Label: Six Degrees
Country: Brazil
Release Date: 2009.07.07

Ever since Brazilian phenomenon Céu captivated the world with her self-titled debut album in 2007, her follow up release has been widely anticipated. After being chosen as the first international artist featured in Starbucks Hear Music™ Debut series, Céu earned both Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations, countless press accolades, and chart topping numbers. So how does one of the most successful Brazilian female artists of our time respond? With her typical grace and artistry.

Label: ESL Music
Country: Argentina
Release Date: 2008.06.10

Natalia Clavier is an Argentinian vocalist who wants to cover a lot of ground on Nectar, which examines the juices of her inner being. The album features elements of soul, funk, disco, folk, pop, dub, electronica, down tempo, and jazz, creating sounds that will definitely appeal to fans of Portishead, Jazzanova, Jaga Jazzist, Supreme Beings Of Leisure, and and Soulstice. Those who are familiar with Clavier will know that she has often performed in English and languages other than Spanish, so for this one she decided to go back to her roots and sing for herself, her home, and her people. The album works as something to listen to as a chillout album, or something to dance the night away, but for those who may want to listen deeper, she has a lot to offer. Her songs would easily appeal to the likes of Laura Pausini and Alejandra Guzman, and with luck Clavier’s career and songs will last as long as these two ladies. Her voice is neither strong nor weak; she fits perfectly in the middle and even when she tries to sing in a manner that is beyond her capabilities, she realizes this and turns around in the hopes of finding another path to make the song stronger. This shows up in “Dormida,” but as far as showing her strengths, “Azul” is definitely a key track and one that will make Clara Hill fans turn around and take notice. (by John Book)

Label: Tru Thoughts
Country: Norway
Release Date: 2009.05.04

Kinny’s debut solo outing is an original, colourful and up-to-the-minute brand of modern soul, featuring the production talents of an impressive roster of guests – including Quantic, Nostalgia 77 and Hint. Working with seven different producers on ‘Idle Forest Of Chit Chat’ has enabled Kinny to push the boundaries of her own exceptional talent and expose herself to various styles and ways of working – from the tropical, live funk of The Quantic Soul Orchestra and Nostalgia 77’s deep modern jazz; through the catchy, soulful electronica of TM Juke and Souldrop; to Unforscene’s evocative soundscapes and a dose of lush, jazzy soul with a pop sensibility from Hint and Diesler. The result is an exciting melee of influences, all bound together by the unswerving class and charisma of Kinny’s persona.
A Canadian national with a mix of Jamaican, Native Canadian Indian, French and Swedish heritage, Kinny – aka Caitlin Simpson – has always been immersed in an eclectic pool of cultural and musical influences. With a voice that sashays effortlessly between vertiginous, soaring melodies, steely staccato verses and caramel-dipped dulcet tones, it will come as no surprise that Kinny was a classically trained opera singer before the spontaneity and freedom of jazz, reggae and soul music lured her into pursuing her true passion. Describing herself as a ‘freestyle improv vocalist’, Kinny fuses a classical mezzo-soprano sound with the jazzy attitude-soul of the likes of Erykah Badu. Her hunger to cut the ties of convention and embrace new ideas led her to move to Bergen, Norway in 2001, after visiting on tour with her first band, Third Eye Tribe (who became well known in Canada and beyond for their electrifying live shows in which Kinny laid improvised vocals over electronic and dub beats). Bergen is a thriving musical melting pot of a city whose scene she describes as ‘a huge wave of music, covering everything from death metal to dub’. Likening the environment to her native Vancouver, Kinny finds inspiration and intrigue in the extreme seasons, the peace and closeness to nature that abounds in sparsely populated countries, and the vibrant and diverse music scene – which also counts the likes of Röyksopp and Kings Of Convenience – and many of Norway’s famously ardent purveyors of death metal – among its number. Kinny’s dinstinctive sound will be familiar to many as the voice of Kinny and Horne, whose previous album, ‘Forgetting To Remember’ brought her talent to the attention of the world’s most respected musical minds and tastemakers – including Daddy G, who invited her to audition as a vocalist for Massive Attack; and Andy Smith, with whom she is working on a set of tracks for a potential collaboration in the near future. (press release)

Label: Nublu Records
Country: Brazil
Release Date: 2008.04.29

3 Na Massa is a Brazilian group heavily steeped in the music of the last four decades. The debut LP borrows from styles as diverse as Bossa Nova to trip-hop. Consisting of São Paulo-residents Rica Amabis, Pupillo and Sucinto Silva, the group sought a different female vocalist to voice each song on their self-titled record. The result is a diverse disc with 13 different brazilian seductresses interpreting music that pays homage to both João Gilberto and Serge Gainsbourg. (Leandra Leal, Thalma de Freitas, CéU, Karine Carvalho, Geanino, Pitty, Simone Spoladore, Nina Becker, Cyz, Nina Miranda, Karina Falcão, Lurdes da Luz and Alice Braga)
The dynamic between the all-male band and the harem of female singers is palpable. Even their name — which translates to “three in the dough,” a Portuguese phrase for something that makes one’s mouth water — is a not-so-subtle reference to the sensual themes that permeate their music and lyrics. (by doug black)

