Latin | Brazil Vinyl 150 Items

The joyful and melancholy songs of the soul that have been sung on Tumaco, a small island in the Pacific Gulf of Colombia that has been exposed to violence, abandoned, and isolated, are now echoing across the world's dance floors. The world's first recording of Alba Maria Valencia and her group Cantoras DE Yerbabuena, the bearers of a little-known local tradition, who were born and raised on the small island of Tumaco, also known as "the pearl of the Pacific," and have been singing the songs they learned from their parents for over 65 years! The artwork for the sleeve is by Yukie Monnai. The semicircular arch in the background, which was a symbol of Tumaco, collapsed earlier this year and is no longer there. Alba Maria Valencia and the members of Cantoras de Yerba Buena are very happy to have this arch painted on the sleeve.

For her first solo project, the French-Chilean singer Alsy has teamed up with producers Rose, Peter Dallas and Jimmy Whoo. Co- produced with Jimmy Whoo, this EP reflects the meeting of the two artists' worlds, between the nocturnal atmosphere of Motel Music and the sunny ambiance of the singer's South American influences.

With her project Candela, Alsy has imagined her own musical universe, intimate and deep, rich in the variety of her influences. The lyrics are passionate, the rhythms smooth and warm, and the project is a subtle mix of modernity and nostalgia, between steamy reggaeton, smooth synth pop and hypnotic electro.

The singer's smooth and bewitching voice is the hallmark of this debut EP, which takes us on a dreamy journey from Paris to Santiago, against a backdrop of rhythmic and atmospheric music.

I am Álvaro Sosa, a bassist musician originally from Cd. Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico, where I grew up and which remains my home to this day. Since my childhood, I have felt a great passion for music, exploring various rhythms and genres. However, Latin rhythms have always been a fundamental part of my life, thanks to the influence of my family. Although I didn't admit it at first, I understood that these rhythms were part of my identity and were rooted in my roots. Approximately 10 years ago, the idea of a Jamaican music project arose in my mind, an inspiration that grew up since I discovered these rhythms that I fell in love with. This music fueled my desire to play an instrument, consolidating my dedication to this beautiful profession. However, due to my development as a musician and resource limitations at the time, I was unable to shape the project. My love for Jamaican music persisted, and accepting that I could not replicate its authentic sound, I decided to fuse the Latin rhythms I have known since my childhood, with Jamaican music. This is how the project was born, impregnated with that Latin essence, evident in each song and in the session format that gives me the freedom to collaborate with musicians I admire. The challenge for this year is to bring the project to live stages, an idea that was not initially in my plans, but given the demand of those who appreciate the project, I am willing to make it a reality. The new album follows the same concept as the first, a journey through Latin American Ska with some Reggae and Rocksteady as well, maintaining the essence of The Jamming Sessions. It includes new collaborations, more solid arrangements and an improvement in recording quality, because a work done with love and respect deserves the best. I’m sure that those who enjoyed Vol.1 will fall in love with Vol.2. Featuring 11 flavored songs, this album represents my musical passion evolution.

The name of the band and the cover of the disc explicitly reveal the influence: Secos&Molhados. Investing in androgenia, progressive rock and samba-soul, Assim Assado tried to be a response of the small CID label to the enormous success that the Secos&Molhados did to the young public.

Led by Miguel de Deus (formerly Os Brazões), who signed most of the compositions and assumed the guitar and vocals, the group never took off, leaving only this LP, now almost forgotten. Curiosity: in 1977 Miguel de Deus falls headlong into funk, casting the rather interesting (and rare) "Black Soul Brothers" Also repressed on Groovie Records.

Band formed by Miguel de Deus in 1974, inspired by the Secos&Molhados and making clear both in the name, which is copied from a song of Secos&Molhados, both on the cover of the band's only album. Also the visual was well androgen but the music, a mixture of psychedelic, Progressive and a strong touch of Brazilian Soul music. The only album that had the same name as the band, did not get repercussion despite presenting a lot of quality.

Now the repress of this rare pearl brings to the light the huge talent of Miguel De Deus.

The Shadow of Your Smile is a studio album by Astrud Gilberto. With arrangements by Don Sebesky, Claus Ogerman, and João Donato, it was released via Verve Records in 1965. It peaked at number 66 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Celebrating 30 years of Far Out Recordings, Azymuth’s biggest club track from their groundbreaking 1979 album Light As A Feather is reissued on 12” vinyl, in its full length unedited form.

When it was originally released, Azymuth’s disco fusion worldwide hit “Jazz Carnival” stayed in the UK top twenty for eight straight weeks. It was used as the theme music for national broadcasts in Italy and even made it onto Top Of The Pops in the UK. Since then the track has become a mainstay for disco, house, and eclectic DJs like Kerri Chandler, Floating Points, Four Tet, Mr Scruff, Gilles Peterson, Dan Snaith and Danilo Plessow.

First released in 2012, the 10 minute, original full length unedited mix of Jazz Carnival sold out immediately and has become Azymuth’s most in demand dance weapon to date. On the B side, Ashley Beedle and Yam Who? teamed up to rework Azymuth’s 1979 proto house classic for the 21st century, which made the record even more sought after still.

The vinyl DJs have been nagging us to bring this 12” back for over a decade. So for our 30th anniversary, we thought we’d finally do it!

The 12” vinyl of Jazz Carnival (Original Full Length Unedited Mix) will be available as a limited Record Store Day 2024 vinyl release via Far Out Recordings.

Debut 7" of a 7-piece Caribbean + Afrobeat + Dub combo led by Frente Cumbiero saxophonist/clarinetist Marco Fajardo! This is a masterpiece that shows how Colombian dance music has cultivated its mellow sound by greedily incorporating Caribbean and African music through the culture of the Pico Sound System, which is popular in the Caribbean Gulf Coast region, especially in the Caribbean city of Barranquilla. The artwork was drawn by Inti-Huayra Guevara Rios from Bogota.

Cult soca disco 12", produced by Leston Paul and originally released in 1984 - now available in full vocal and instrumental versions for the first time in 40 years.Barbara Hernandez was working as a backing singer for Kool and the Gang in New York at the time the track was recorded, and the session featured their horn section as well as a who"s who of the Trinidad music scene for what would be Barbara"s only solo release. Suffering from poor distribution at the time of release, the 12" failed to make waves at the time but is now lovingly remastered and cut loud, a sure fire dancefloor filler.

As mood changers go, this track is up there with the best. Last year whilst DJing with miche at Shapes festival in the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland, a breathtaking yet ominous Alpine sky suddenly became a picture postcard moment. The clouds parted and a double rainbow formed, as miche dropped Studio Rio's bossa nova remake of Bill Withers’ all-time classic 'Lovely Day'. From there, the dancefloor shifted gears and morphed into full-swing feel-good vibes, in a beautiful, spontaneous moment nobody could have planned for.

Mr Bongo now proudly presents a reissue of this brilliant, bossa-channelling Bill Withers reinterpretation from Studio Rio’s 2014 release ‘The Brazil Connection’. Masterminded by the German Grammy award-winning Berman Brothers, the project was born out of their deep love of Brazilian music. “Our goal was to bring the Brazilian joie de vivre to iconic performances by well-known artists. What would these classic songs sound like had they been recorded in the studios of Rio de Janeiro in the first place, with the best Brazilian musicians and arrangers?” the brothers reflect.

