Singer Lisa Decker shares the set with two different groups – Nautilus on one side, and Saturnvybz on the other – both of whom provide some great grooves for her vocals! Nautilus have a style that's nice and lean – a core funky trio with lots of sweet keyboards that slide in warmly, and resonate strongly alongside Decker's presentation of the lyrics. Saturnvybz are a bit more guitar-based, and bring out a different quality in Lisa's voice – maybe a bit more pointed, yet still as powerful – balancing things out nicely. Nautilus tunes include "Free", "Let's Wake Up", "Rimy Whitewater", and "Summer Child". Saturnvybz tracks include "Stay With Me", "Love & Hope", and "On My Way". (Neo Soul, New Grooves) CD

Brazilian percussion mixed with 21st Century sounds – all served up sublimely in the hands of Kirk Degiorgio – one of the few artists we could ever expect to get a project like this just right! The album follows nicely off Kirk's previous collaboration with Azymuth – but has an even starker sound overall, as core acoustic percussion bits are worked into contemporary rhythm programs – then topped with some of the crackling electric touches that you'd expect – often with a warmer sound than other projects of this nature, but a groove that's plenty driving overall. Titles include "Babilonia", "Morro Da Formiga", "Dende", "Borel", "Vidigal", "Rocinha", "Prazeres", and "Complexo Do Alemao" – plus remixes "Babilonia (Rick Wilhite dub)", "Borel (Jonas Kopp my vision of samba rmx)", and "Borel (Nxi rmx)". CD

An amazing full length debut from Democustico – one of the best new Brazilian albums we've heard in years, and a set that easily matches the best work by classic artists on the Far Out label! The pair mix older and modern modes of expression – using lots of post-bossa jazz in their grooves, particularly the soaring modes explored heavily on the Brazilian scene at the end of the 70s – but also topping things off with some wonderful vocals from Gabriela Geluda, who has a spacious, joyous quality that reminds us a lot of Joyce at her best! Other instrumentation includes piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar, and percussion – as well as some light rhythm patterns from Roc Hunter, long a Far Out associate – and one with a great sensitivity for preserving the warm soul of Brazilian music. Titles include "Summer Of Flora", "Grito", "Rejoycing", "O Sonho", "A Sereia", "Vaga-lume", "Nunca Never", and "Pera". (Brazil, New Grooves) CD