There's been plenty happening in Pernambuco in recent years – a rich blending of styles that's made the region of Brazil a more important musical hot spot than Rio or San Paulo! The sounds of Pernambuco have been simmering under for years – and you may well have caught an earful or two from recent releases on the Trama label. But until this set, most of the region's brilliance has never been fully presented properly to a non-Brazilian audience – and as the label did two decades back with their initial Brazilian compilations, Luaka Bop does a wonderful job of opening up the Pernambuco groove to a much wider audience! Most of the work here mixes older roots with newer touches – often a bit of electronics next to acoustic percussion, or raspily soulful vocals next to tighter instrumentation – that unique sort of balance that's always been present in Brazilian music from the 60s onward, but which is currently done better in Pernambuco more than anywhere else. Titles include "Poesia Da Barro" by Alex Sant Anna, "Amigos Bons" by Junio Barreto, "Cobrinha" by Tine, "Vale Do Juca" by Siba, "Pode Me Chamar" by Eddie, "Maroca" by Mundo Livre, "Carimbaeo" by Nacao Zumbi, "Instante Feliz" by Vates E Violas, "Erectuos Cactus" by Cabruera, "O Pobre Dos Dentes De Ouro" by Cidadao Instigad, and "Cabidela" by Mombojo. CD