Capturing the life force of Brazil, the beating heart that is its music, they set out to find the musicians who would fit best with their concept. Landing in Rio in 2013 a series of coincidences led to them being introduced to their idols Marcos Valle and Roberto Menescal, who both agreed to come on board. The Berman Brothers also wanted to find some of the musicians who recorded with one of Brazil’s most influential composers Tom Jobim. “Fifty years after Jobim made the music that really defines bossa nova, we found that many of his sidemen were still active, including Paulo Braga of Jobim’s famed rhythm section. It was magic; everything just fell into place.”

There's no question that the original of ‘Lovely Day’ is up there as one of the most feel-good, spirit-lifting anthems of all time. Here the brothers, with the help of a whole host of Brazil’s finest musicians, rework Bill’s soul-fuelled groove into a bossa nova slice of sunshine. With the blessing of Bill and Sony, they were given access to the original multitracks so they could incorporate Bill’s vocals perfectly into the new arrangement.

Joy-injected horns and bouncing double bass blend with the smile-inducing samba flavour of Pretinho da Serrinha’s cavaquinho playing. Tying it all together Torcuato Marinao who worked with the likes of Gal Costa, Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso, completes the line-up as arranger of the songs.

The perfect end-of-the-night track, mood lifter or soul warmer, remakes don’t get much better than this.

Although perhaps not a household name like Sergio Mendes, Marcos Valle or Flora Purim, Bororó is considered to be one of the most important and talented Brazilian musicians of his time. Taking his moniker from the indigenous people of his country, who live in the state of Mato Grosso, Bororó steadily built his career for well over a quarter of a century, along the way performing live and in the studio with such legends as Gal Costa, Milton Nascimento and Caetano Veloso.

“During the pandemic, I was hearing drums all the time,” says Carolina Oliveros, who leads the New York-based group Bulla en el Barrio. “Not only bullerengues, but also tamboritos panamanians, solomas – like panamanian styles – also I’ve been listening to salve, which is a rhythm from Dominican Republic. I always want to try to create a bullerengue that sounds more traditional but also sounds like me with my own influences.” Since 2015, Bulla en el Barrio has been envisioned as a collective and a study group of the traditional rueda de bullerengue – dance music originating from the Caribbean coast of Colombia that transmits ancient African rhythms and knowledge. Oliveros and Bulla co-founder Camilo Rodriguez – both in NY tropical futurism band Combo Chimbita – first experimented with writing their own bullerengue during their monthly residencies at Barbès in Brooklyn, culminating in two singles released by Names You Can Trust in 2017. Thanks to these recordings, these two Bulla en el Barrio compositions are now sung in music festivals and ruedas all over Bullerengue territory. They now present eight original songs recorded live to tape, preserving and documenting the participative and rough vibes of the ruedas and performances. “We’ve been playing together since 2015,” says Rodriguez. “The group is a space to study, connect, to learn, so this record captures a moment where we were – taking a picture of a process. This was just what was happening at that time. It was a way to document what we were doing and our process of learning, documenting bullerengue.”

Further adventures in psychedelic disco cumbia from one-man-band C.A.M.P.O.S. on the much-awaited second studio album

C.A.M.P.O.S. is a one-man tropical electronic psych band consisting of multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer Joshua Douglas Camp. Though C.A.M.P.O.S. stands for Cumbias And More Psychedelic Original Sounds, there are no limits to Camp’s musical creativity, with the project taking cues from everything from Americana and pop rock to Cuban son and German electronica. This is no surprise as Camp has been involved with many diverse groups over the years, including Latin-flavored outfits Chicha Libre, Locobeach and Los Crema Paraíso, but also his country band Westwork, the Eastern-European klezmer quintet Litvakus and literary rockers One Ring Zero.

Since releasing his debut double LP as C.A.M.P.O.S., Miracles & Criminals, on Peace & Rhythm in 2016, Camp has developed his repertoire into a live show that has garnered a devoted following, and which has also seen the live band he assembled evolving into its own distinct entity, Locobeach.

When the pandemic forced Camp into exile he used the time to once more focus on C.A.M.P.O.S. and his one-man-band skills. This initially resulted in two albums, Shake Up The World: Live In The Studio Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, both performed live and recorded in one take at his home studio (and both digitally released by Peace & Rhythm, in 2020 and 2021 respectively).

In addition, he continued to work on the long-awaited follow-up studio album to Miracles & Criminals, which had begun years prior and progressed in the fleeting moments when his other projects allowed. With time to once more concentrate on C.A.M.P.O.S., the album soon began to take shape, eventually coalescing into The Eighth Door. Though catalyzed by isolation, it is far from a solo effort, with Camp enlisting collaborators including pianist and arranger Marlysse Simmons (Bio Ritmo, Miramar), who had initially told Peace & Rhythm about Camp’s unreleased backlog of tropical tracks from back in the Chicha Libre days (which became Miracles & Criminals), to other Chicha Libre band mates Neil Ochoa and Karina Colis, as well as Gabo Tomasini (Yotoco), who was a founding member of Bio Ritmo and played in C.A.M.P.O.S.’s first live appearance in 2016.

As with all C.A.M.P.O.S. releases, The Eighth Door takes you on a cosmic trip to a multi-dimensional landscape of the mind where the body also knows the pleasures of dance and sensuality, but this time there is more focus, with fewer songs and a fuller sound. Yes there is a dark side to planet C.A.M.P.O.S., to which the album sometimes ventures, but ultimately the record is a voyage of self-discovery, making connections between sounds and sentiments that, on paper, appear unlikely companions. Yet, once bound together by the intimate circuitry of Joshua Camp’s creativity and serious songwriting skills, all elements gel in a gravity-defying way. Exotic-sounding electronic keyboards, jangly, fuzzy guitars and percolating percussion loops seamlessly carry the listener through two sides of galaxy-spanning mini epics, sometimes with vocals, sometimes instrumental, and often infused with the shuffling beat of Colombia’s cumbia rhythm with a few disco, rock or salsa accents thrown in for good measure.

Camp juxtaposes the raw and the smooth, destructive and redemptive, sweet and ominous, digital and analog, organic and synthetic, intimate and expansive, all of which combine into an apt metaphor for where we find ourselves today. On The Eighth Door C.A.M.P.O.S. pulls the great unknown to a realm just within our grasp.

Album cover art by Selina Josephs and photo of Joshua Camp by Julian Parker Burns. Released in conjunction with Calle de Campos, Hyperopia Records (Canada) and Sounds and Colours (uk). Digital album has five bonus tracks, which also come with download card for vinyl purchase.

Now-Again Records presents catalog-wide reissues of Latin music propellant Joe Bataan’s legendary Ghetto Records. Next up in the series - Joseph “Candido” RodrÌguez - Candido was mentored by Tito Punete, and his debut features a fantastic mix of fiery Salsa, Latin Jazz and Sweet Latin Soul. Ghetto Records was Joe Bataan’s way to get over on “The Man” and out of the ‘hood, a bold move by an artist looking for independence and creative control in an industry that had exploited his talents and treated him like chattel. As Bataan puts it today, “Ghetto Records was part of my journey, a stepping stone to everything else that I’ve done. I learned enough that it enabled me to get out of the box with my thinking, it showed me how to deal with adversity.” Like many dreams and schemes born of the street, this one was audacious, perhaps even reckless to a fault. Hatched from desperation yet full of hope Ghetto Records came crashing down shortly after its inception. The seven albums in its discography languished out of print - until now. These are the definitive reissues of these albums, licensed from Joe Bataan, with his oversight and input into a 16 page oversize book by Pablo Yglesias that details Bataan’s larger-than-imagination life and his little Latin label that could.

