A mindblowing record from the great Ed Motta – a set that continues all the warmer, English language elements of his recent albums – but one that also seems to have Ed hitting a new sort of sophistication too! The sound is incredible – almost out-AORing all the global AOR references that Motta's given us in both his own music, and some of the great collections he's done over the years – but there's also more of a special small combo vibe, with some instrumentation on the record that seems even more compelling than usual – and which includes some great guitar moments from Ed, in addition to Fender Rhodes. Take it from us, the whole thing is superb – as appealing to fans of the older soul tradition that Motta inherited in his youth, as it is to people who love jazzy vocals, and even those elite few of us who think that Steely Dan were one of the highest points in 20th Century music. (Ed's with us on that one, by the way!) Titles include "Lost Connection To Prague", "Novice Never Noticed", "The Required Dress Code", "X1 In Test", "The Tiki's Broken There", "Shoulder Pads", and "Your Satisfaction Is Mine". Great bonus tracks here – "Sweetest Berry (alt version organ)", "Sweetest Berry (alt version piano solo)", "Novice Never Noticed (alt solo)", "X1 In Test (alt take 2)", "The Tiki's Broken There (alt take)", and "Your Satisfaction Is Mine (inst version)". (Neo Soul, Brazil) CD

A wicked collaboration between Marcos Valle and Celso Fonseca – a set that's different than other recent work from both artists, and pretty darn great overall! The style's a bit fuller and more soulful than some other recent Valle albums – and Fonseca's got more force too – not nearly as gentle as on some of his own albums, and working with Marcos in a mode that recalls some of the best soul-based sound of Valle's records from years back! Both Marcos and Celso sing on the set – and Valle plays lots of Fender Rhodes, in ways that remind us that he was one of our favorite musicians to handle the keyboard back in the 70s – and most cuts on the record are co-composed by Valle and Fonseca. Titles include "Quase Perto", "Tres Da Tarde", "Pagina Central", "Pra Tocar Assim", "Faz De Conta", "Azul Cristal", "Voo Livre", and "Curvas Do Tempo". CD

Wonderful music from Lucas Arruda – an artist who embraces some of the warmest, most soulful styles of Brazilian music from back in the 70s, but manages to deliver them with a crisp contemporary spin! There's a lot of vintage Azymuth-styled grooves here – wicked rhythms, excellent keyboards, and a jazzy sensibility that makes for a magical flow throughout – and while there's some great soulful vocals on the set, the album also has plenty of strong instrumental moments too – a real delight all the way through, and an instant classic that may well even top Lucas' previous albums! Andre Mota lends some great vocals to the set – and titles include "The Mountain", "4:28 AM", "Novos Planos", "Ominira", "Projecoes", "The Bravest Heart", "Chant & Dance", and "Abraco Pro Ed". CD

A great batch of Brazilian soul from Sorry Drummer – an artist with a touch that's a lot more open and laidback than some of his contemporaries – much more strongly influenced by American underground hip hop than some of the more booty-shaking beats of the Brazilian mainstream – at a level that makes this whole set come across with a surprisingly timeless, durable vibe! There's a really nice blend of guests here – Sorry Drummer acts as the head of the sound system, opening things up for Filiph Neo, Groove Coletivco, Silvera, Mr Reed, Summer Azul, and even Patricia Marx – as the vibe changes nicely from track to track, while the album still holds onto a great sense of quality throughout. Titles include "If You Let Me", "Slow Down", "Fly Away", "Na Vitrola", "Aeroporto", "Life Is Too Short", "Dias De Sol (rmx)", "Sunshine", and "Yeah Love". (Neo Soul, Brazil) CD