take a year later with Rogerio Duprat. Production is excellent, and Edu Lobo even guests on the track "De Onde Vens". 23 tracks in all! Other titles include "Quem Te Viu Quem Te Ve", "Vento De Maio", "Maria Joana", "A Praca", "Um Chorinho", "Lancha Nova", "Inspiracao", "No Corado Da Saideira", "Camisa Amarela", and "Se Voce Quiser Saber".

A crucial set of work from the overlooked Jards Macale – one of the hippest cats in Brazilian music during the 70s, heard here on one of his best early albums! The music here is really at the crossroads – a combination of the folksy edge of the 60s work of Geraldo Vandre, mixed with some of the trippier elements of the generation that would be best represented by Lula Cortes, all set free by some of the rich waves of energy that sprung from Brazil in the wake of the Tropicalia movement! Macale's got a way of really personalizing the tunes with both his vocals and guitar work – and the overall presentation moves from intimate to expansive with effortless ease. Titles include "Sem Essa", "So Morto", "O Crime", and "Solucos". CD also features a huge amount of bonus tracks – 10 more numbers that include "Gotham City", "Let's Play That", "Poema Da Rosa", "Revendo Amigos", "Orora Analfabeta", and "Rua Real Grandeza".

The glorious return of Os Mutantes – a recent live performance that marks the group's first new album in many many years! The show was recorded before a very enthusiastic audience in London – at a time when the city was in the throes of a recent new wave of interest in Tropicalia – clearly the inspiration for the group's performance here, which is heavy on work from their best years! The lineup features Zelia Duncan in place of Rita Lee on vocals – alongside founders Arnaldo Baptista and Sergio Dias – and the overall sound is pretty great, with some very focused and full-on guitar work throughout. Titles include "Don Quixote", "Ave Gengis Khan", "Tecnicolor", "Virgina", "Cantor De Mambo", "Baby", "El Justiciero", "Balada Do Louco", and "Ave Lucifer".

Sweet and jazzy pop from early 70s Brazil – a great little album that we'd rank with our favorites by Marcos Valle and Edu Lobo! Arthur Verocai isn't nearly as well-known as those two, but he works in a similar territory – taking jazz, large arrangements, and nice touches of electric funk – and working them into a groove that has the soaring and ambitious feel of the best post-Tropicalia work of 70s Brazil! This rare gem was self-produced, and fell of the map almost as soon as it was released – but it really deserves wider recognition, and shines with a depth that makes it an instant classic to our ears! Titles include "Presente Grego", "Caboclo", "Pelas Sombras", "O Mapa", "Sylvia", "Karina", "Velho Parente", and "Dedicada A Ela".

Kick ass early work from the great Tom Ze – recorded in the beginning of the Tropicalia years, but with a style that shows Ze sitting on the fence between rock/pop and some of his madder later work! The style's still pretty hard to describe, and listening to the music, you can hear how much of an influence Ze must have had on the styles of Caetano Veloso and Os Mutantes – whose work from 1969 is echoed in many of the songs on the album. There's lots of weird organ, arranged in kind of a swirling psychedelic way that reminds us of songs from the early Mutantes album, or from the Tropicalia Ou Panis et Circensis album from 1968. Ze wrote all the tracks, and titles include "Sabor De Burrice", "Camelo", "Gloria", "Curso Intesivo De Boas Maneiras", "Parque Industrial", and "Profissao De Ladrao". A great cover, and a rare rare relic!

The sound of The Beatles, completely re-imagined by a host of hip acts from Brazil – a stunning lineup that includes some under-discovered talents from the younger generation, plus a few key artists from earlier years as well! As you'd guess from the "69" in the title, most of the tracks here are from the final years of the group – mostly numbers from Let It Be,plus some solo tunes too – opened up and given a whole new sort of energy here – showing the rich inspiration the fab four were still able to provide, even at the end! Beatles music has been a crucial influence on Brazil, from the 60s Jovem Guarda and Tropicalia scenes onward – and the work here really shows the range of influences, extrapolated through really creative instrumentation, vocal arrangements, and production techniques. The whole thing's hardly another "tribute to" session – and instead is more like an extended poem inspired by the work of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Titles on this first volume include "Dig It" by Astronauta Pingium, "Let It Be" by Ivan Lins, "Two Of Us" by Leoni & Leo Jaime, "Dig A Pony" by Biquini Cavadao, "Across The Universe" by Rodrigo Santos, "Paul's Piano Intro" by Vitor Araujo, "Let IT Down" by Maria Gadu, "Wah Wah" by Tortu with Sergio Dias, and "The Long & Winding Road" by Raimundo Fagner.

An amazing rare chapter of the late 60s Tropicalia saga – from the genius composer responsible for some of the most pivotal arrangements of the era! Rogerio Duprat's talent grew as a cellist with some of the most respected symphony orchestras of Brazil before he went into soundtrack work – eventually meeting Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. He did some arranging for Gilberto, leading to his arrangements on the landmark 1967 Tropicalia album featuring the giants of the era. This rare and incredible album followed in '68 – an adventurous batch of tunes with deep, profound love for sunshine/easy psychedelia! It's as gorgeously arranged as work by Van Dyke Parks, Brian Wilson and just about anyone else from any continent on the planet at the time! Os Mutantes contribute vocals to several tracks – and the set list harmoniously melds tunes popularized by the Beatles, the Cowsills, Jobim, Veloso and Gil – in a way that really follows in the spirit of the Tropicalia anthem "Baby", in the way that it recasts American and English late 60s pop ideals with a strange reconstructed Brazilian twist! Tracks include "Judy In Disguise", "Honey/Summer Rain", "Cancao Para Ingles Ver B Chiquita Bacana", "Canto Chorado/Bom Tempo/Lapinha", "Chega De Saudade", "Baby", "Cinderella Rockefella", "Lady Madonna", and "The Rain The Park & Other Things".

Freaky funky sounds from The Gentlemen – a Brazilian combo from the early 70s, and one who work in a really dark mix of modes! At some level, the group feel a bit like some of the 60s Jovem Guarda groups – in that they have a bit of an influence from Anglo rock, particularly the more garagey variety. But they're also trippier too – and have that great post-Tropicalia Brazilian mode of reaching out for plenty of styles at once – to really mix things up in a freaky, fuzzy brew! Basslines are especially great – very pronounced, even on the mellower tracks – and there's some cool fuzz on the guitars to keep things from every sounding too clean or polished – particularly on some of the longer tracks, which feature great psych-styled jamming with the organ as well! Titles include "Vazio", "Sorriso Selvagem", "Vestido Branco", "Uma Voz Outra Voz", "O Embarque", "Eu Juro", "Isso E Amor", and "Agora Estou Livre".

Heavy fuzz from late 60s Brazil – a Tropicalia-era album, but one with a slightly more mainstream groove – one that mixes elements of regional music with psychedelic elements and bouncy, mod-styled backings! The approach is somewhat like the work going on over at EMI/Odeon during the time – although there's certainly a trippier side to the record as well, thanks to arrangements from Rogerio Duprat, Damiano Cozzela, and Julio Medagalia. There's a fair bit of groovers on the record – although in a somewhat offbeat mode – nestled nicely next to a few headier tunes that help balance out the whole set wonderfully. Titles include "Alegria Alegria", "Quem Sabe", "Que Maravilha", "Fossa Boboca", "Longe Do Tempo", "Pela Rua Da Praia", and "Vou Buscar Voce".