Agua Larga offre une immersion dans la culture Afro-Équatorienne de la province d'Esmeraldas. Les auteurs ont captés comment la musique s’inscrit dans la vie quotidienne des habitant.e.s et dialogue avec les autres éléments sonores qui l’entourent. La matière musicale est ainsi accompagnée de récits, de poèmes et de scènes du quotidien captés sur le vif, loin des studios aseptisés, dans l’espace public, sur la berge des fleuves ou en bord de mer.

La thématique de l’eau (“agua” en Espagnol), sous toutes ses formes, est le fil conducteur. La mer a amené les esclaves vers ce nouveau continent mais c’est elle qui fournit aujourd’hui en poissons les pêcheurs. Les fleuves et rivières, empruntés par les bateaux et pirogues, permettent de connecter les villages de cette forêt tropicale. L’eau est aussi devenue une denrée rare en ville, où son accès est encore difficile pour une partie de la population. Les scènes prises sur le vif marqueront cette omniprésence de l’eau, comme lieu de vie et ressource quotidienne nécessaire."

The physical debut of Conjunto Media Luna, a band of the new generation of neo-tropical movement in Bogota, acclaimed by Frente Cumbiero and the Meridian Brothers! Cumbia Sabanera is a traditional cumbia from Montes de Maria, Colombia, where many maestros have been born. Highly recommended for fans of old-school accordion cumbia, such as Andres Landero, who captivated Joe Strummer, and Carmelo Torres, who is enjoying a remarkable reappraisal.

This is the quartet's second LP, recorded in 1971, and contains mostly Peruvian songs with a strong Cuban flavor where Pancho Acosta's electric guitar reaches vertiginous heights and is combined with outstanding conga and timbales playing. Extremely rare and hard to find in its original issue, this is the first-time reissue. Remastered from the original tapes.The guitarist Francisco "Pancho" Acosta Angeles (1946) played a significant role in spreading love for Cuban rhythms across Peru, those sunshine beats breaking through the cloudiness that hangs over Lima most of the year, as the city bears a closer resemblance weather wise to London than to Havana. In 1967, after making a name for himself with his six-stringed skill, he made his vinyl debut with Compay Quinto. Shortly after Pancho left Company Quinto, he joined Los Kintos. When Los Kintos disbanded, Pancho Acosta swiftly moved on to his next project for MAG: the Cuarteto Yemayá, formed by tumba drummer and singer Miguel Montoya, bassist Máximo Pecho and timba drummer José Luis Fiallega, all under Pancho's direction and arrangements. The quartet's debut album, "Ecos del Trio Matamoros", was a tribute to the Cuban trio of the title and comprised cover versions as well as a couple of their own songs. This is the quartet's second LP, recorded between July and August 1971. "El Tic Tac" contains mostly Peruvian songs. The foreign versions on the album include the classic 'Compay Gallo', written by Miguel Matamoros; 'Toribio carambola' and 'El Tic Tac', from the repertoire of the Cuban Trio Servando Diaz; and 'Sandunguéate', best known in Celia Cruz's version. 'Oye Mi Son' and 'Oye Mi Guitarra' were composed by the album's lead vocalist, Miguel Montoya. Percussionist Jorge Mariazza (Los Pachas, Manzanita y su Conjunto) co-wrote 'Descarga Yemayá' with Pancho, which features outstanding conga and timbales playing. Pancho also composed tracks on his own: 'Me Voy a Monsefú', 'Mi Provinciana', 'Yo Me Voy de Aquí' and 'Flaca y Fea', th...

"Espontaneamente se Tenta: Aventuras Sonoras de Djalma Corrêa is an album of deeply exploratory pieces by legendary percussionist and composer Djalma Corrêa. This double-LP set features previously unreleased recordings that cover a wide range of sonic experiments, revealing an unknown side of the prolific and groundbreaking Brazilian artist. Most of the tracks on this album were digitized for the first time – directly from the original tapes – and were compiled in collaboration with Corrêa just before he passed.

The result is a wild and unsettling collage that shows us just how original and intense Corrêa could be: from the unorthodox electroacoustic piece Evolução (Para Fita e Filme), which channels ancestral African inspirations to create a sonic cosmogonical narrative, to the proto-mixtape Exemplo de Sintetizadores, in which he transitions from transcendental drones to astral cha-cha-chas.

While the compilation might seem disjointed at first listen, it is in fact the most accurate translation or representation of his central concept: spontaneous music. Djalma's relationship with sound was always guided by his fearless approach to listening, and by his audacious and dynamic interaction with both musicians and equipment, which enabled him to work across a wide array of genres: from jazz to completely abstract music, always through a personal DIY ethic.

Corrêa developed a strong bond with experimentalist and inventor Walter Smetak, with whom he shared a studio during his formative years at Universidade Federal da Bahia. Suite Contagotas, featured in this collection, is no less than a sonic materialization of that bond: an experiment revolving around dripping water and its randomness – a tentative exploration of the ideas and possibilities envisioned by Smetak for his audacious, albeit unrealized, Estúdio OVO.

Djalma, however, is best known for his studio work in historical albums, including many by Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Jorge Ben, and for his own polyrhythmic opus Baiafro. The last track is an early recording called Bossa 2000 dC, first performed by Djalma at the 1964 Nós, Por Exemplo concert, an event which is often cited as marking the beginning of the Tropicalia movement. At the time, he was the only artist in the lineup using electronic devices to create sounds, e.g. medical oscillators and contact mics to augment his percussive palette.

The artwork is an amalgamation of material found in the Djalma Corrêa Archive (currently managed by his son Caetano Corrêa) and other material created during the period in which the record was being put together. The intention is to guide the listeners through this possibly tempestuous soundscape, giving them additional resources so that they may draw their own meanings and make their own sense of this extremely immersive and original experience – which is like nothing we've ever heard before."

Limited edition 7" vinyl of "La Mujer Serpiente" on the A side and "Selam (Bass Mix)" on the B side.
La Mujer Serpiente/Cumbia Serpiente is the 1st single from Earthtones' upcoming LP on Wonderwheel. This collaboration with longtime friend & co-producer, Oliwa, features vocal delivery and heartbreakingly beautiful songwriting by Colombian Canadian artist/singer, Lido Pimienta. Behind the live cumbia rhythms, bass synths, analog keys, 808 drums & guitars, the vision of this track is one of upliftment of womxn and femmes everywhere.

Selam is a vision of peace. This collaboration between producer/DJ Earthtones and Ethiopian musician/vocalist Etsegenet Mekonnen features haunting vocals sung in Amharic.
Analog & semi-modular synths combine with 909 drums and afrobeats percussion by Earthtones, to weave grooves for Etsegenet's depth in songwriting, voice and soul. The main version has a dancehall bassline that calls one to movement, while the dub versions evoke mystery amidst long modulated leads + filtered pads.
Selam enezra ahunim (let us sow peace).
Electronic

El Clan Antillano was an obscure, short-lived salsa group started in 1975 by singer Jacky "El Caballo" Carazo, originally from Cartagena, and radio host / song composer Mike Char, from Barranquilla. The band was active only until 1977, with a mere two albums to its name. Carazo and Char, "los amigos costeños" (friends from the Caribbean coastal area) created El Clan Antillano, backed by astudio orchestra comprised mostly of Fruko Y Sus Tesos band members, as a fresh start after the previous group Carazo had been had become inactive. The record has been remastered from the original tapes, with an additional three bonus cuts taken from two rare 45 singles, including the sought after track 'Alma'. First time reissue. 180g Vinyl. While the ephemeral El Clan Antillano may not be as well known as the groups it's related to, namely El Afrocombo and Fruko Y Sus Tesos, it certainly deserves credit as a worthy participant in the historical evolution of salsa colombiana.