Label: Ziriguiboom
Country: Brazil
Release Date: 2008.03.03

Brazilian DJ Dolores third album demonstrates the futility of a word like fusion, possibly even categorisation drawing upon elements of Brazilian music, electronic music, dub, jazz, funk, even rock with a few vocalists singing mostly in Portuguese, yet also strangely enough broken Japanese. On the cover he seems kind’ve intense and he has aligned himself with The Danger Global Warming Project, though his tunes also incorporate concepts of violence in Brazil, globalisation, fundamentalisim, yet also a soundtrack for X-Men in Brazil and the effect hot beach babes have on him. Right. Thematically he’s all over the place, though musically he’s very much about chilled funky beats, yet isn’t afraid to release stabbing horns or some scratchy violin occasionally. It’s the kind of music you’d love to find on the streets. In fact 1 Real is probably the price you’d pay for a cheap bootlegged cdr on the streets of Recife, Delores home town. He has composed for cinema and theatre, though 1 Real is very much about the groove and highlights include Wakaru which typifies his contradictory approach with Caboclinho folk flutes, violin, and trance basslines. It shouldn’t work yet comes across like an electronic Can, whilst other piece seem intimately linked to more traditional Brazilian with piano accordion and Brazilian vocals yet with a dub feel with electronic percussion. This is a man who can’t sit still. (by Bob Baker Fish)

Label: Irma Records
Country: Brazil
Release Date: 2003

Kaleidoscópio is a project formed in 2002 by Brasil drum and bass DJ Ramilson Maia (Ram Science and Currupio) with singer, composer and ballerina Janaína Lima and producer Gui Boratto. They are mostly famous with songs like Tem Que Valer and Chuva which are in their album Tem Que Valer. Kaleidoscopio’s style is mostly drum and bass and electronica. In their list of song we can find classics like Tarde em Itapuã and Flor de Lis. (by last.fm)

Label: Tru Thoughts
Country: Colombia
Release Date: 2008.07.14

Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno is the latest in the constantly evolving series of musical outings from the unstoppable Will Holland – aka Quantic – and amazingly ‘Death Of The Revolution’ represents his tenth full album release on Tru Thoughts. The concept and style of the flowering Inferno project rests simply on pleasurable, easy-to-listen dub and reggae inspired music made in a tropical climate; and the standard and scope of the music is as dazzling as one has come to expect from this prolific, globe-trotting maestro. Unmistakably Quantic, but with an emphasis on reggae inspired sounds, “Death Of The Revolution” is sizzling with summer heat and tropical influences. As on ‘Tropidelico’, Holland’s last acclaimed album with The Quantic Soul Orchestra, the Columbian location in which this music was made and recorded has imbued it with an authentic and irresistible exotic air. All the tracks trip along on a reggae/dub vibe and are built on mainly hip hop oriented beats, with Holland in multi-instrumentalist mode, playing the piano, guitar, accordion and more – including Columbian instruments such as the Guacharaca, a small wooden scraper instrument, and the Gaita. Guest performances also come from a host of Latin American musicians. On “Juanita Bonita”, the closing track, the evocative piano part is played by Peruvian Alfredo Linares who recently put in show-stopping performances when he appeared in the UK for the first time as part of The Quantic Soul Orchestra’s tour in March. (by clickgroove)

Label: Warp Records
Country: Germany
Release Date: 2008.07.08

‘Thought So..’ is the sixth studio album by George Evelyn aka Nightmares On Wax. Best known for his 1995 ‘chill out’ classic ‘Smokers Delight’, Evelyn has been producing his own unique blend of dub, soul, jazz, hip hop and funk ever since.Recorded while on a roadtrip from his hometown of Leeds to Ibiza, it carries the the warm emotion of the journey and also features live band members and an array of guest vocalists such as Ricky Ranking and Chyna Brown. (by amazon)

Label: K7 Records
Country: Austria
Release Date: 2005.06.06

Tosca is the recording name for electronica duo Richard Dorfmeister and Rupert Huber. Fans of Kruder & Dorfmeister (Richard Dorfmeister’s better known main project) will already be familiar with Tosca’s down-tempo, groove-oriented vibe, and J.A.C., the duo’s fourth release, delivers more of the same, with impressive attention to creating lush, relaxing cushions of sound. Live instrumentation fleshes out the programming here, and Dorfmeister and Huber’s artful work at the boards keeps the synthesis smooth and sophisticated, with enough contemporary production flourishes to keep things varied and high-minded. The retro lounge feel of “Heidi Bruhl”, for example, is offset by the smoothly rolling groove of “John Lee Huber”, and whereas most of J.A.C. spins out jazzy, laid-back atmospheres, there are a few scattered moments, likethe electro-funk of “Damentag”, where the energy receives awelcome boost. A host of guest vocalists lend their talentsto the outing, making J.A.C. a fun, fine stereo selection for mellow, elegant socialising or a solo headphone experience. (by amazon)