Juno Recommends International April 2021

Review: Seriously good modern high-life action here, as Philophon regular Florence Adooni joins forces with some exceptional musicians to lay down two high-quality musical treats. Our pick of the pair is superb A-side 'Mam Pe'ela Su're', a "typical Frafra-Gospel hymn" that Adooni and her accomplices have turned into a deliciously soulful and groovy slab of highlife (think glistening, Ebo Taylor style guitars, shuffling drums and righteous horns). Turn to the flip for 'Naba Aferda', a homage to the chief of her home village that offers a slightly heavier and more raw-sounding take on the highlife sound that's so jaunty and carnival-friendly that it could pass as an obscure Brazilian recording from the late 1970s.

Review: Severino Dias de Oliveira a.k.a. Sivuca is a small man with a big sound. He was a big contributor to classic albums by legendary Brazilian percussionist Airto first have been oft reissued since the 70s, but his own dazzling virtuosity on accordion, guitar, and keyboards paired with a powerful singing voice make hi a standout artists on his own. He toured with the likes of Harry Belafonte and Miriam Makeba and recorded for labels such as RCA and Reprise but this one for vanguard in 1973 was his pinnacle. It's a beautiful blend of Latin sounds, with joyful emotion, sweet summer sounds and melancholy all featuring along the way.

Review: South African jazz-influenced sounds take the lead on this new companion from the tireless Brownswood label. The collection explores the linage of the sounds and communities who helped it evolve as is spread across the country meaning plenty of subtle synths are taken in. The eclecticism is what makes this so essential as the music ranges from the hugely spiritual (from The Brother Moves On) to more late night and inmate (tasks to a fine entry from Sibusile Xaba) via the neo-soul drenched styles of Thandi Ntuli's beautiful 'Dikeledi' which is a particular highlight.

Review: Elza Soares's A Bossa Negra from 1961 is an album as shocking as it is ultimately uplifting. Soares grew up in abject poverty in the favelas of Brazil but still managed to make herself standout. She married Garrincha only to lose him to drink and other women, and also lost her son and mother in car accidents. In between she recorded this landmark album (her second) filled with MPB, bossa nova and samba all finished off with her passionate, husky vocals. It's a joyous affair with will have you shaking your old from top t bottom. What's even better is that Elza Soares is still going strong to this day.

Review: Mexican duo Isidro Cuevas and Willy Cabanas first joined forces a year or two back on a fiery two-tracker for psychedelic, 21st century cumbia specialists Discos Mas. Here they return to the Oakland, California-based label with two more slabs of mind-melting goodness. A-side 'Cumbia Dimension' brilliantly joins the dots between cumbia, reggaeton and dub, adding spacing synths and auto-tune heavy vocals to deep bass, jaunty riffs and cumbia beats. Flipside 'Tu Selva' explores similar sonic territory, albeit via a deeper, warmer and woozier sound, with far more extensive lead vocals.

Review: Far Out has decided to pay tribute to one of Brazilian music's most overlooked - and, let's face it, obscure - talents, Ana Mazzotti. She recorded just two albums in the 1970s before passing away from cancer in her early 30s a few years later. Both of those album have become sought-after, particularly 1974 debut "Ninguem Vai Me Segurar". This first ever reissue proves why. Warm, breezy and effortlessly soulful, it sees Mazzotti and her backing band sashay between languid samba-jazz, intergalactic bossa, soft-focus Brazilian soul and the kind of attractive jazz-funk/fusion that would later become the hallmark of Azymuth (not much of a surprise since two of that band's founder members were part of Mazzotti's backing band).

Review: Hailing from Medellin, Colombia, Killabeatmaker is a Global Bass DJ / Producer, audio engineer, singer and songwriter; a multi-faceted artist you'll be hearing a lot about in the near future. Drawing his inspiration from his Afro-Colombian and Indigenous roots, Killabeatmaker efficiently mixes traditional sounds and rhythms with urban beats and raw club music. His EP "Matiela Suto" is an homage to the diversity of Colombia's people and cultures, packed with progressive house buildups, Nigerian club music influences and enchanting female voices.

Review: Another new week means another selection from Joe Claussell's impossibly steamy and intense reworks. The super limited Manifestations: Long Versions EP 2 collects another three such tunes on one coloured vinyl. First is a dreamy and sun kissed tune from Mental Remedy that is all breathy vocals and noodling solos, then The Bayara Citizens offer a high speed salsa dance that transports you to the south of the Med and beyond. Another one from Mental Remedy cloys out with more afro rhythms and organic, wooden percussive sounds.

Review: Three years ago, Four Flies Records released a previously unknown album from library music composer Guiliano Sorgini called Africa Oscura - a set of dark, intoxicating instrumentals originally intended to soundtrack documentaries. Now they've decided to get it remixed, with the results being shared over two EPs. There's plenty to admire on this second volume. Jolly Mare step up first with a near perfect Afro-cosmic take on 'Afro Sortilegio'-all tribal percussion, doom-laden bass, funky Clavinet motifs and spacey synth sounds- before PAd [sic] delivers the 'Mondo Bali' mix of 'Notte Nella Savala' -a deep, moody and bass-heavy workout with added delay-laden keys. Elsewhere, Quiroga and Dario Bass reinvent 'Oasi Nella Giungla' is a deep synth-funk warmer, and Paine re-casts 'Miraggio' as a gently but funky Balearic gem.