“Exposição Popular” is the new album from Rio de Janeiro based producer and composer Guerrinha, sonically orbits 80´s new wave & fusion jazz, imagine a lost ECM gem, layered in low-fi subterranean exoticism, that somehow conjures the soundtracks of Angelo Badalamenti. Here we find Guerrinha loosened up, the rhythm spilling out, playfully impossible to grasp as it floats over space-age ambient synth and organ work that takes references from Pat Metheny, John Scofield and Rita Lee. “The last LP, "Cidade Grande" was all about acceptance of the big city as a monolith, but here I wanted to focus on the exposition of the intimate as the most logical, obvious choice. Hence the name "Exposição Popular" (in english "Popular Exhibition"), which is wordplay, as all exhibitions should be inherently popular since they're all out about exhibiting yourself to everyone, but because of the nature of the art, it becomes the opposite of the "popular", it becomes niche.” - Guerrinha

1968, in the Brazilian dictatorship, Fábio released this psychedelic gem LSD (Lindo Sonho Delirante), writed by him and Carlos Imperial.

A soul / garage floor killer till today. Besides the alucinated rhythm, the song was an explicit provocation to the political society of the 60’s.

Two years after the release of his first self-titled album, DJ producer Massimo Napoli aka Galathea presents the new 'Sacred Love', in which he once again avails himself of the collaboration of his friend producer and bass player Salvo Dub, as well as a combo of respected musicians: singer Kadi Koulibaly - originally from Burkina Faso - already featured on the first album, Giulia La Rosa, author of the lyrics and performer of the title track, pianist Mario Pappalardo, percussionist Sergio Spitaleri and drummer Luciano Cantone. 'Sacred Love' is definitely a more mature, intense and profound journey than the previous album of the same name, which enhances the magical dreamlike and spiritual atmospheres of a certain African culture. The album guides the listener along a path of multi-ethnic contaminations: "Divinité", "Ouaga" and "Koloko", well interpreted by Kadi, touch on the sacredness and mysticism of the African continent and blend well with the Spiritual Jazz sounds that have evolved in the West. "Divinité", through the spoken word of French poet Diego Hernandez, tackles the themes of faith, life and the relationship with one's 'self', with references to French chanson productions, in which Kadi's spiritual song, at times 'Saharan', intersects and expands into cosmic space. The title track, the first single from the album, also released on 7" (45rpm) in two versions, is an Afro-American gospel with a typically afrobeat rhythm, vaguely reminiscent of Nina Simone's 'See-Line Woman'. North Africa is represented by "Equator", while we climb further north into the middle of the Mediterranean Sea with "Medican Blues", to land in Stromboli with the Deep Jazz of "Ginostra", whose title recalls the village of the marvellous island in the Aeolian archipelago. Then we have the Cuban track "Caminito", a sort of Cha-Cha with a romantic piano melody (à la Chucho Valdez) well performed by maestro Mario Pappalardo; and then again "Eos", strongly Balearic with a Brazilian mood; "Impression", a dreamy journey of impact; "Sirens", already present on the first album and here reworked in a new Spiritual-Ambient version produced by Agosta. "Sacred Love" is thus an original and musically borderless album, which expands a certain African sacred culture and naturally blends Afrobeat, Jazz and Blues atmospheres with the Balearic sounds of Mediterranean culture. Enjoy listening!

The Joy Of Flying (German title ?Silvia im Reich der Wollust?) is a porn soundtrack from 1977 which doesn?t have a parachute. It going directly into heaven without return. Similar situation as with the prices on the Discogs of the 1978 Hongkong compilation soundtrack featuring some songs of this movie, the prices are astronomical? Finest Comic, Disco, Bossa, Ambient album by legendary Gerhard Heinz from 1977. Reminding over long passages of classics like Richard Schneider ? Dreamlike Land or Wolfgang Maus ? Children Of The Universe, both produced also in 1977. Official first time ever full LP album soundtrack release.First pressing with 2 foldout bonus posters

Abriendo Puertas is the second Spanish language album by Gloria Estefan, originally released in 1995. In contrast to the album Mi Tierra, her successful Spanish debut album that was primarily influenced by Cuban music, Abriendo Puertas draws on a wider variety of Latin American musical styles. The album performed very well globally, achieving Platinum certification in the United States, Colombia, Argentina, and Spain. It went on to win the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album. Some of the popular songs featured on this album include "Abriendo Puertas", "Farolito", "Tres Deseos" and "Más Allá".
Abriendo Puertas is available as a limited edition of 2000 individually numbered copies on translucent green coloured vinyl and includes an insert with liner notes and lyrics

Reunion's major musical genre, Maloya, becomes "gazé" (crazy) through the sounds composed by Grèn Sémé for this new EP. A gassed maloya that combines direct inspiration from the purest line of this traditional réunionese music with the highly contemporary evolution that is the Grèn Sémé group's signature. Composed during the studio sessions for their latest album, "Zamroza", the first three tracks on this new EP reveal the sunny side of the Creole band. You can taste their love of lyrics and their thirst for discovery. And the right mix of compositions. Inspired by the tradition of the greatest song/percussion pieces in the island's history, Grèn Sémé offers three anthems that lend themselves perfectly to the remix exercise.

Deluxe bonus: the 3 Remixes of Voilaaa + La Dame + Guiss Guiss Bou bess Voilaaa and the fabulous Bruno Patchworks take on "Siko" to create a Cape Verdean ballroom hit. funana with its heady melodies, it's ultra danceable! La Dame, producer and DJ from Belgium, remixes the eponymous track into an effective batida for the dancefloor, DJs and dancers alike.

Guiss Guiss Bou Bess take remixing a step further, adding Senegalese sabars and the vocals of group leader Mara Seck to Carlo de Sacco's Alkol.

New Discos Quilombo release, now time for Grupo 606 out of Cochabamba, Bolivia!!! Formed in 1967, in 1969 they released a great EP and we've now pressed this 7" with the best two songs out of that record. A true fine example of the "Nueva Onda Boliviana" sound, with a killer cover of the Blues Magoos' "Gotta Get Away" and the self-penned "No, no puede ser", kind of beat number with taquirari influence.

For the second instalment in our Cuban Classics series, we proudly present this sought-after slice of sublime Afro-Cuban jazz from 1976. It comes courtesy of one of Cuba’s most influential acts, Grupo Irakere. Founded in 1973 by Chucho Valdés (son of the Cuban pianist and bandleader Bebo Valdés) the group was home to many of Cuba’s finest musicians over the years. With an electrifying style and sound, they mixed traditional Cuban music with jazz, funk, and rock.

This self-titled album includes the much-loved, dancefloor heavy-hitter 'Chequeré-Son’, a Latin-jazz funk masterpiece with Cubanized bebop-flavoured horn lines, lush keys, and ‘70s hip swagger. Though 'Chequeré-Son’ is the keystone of the record, the album is laced with brilliance at every turn, from the Carlos Santana-esque channelling ‘Iya’ with its percussive Latin power, to the sultry, slick and passionate '38 1/2’. Elsewhere, the absorbing, ever-building energy of 'Juana 1600’ and steamy vocal dancer ‘Xiomara’ are also highlights of this incredible album.

