Brazil: one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Latin America. Whereas most diggers of Brazilian music tend to gravitate towards regional takes on American funk & soul, São Paulo selector / collector Tahira squares in on the country’s rich musical lineage as part of the greater African diaspora, with a pronounced emphasis on African rhythms. Remarkably though, these tracks don’t sound dated at all: the production value is top notch, and many of the artists incorporate analog synthesizers and high-def sound design alongside tribal polyrhythms and samba guitar arpeggios. Tahira connects the dots between a number of artists working over 4 decades, carving out an alternate trajectory for black Brazilian music that values afro-futurism over copycat funk/soul aesthetics. Many of these tracks are culled from rare CD compilations and appear on vinyl for the first time ever. Best tracks: Barbatuques’ “Baião Destemperado,” Maga Bo’s “No Balanço da Canoa (Chico Correa Remix),” Coco Raízes de Arcoverde’s “Godê Pavão” and the vinyl-only bonus track, Tahira’s exclusive remix of Gilberto Gil’s “Toda Menina Baiana.” 7 tracks total released by Jazz&Milk Recordings.

• music label: Jazz&Milk Recordings 2018
• reviewed by big dumb man 04/2018