Pressed on Cuba’s state led Areito Records, the album was well received internationally, garnering distribution in Finland on Love Records, in Italy on Phase 6 Super Stereo, and also in the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Venezuela.

A cherished Afro-Cuban triumph, this album has been crying out for a reissue and we’re delighted to make that happen.

For the third release in our Mr Bongo Cuban Classics series, we reissue the iconic 1974 debut album by the mighty Grupo Irakere. Led by Chucho Valdés, son of Cuban pianist and bandleader Bebo Valdés, the band would go on to become of the most influential and successful groups emanating from Cuba in this period. Their debut ‘Teatro Amadeo Roldan Recital’ is an in-demand and incredible Afro-Cuban, jazz-funk masterpiece originally landing on Cuba’s state-owned imprint, Areito.

One of the jewels of the album is the beast of an opener, 'Bacalao Con Pan’. A heavy dancefloor Latin-funk burner, with ripping Wah-Wah guitar, a blistering mix of Latin percussive elements and horns firing on all cylinders. It’s a song which builds and breaks with an energy and power that still lights up the dance to this very day.

The album is a varied bag of tricks, traversing moods, styles and genres whilst melding traditional rhythms with more contemporary mindsets. Take the delectable downtempo ballad ‘Danza Nañiga’ or ‘Valle Picadura’ that starts on a similar tip, before erupting into a horn heavy heater. Move through to find ‘Taka Taka Ta’ where Afro-Cuban jazz, call and response vocals and brain-busting organs marry in steamy unison.

Elsewhere, continuing this melting pot of musical influences, the prog/psychedelic rock leaning 'Quindiambo', expertly combines traditional Latin music with psych rock in a similar way to Santana. 'Misaluba' is another highlight, a cover version of a song by the British-Italian based group Cyan, written by Mario & Giosy Capuano, making it their own with this tripped-out, percussion-rich makeover.

As debuts go, Grupo Irakere’s ‘Teatro Amadeo Roldan Recital' is about as good as it gets and gives a snapshot of Cuba in the mid ‘70s, with a band that were destined for big things.

Another door opens to new possibilities for Cumbia! From the cyberspace connecting the Bay Area, London, Monterrey, and Tokyo comes Lovers Cumbia, a mellow, sweet, and heartbreaking music. The latest release from Grupo Jejeje, the unique cyber-cumbia sonidera project of Turbo Sonidero, a Chicano born in San Jose, California, and Arrabalero, a Persian immigrant living in London, is a lovers' cumbia featuring the sweet and sensual voice of Simone Michelle, a singer who is gaining attention in the Bay Area! The cover is a reversible sleeve by the genius Ryohei Kazumi of Entertainment. When placed side by side with Grupo Jejeje's previous work, "Kumbia De La Rober / Quetzalli" (okra310), a single composition appears. Two postcards with portraits and lyrics by Simone Michelle are enclosed.

Trippy, dark and mysterious. A new development of the popular Mexican Sonidero style cumbia by the hottest cyber cumbia unit of the moment! The cover is a reversible sleeve by Ryohei Kazumi, the genius of Entertainment. This is part 1 of a two-part work, and the two pieces will be placed side by side to complete a single picture.

Limited to 1000 copies worldwide, only available with GUTS and HHV.

In 2022, Guts brought together his musical family for his ‘Estrellas’ album. An ambitious project that brought together musicians from: Franc, Cuba and various African countries. For a journey that was as rich artistically as it was humanly. The list of superlatives was almost endless, "Formidable", "incredible", "unforgettable" and "magical" all thrown into the pot, during these magical moments in the Dakar studio. From the seventeen tracks heard on the original album, three have been entrusted to the expert and inventive hands of four producers, who have come up with new interpretations bringing Africa and the Caribbean together for a modern dancefloor.

‘Por Que Ou Ka Fe Sa’ (Poirier Remix)

From his studio in Montreal, Canadian Poirier has opted for a strong groove and relentless bass drum to keep out intruders, putting vocalists David Walters and Brenda Navarrete in a rhythmic cocoon. Accompanied in a slightly moody bassline that adds some driving muscle to the track. The hooky guitar line eventually gives way to the saxophone that emerges from the mix to parade around the front line. The original electric piano is replaced by a synth pad that loops and spins driving the track to its conclusion.

‘Por Que Ou Ka Fe Sa’ (David Walters Remix)

Before recording this track, David Walters and Brenda Navarette didn't even know each other. So in the magic of the moment that brought them together is a genuine and sincere artistic bond. It is no longer Guts but David who is at the musical helm, and before they too can savour the connection between the two artists, the dancers will have to pass through an overheated corridor where a Caribbean rhythm resonates with percussion. Digital and woodwind swirl and clash until the vocal encounter with the artists. It's a moment of respite that's as suspended as it is life-saving, because the exit is also via the famous corridor.

‘San Lazaro’ (Bosq Remix)

On Bosq’s mix, he’s opted to maintain things focused on the dancefloor, keeping the percussion persistent for the unleashed bodies of the dancers to smile. It's once again the walking bass line rises to the forefront of the groove, softening the shocks of the relentless kick drum. Roberto Valdes's timeless piano has disappeared, while guitars float and add to the atmosphere. The track is no longer awash in cigar smoke. Under Akemis's powerful vocals the low ceiling has disappeared, and the open roof is more a brass-lit spectacle. That doesn't make things any less overheated though, this one is sweaty until the end.

‘Medewui’ (Captain Planet Remix)

Captain Planet brings the dancer’s attention to the Afrobeat flavored jam that rocked the original, highlighting the Pat Kalla & Assane Mboup duet. Despite the track remaining mid tempo, laying back is no longer the order of the day as this mix really develops. The drums are more present jolting along with the organ in the first half. Once all the storytellers have taken their microphones, the rhythmic beats are doubled and the track is carried towards a frenzy of Afro-Latin dancing. Fired up by the brass and percussion, it’s this almost switch up that takes hold of the second part of the tune, with some righteous authority and relentless piano and trumpet.

Two brothers, two guitars, two distinct identities, who become one soul when they compose music. Stephan and Alejandro, are the Hermanos Gutierrez, an instrumental music band with an unmistakable genre that is rooted in Western and Latin American sound. Born from an Ecuadorian mother and a Swiss father they grew up being forged by both cultures, bridging between two worlds, both of which are home.

Their mix of identities, that constant search across different countries clearly emerges in their songs. Their music takes the audience on an intimate journey through time evoking remote spaces. A magical sound that touches the heart, that sparks passion and nostalgia. An open invitation to a constant dialogue of melodies and instruments.

Playing together since their early childhood, a profound musical and interpersonal symbiosis ties the two brothers. If one of them has a melody, the other one completes it with harmony. There is a deep understanding between the two of them, without any need for words.

Active as a band since 2015, they have recorded four albums: “8 Años” (2017), “El Camino De Mi Alma” (2018), “Hoy Como Ayer” (2019), and the newly released LP “Hijos Del Sol” (Children Of The Sun). A body of work that has been inspired by their journey through the vast natural landscapes of Mexico, the silence of the desert, the sun, and their love for this country that made them feel “like going home”, as they affirm. Out came a soundtrack of the sceneries they’ve been exploring.

For the second 12” of the series Far Out has enlisted two of the most on-fire producers in Germany: Max Graef and Glenn Astro, along with one of the UK’s brightest ascendant producers.

THE RECORD IS SHRINK-WRAPPED BUT WAS OPENED DUE TO A SUBSEQUENT STICKER ON THE INSERT!

Jards Macalé’s biography is a testament to the electrifying energy of music and the unwavering spirit of artistic rebellion. Macalé has remained true to his vision, unapologetically embracing the unconventional and challenging the status quo. His music, a conduit of emotion and a mirror to society, continues to weave a sonic tapestry that resonates with the souls of listeners.

In 2022, Macalé celebrated the momentous 50th anniversary of his debut solo album, a groundbreaking masterpiece released by Philips in 1972. This iconic record gifted us timeless tracks such as “Vapor Barato”, “Mal Secreto”, “Farinha do Desprezo”, “Revendo Amigos”, and “Hotel das Estrelas”. Its sheer brilliance united the realms of Brazilian music, infusing samba and bossa nova with the fiery essence of rock, classical harmonies, and the improvisational spirit of jazz. As the years passed, a new generation of musicians and fans discovered this gem, fueling its resurgent popularity and inspiring fresh collaborations.

Last year, Jards Macalé assembled a formidable new band, igniting stages across Brazil with a tour that now sets its sights on Europe. Together with Gui Held on guitar, the Paulo Emmery on bass, and Thomas Harres on drums, Macalé conjures an exhilarating homage to his illustrious body of work. This live performance embodies the untamed spirit and boundless musical freedom that define this visionary artist, transporting audiences to a realm where the past intertwines with the present in a breathtaking display of artistic prowess.

23 Tracks - Limited 180-gram Virgin Vinyl Edition. Born in Bahia, Brazil, singer/song writer Joao Gilberto (1931-2019) was a true legend of bossa nova. While Antonio Carlos Jobim set the standard for the creation of bossa nova in the mid-'50s, with songs like "The Girl From Ipanema" and "Desafinado", it was Gilberto who brilliantly reimagined and, arguably, defined the genre. This edition includes the complete contents of the album Brazil's Brilliant Joao Gilberto, which received a five-star rating from AllMusic, plus several of his greatest hits from his early years. "This vitally important record introduced Joao Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim and thus, bossa nova to the United States in 1961, a year before Stan Getz scored a hit with 'Desafinado'."- AllMusic (Richard S. Ginell), 5 Stars

Back to the roots of one of the most influential south-american songwriter and composer. A pioneer of the musical genre of bossa nova in the late 1950s, Joao was often called "father of bossa ", while in his native Brazil he was referred to as "O Mito" ("The Legend"). This compilation investigates his early career, showing the many sides of his sophisticated art.

Now-Again Records presents catalog-wide reissues of Latin music propellant Joe Bataan’s legendary Ghetto Records. Next up in the series - Puerto Rico-born pianist Joe Acosta had a long, if unsung career in Latin music, but his Ghetto Records LP is his best and most sought-after album. It’s easy to see why - deep trombones, fantastic piano solos, great Salsa alongside a couple of Latin Soul gems make for a heady mix that embodies the Salsoul - Salsa meets Soul - movement kickstarted by Joe Bataan. Ghetto Records was Joe Bataan’s way to get over on “The Man” and out of the ‘hood, a bold move by an artist looking for independence and creative control in an industry that had exploited his talents and treated him like chattel. As Bataan puts it today, “Ghetto Records was part of my journey, a stepping stone to everything else that I’ve done. I learned enough that it enabled me to get out of the box with my thinking, it showed me how to deal with adversity.” Like many dreams and schemes born of the street, this one was audacious, perhaps even reckless to a fault. Hatched from desperation yet full of hope Ghetto Records came crashing down shortly after its inception. The seven albums in its discography languished out of print - until now. These are the definitive reissues of these albums, licensed from Joe Bataan, with his oversight and input into a 16 page oversize book by Pablo Yglesias that details Bataan’s larger-than-imagination life and his little Latin label that could.

Hard-hitting Conguero, Johnny Blas has performed and recorded in the world of Latin music and jazz for over 45 years. He returns with his most recent and sixth musical production as a soloist, Salsa Para Ti. With a career spanning over 30 years, Blas has performed with distinguished artists such as Francisco Aguabella, Mindi Abair, Chuck Loe, Boney James, Evelyn Champagne King, Max Bennett, Bobby Allende, Terry Gibbs, Dave Koz and Poncho Sanchez among many others. On the bongo, congas or timbales, Blas belongs to the cream of the crop. But in this instance, he takes it further, by adding saxophone and flute solos to his percussion. After his recordings A Night In LA (Dos Coronas, 1994), Skin and Bones (Cubop 1997), Mambo 2000 (Cubop 1998), King Conga (Cubop 1999) and Indestructible Spirit (Cubop 2007), Blas presents Salsa Para Ti, 11 pieces consisting of his own material plus some Jazz and Salsa classics such as Boranda, Round Midnight and Baila Que Baila.

LP reissue from this 1970 album, originally out on Phillips. Totally brilliant. A unique blend of samba and soul, that apparently transformed Brazilian music from the release of this record onwards. Trio Mocoto joins Jorge Ben on this album, and it's their percussive sound, Jorge's voice and the light string arrangements that create pure magic... Highly recommended!

The Brazilian singer-songwriter and guitarist Joyce Silveira Moreno was born and raised in the middle of Copacabana, a short beach stroll from the epicentre of the bossa nova universe. Since her older brother was friendly with leading lights of the bossa nova movement such as Roberto Menescal and Eumir Deodato, she was steeped in the form at an early age and witnessed its key evolution first-hand. She began studying journalism in 1967, shortly before her controversial song “Me Disseram” reached the finals of Rio’s second International Song Competition. The following year, her self-titled debut album was produced by Armando Pittigliani, with orchestration by Dorival Caymmi and arrangements by Gaya; along with her own compositions, the album also featured songs by her rising-star friends, including Caetano Veloso and Marcos Valle.

In 1975, Joyce Moreno, who had just wrapped up a tour with legendary Brazilian composer Vinicius de Moraes, found herself in a studio with producer Sergio Bardotti in Rome, Italy.

She had been taking a break from writing and she decided to pick up a selection of her favorite compositions from contemporary Brazilian writers who‘s songs were beacons of hope in times of an ongoing intense Military leadership in her home country. Unlike their previous albums, these recordings live from their reductiveness and intimacy.

For a long time, Passarinho Urbano was considered a secret masterpiece and was highly sought after by record collectors, now Week–End Records is glad to be making it available internationally on vinyl for the first time ever.

Next up in the Mr Bongo Cuban Classics series is an outing by the mighty Juan Pablo Torres from 1978. Released on Cuba’s state-owned Areito imprint, Algo Nuevo showcases trombonist, bandleader, arranger and producer Juan Pablo Torres' unique scope of sound. A melting pot of an album that weaves together jazz-funk and traditional Afro-Cuban genres with tripped-out synth touches and dancefloor grooves.

The opener 'Pan Caliente' is a fiery celebration, combining a driving groove with Latin percussion, feverish horns and infectious “la-la-la” vocals. The wild, squelching cosmic synthlines give an otherworldly touch to proceedings that sit nicely on a modern dancefloor. 'Guajira 2001' is perhaps Juan's future-focussed take on the vibrant style of Cuban dance-led music called guajira. Blistering bongos, congas and claves moving together with trumpets, trombones and twanging acoustic guitars that you can’t help but bounce to.

Other highlights include, 'Cacao', a Cuban cosmic funk strutter that places the claves upfront, with a scatting vocal line and percussive climax reminiscent of George Kranz electronic disco anthem 'Din Daa Daa' from 1983. Elsewhere, 'Elvira' further showcases the psychedelic essence of many of the album’s tracks. A deep Latin workout where tasty percussive breaks and scorching keys blend with trippy vocals and rumbling synths.

A varied album encompassing a variety of Afro-Cuban genres and rhythms entwined with flashes of mind-bending cosmic influence. Algo Nuevo is a further jewel in Cuba’s musical crown of riches, with plenty of dancefloor treats and downtempo numbers held within.

The next release in the Mr Bongo Cuban Classics series, is one of Juan Pablo Torres' most-known and loved albums, the iconic Super Son from 1977. A wonderful record of tripped-out rumbas, psych-Afro-Latin funk and quirky orchestrated tracks with a big band horn section courtesy of Torres’ band, Algo Nuevo.

As well as being the director of Algo Nuevo and Cuban all-star ensemble Estrellas De Areito, the trombonist, bandleader, arranger and producer also released a wealth of albums under his own name predominately on the state-owned imprint Areito/EGREM.

Post-revolution, there was a contrast in Cuba’s musical world. State censorship was at play, but professional musicians were on the government payroll which gave them an artistic freedom. Experimentation emanated in the ‘70s and ‘80s and Super Son is a prime example of that. ‘Y Que Bien' kicks off the album taking you down a tripped-out, cosmic rabbithole, psych guitars and skat vocals opening up into a joyful funk groove laced with jazzy Afro-Cuban horns stabs. Tracks such as 'Pastel En Descarga' seem to come out of nowhere and are completely unique. Fuzzed-up guitar lines and percussion lay the groundwork, with those jubilant horns adding to the energy of this forever building track.

Elsewhere, there’s the ‘70s TV theme-tune feeling of 'Con Aji Guaguao', a playful funk number that boils and bubbles with blistering trombone playing by Torres. Or ‘Son A Propulsión' and ‘Son Riendo’, two more brilliant examples of psychedelic funk, wrapped up in a blanket of Afro-Cuban rhythms. The former sweeping you up in rushes of wind as trumpets, trombones and distorted guitars trade off, the latter, an intergalactic fiesta of tradition and exploration.

Super Son is up there as one of the funkiest Cuban records around, a playful fusion of ideas from a producer, player and group on fine form and, for us, one of our favourite gems to come out of Cuba in this period. A sheer masterpiece.

Santa Suerte is an album that pays homage to the Cumbia known as "Regia" of the megalopolis of Monterrey in the northeast of Mexico.

Introducing the human vocals of LAS Gemelas Diamante for their first time on vinyl, LOS Disco Duro is back with a hard hitting vocoder rendition of the cumbia classic “Chambacu.” The B-side offering is a slow, intense, cumbiafied version of the ‘80s Art of Noise hit “Moments in Love.” Pressed on stunning purple vinyl, this limited edition record is a release you do not want to miss!

The new single from Los Guapos Sensibles gives a cumbia twist to the contemporary reggaeton hit “gatita”. Prominently Featuring the Meowsic cat keyboard on the melody and introducing La Alicia on vocals, this track is an instant winner on the dancefloor. The B-side brings a modern, moog-y, guitar driven version of “Bomba y Maracas” for the lovers of the classics.

Formed in 1961, Los Jets are one of the essential bands in the emergence of rock & roll music in Argentina. They were the first group (and possibly the only one) to include two drummers, they sang and did three-part choruses before The Beatles appeared on the scene, and were also pioneers in fusion as they recorded Argentine and Latin American folk songs with a rock beat. This compilation gathers tracks from their two LPs, singles and their only surviving live recording, registered in January 1966. Includes CD with 15 bonus tracks.

Split 7” featuring the 1972 song “Hechicera” by Bolivian group LOS Signos, and on the flipside we have a wild version of the same track now performed by new Spanish act LOS Malinches.

É Soul Cultura captain, originator of Manchester’s legendary Electric Chair and definitive people’s champion, Luke Una taps into a lifetime’s worth of musical discovery for the second volume in our Mr Bongo Edits series. A cosmic coming together that sees two of Luke’s secret weapons, re-edited and re-contextualised by the man himself to provide optimal dancefloor euphoria. A stalwart of the underground for nearly 40 years, Luke has become an appointed leader of the late night disenfranchised, with an unquestionable ability to pick records that make minds tick. Not least through his two É Soul Cultura compilations released on Mr Bongo over the past two years. A taste that traverses genres as much as it does emotions and decades, who better to give an insight into the tracks he has chosen to edit, than the man himself. “I've been an avid collector of afro-beat house, techno and underground black heart disco since before the basement soul days of Electric Chair 30 years ago. Both these bombs were very much holy grail finds, plucked from the last four decades of digging in random crates of dusty vinyl all over the world.” First up, Thandi Zulu & The Young Five’s interpretation of Pure Energy’s early ‘80s disco power play – ‘Love Game’. With a distinctive South African synth bass and killer keys combo, Luke explains the original has this “bonkers alchemy of heavy machine soul, uptempo rawness and a majestic disco evangelism”, making it ripe for a re-edit. On the B side, Lionel Pillay’s Jazz dancer ‘Plum’. “The original was a relentless 18-minute raw jam”, Luke states, “which despite its late ‘70s South African origin kinda reminded me of a 1986 Chicago piano House record”. “These edits strip the tracks back and rebuild them, giving them more sonic weight with that looped up drum jacking militancy from the days of Chicago, combined with a boosted sense of transcendental, psychedelic, cosmic disco. They have always had such an explosive reaction on so many dancefloors including the heavier electronic club, so it felt only right to reshare them”.

Majoie Hajary is an atypical musician. Born in Paramaribo (Suriname) to Indian parents and raised in Amsterdam. In 1970, in France, accompanied by the best Jazz musicians and with arrangements by Roger Guerin, she recorded “La Passion Selon Judas”.

The result was an incredible fusion of Psych, Funk, Indian and Jazz elements – deep religious Jazz in the vein of Jef Gilson.

Maria Rita is a musical pioneer that was ahead of her time. On first hearing her song, 'Cântico Brasileiro No.3 (Kamaiurá)’, we thought it sounded like a contemporary remix that an artist such as Carl Craig could have produced. In fact, it came out in 1988 and was taken from Maria's 'Brasileira' album, released on the Brazilian, independent Acorde imprint. The song would go on to gain cult status with its inclusion on John Gomez's superb 'Outro Tempo' compilation, released on the Music From Memory label in 2017.

The album fuses new-age electronics with indigenous vocals and Amazonian rhythms. It is beautiful and unique and takes you on a journey through different moods, textures and ethereal planes. Through the sounds Maria created, you join her on a timeless voyage gazing into the future whilst embracing her powerful roots.

Maria Rita Stumpf was born in the southern inland of Brazil, in the mountains of Aparados da Serra. She started writing music at the age of 14, and through participation in festivals and song contests, she developed her material and sound. A move to Rio de Janeiro in 1985 furthered her career and led to the release of the 'Brasileira' album. The record features the legendary pianist Luiz Eça, alongside the group Uaktí and Ricardo Bordini.

1993 saw the release of 'Mapa das Nuvens (Map of the Clouds)' on CD via the Leblon label, but soon after, Maria would have a hiatus from the music industry, dedicating herself to her cultural and arts agency, Acorde. She left the stage and recordings behind, but quality always shines through and years after its original release, international diggers, producers and DJs rediscovered the greatness of Maria's music. This would lead to a re-issue of the ‘Brasileira’ LP, and later Optimo Music/Selva Discos released a 12” EP of ‘Brasileira’ remixes by Selvagem, Carrot Green and Joakim. Maria also spoke at the Red Bull Music Academy Festival in São Paulo, performed at both the Kino Beat Festival and the Brazilian leg of the Dutch festival, Dekmantel. Her two latest albums received critical acclaim, ’Inkiri Om’ in 2020 and ‘Ver Tente’ in 2022. At last, Maria has got the credit and kudos she deserves, inspiring new and future generations of producers and music lovers.

Though previously re-issued, it was after a conversation with Maria that we learned that she wanted to keep this sublime record in press, and this was something that we couldn’t wait to put into action. So here it is, the Mr Bongo pressing of ‘Brasileira’, housed in a gatefold cover.

Introducing the next release in Names You Can Trust's long-running collaboration with the prolific and symbiotic musical universe of Bogotá, Colombia. Mau Gatiyo y Los Años Maravillosos formed in 2021, arising from the very same fertile ground of the Teusaquillo neighborhood that has spawned many records and musical mischievousness. At the heart of this experimental movement is what can only be described asTropicanibalismo, where a deep hunger for the roots of Colombian tropical music are only satiated by dissecting it, consuming it and ultimately creating something new again as some kind of untraditional, unholy, and yet referential form of musical sustenance.
Within this concept, there's a clear lineage of inspired and visionary artists that have been featured throughout Nyct's record catalog for the last 15 years that includes luminaries Frente Cumbiero, Meridian Brothers, and Romperayo. Each of these artists' tentacles have touched several parallel projects from their talented neighbors and friends, and whether through production, playing, engineering, or mixing, these collaborations have heavily contributed to a very fruitful and colorful scene that could only exist within Colombia's capital, while also gaining notoriety in the nooks and crannies of northern latitudes like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Mau Gatiyo, a talented accordian player and vocalist, together with his group (translated as The Wonder Years), is precisely one of these projects, a collective that has found their calling in the echoes of thevallenatosandcumbiasthat once populated the nation's airwaves throughout the 20th century. It's a traditional format that has always lent itself to storytelling, whether it be anecdotes about daily life, or using one's voice to raise uncomfortable questions in protest against the system. This is where Mau Gatiyo's poetic, almostnew wavetimbre finds a lane of its own, straddling a 2020s societal landscape under the guise of ostensibly old-time accordion music.
The debut 7-inch from the group, an excerpt from their recently released album Baño Unisex, was recorded at Mambo Negro studios by Ivan Medellin (La Sonora Mazurén) and mixed by Eblis Alvarez of Meridian Brothers, both familiar names and contributors to the Nyct catalog. Alvarez himself, who has emerged in recent years as an international beacon of this new tropical avant-garde, is no stranger to flipping traditional styles on their head, or at least respectfully off-kilter. Mau Gatiyo y sus Años Maravillosos proves to be another great vessel for this veryBogotano expression, draping the classical playing of its group members in a modern day cosmopolitan expression of righteousness, both outwardly in their dashing, performative fashion sense, and lyrically with their cheeky "420, Reloj"ganja-tune promotion – or even their outward dissenter objections to paramilitary and firearm power in "Poder Militar."
Ultimately, these songs lie at the crossroads where two cultural eras connect and become something unique, a protestation one with performance, dance, and artistic expression. This cathartic ritual of protest has a storied history in music, and these two new entries into the Nyct catalog will hopefully find their place amongst a modern day canon, or at the very least, have your feet moving and your head nodding in just approval.

For the first time on vinyl, MELINGO’s 2000 album Ufa! takes listeners on a captivating journey through the gritty streets of Buenos Aires. The album captures the essence of the urban landscape and the stories of an array of characters, including Jack The Ripper, Count Dracula, dealers, hustlers, trans love, and much more. Ufa! delves much deeper than its predecessor, Tangos Bajos, as it solidifies Melingo's collaboration with tango lyricists Luís Alposta and Enrique Cadícamo across ten tracks. Melingo's partnership with the iconic tango poet Enrique Cadícamo becomes profoundly significant when he sets to music Cadícamo's poem 'Siga Cochero,' written at the age of 19 in 1929. This particular composition gains newfound relevance and preservation thanks to Melingo's intimate collaboration with Don Enrique. The album also features renditions of beloved songs such as the Uruguayan Alfredo ZITARROSA's 'El Violin De Becho,' a chamamé, 'Las Flores Del Paraguay,' and the enchanting lullaby 'Sin Luna,' all exquisitely mastered by Myles BOISEN."

The long-awaited second floor-oriented 7" from the masterpiece album "cumbia Siglo Xxi", chosen as the best of the year 2020 by numerous music media and record stores! Strange, poppy and groovy, these are the two coupled tracks that are the Meridian Brothers! The unique mastering, which differs from Lp/cd, was done by Frankie Merritt of The Carvery UK, a leading mastering and cutting company in tropical music and responsible for SOUNDWAY's series of works.

From the underground scene of Bogota, the capital of Colombia, the Meridian Brothers, a project of Eblis Alvarez, a prodigy who is also well known as a guitarist for LOS Piranas and Ondatropica, makes its debut at Okra!! The band is releasing four dance floor-oriented tracks on two 7-inch discs from their new album "cumbia Siglo XXI," which is a departure from the acoustic chamber Latin pop of their previous album and is a fully cumbia-oriented electronic sound in the Meridian Brothers' style that they have been experimenting with for more than 15 years.

Originally released in 1963, "The Outcast" is a masterpiece that includes "Tour of Jamaica", the strongest jazzy calypso song that continues to captivate many DJs and music lovers!! No other song makes the listener dance with such happiness! The quality of the album as a whole is excellent, and this is truly one of Mighty Sparrow's masterpieces! Please enjoy these two historical masterpieces by the god of calypso, Mighty Sparrow, together with "Tattoo Woman", which will be released at the same time on analog LP!!

A 7-inch record coupling "Tour Of Jamaica", a sample cource of the Japanese hiphop classic "mess/age" by Seiko Ito and Yann Tomita, and one of the selector's must-haves, "Under My Skin", will be released from Think! Records!!

For the first time reissued, with the great contribution of Miguel de Deus's family in São Paulo, that supplied the amazing collection of photos for the 4 pages inner, inside the LP. This limited edition is a highly collectable for fans of brazilian soul, groove and psychedelia. It's our contribution to pay respect to one of the most important brazilian musicians of the late 60's and early 70's. Main brain of bands like OS Brazões and Assim Assado, he let us an amazing legacy for new generations. This is a small, but more than deserved homage to him, finally. Miguel de Deus was the protagonist of this amazing Afro-Funk movement, together with a group of “heavy” musicians, as they were called in those days of consolidation of a strong Black Power scene, mainly composed of black youth from the outskirts of the suburbs of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, where the movement took the name of Black Rio. Its raw Rock-Funk-Psychedelic-Tropicalia.