Ten years after his debut album, the young Lourenço, a Berklee College of Music graduate, returns with seven tracks. The production is heavy and carries an avant-garde edge, notably because he crafts his own claves, building them around the rhythms of candomblé drums—a sacred ritual... Backed by an equally impressive stellar lineup, including drummer Kassa Overall, young keyboard prodigy Bigyuki, the legendary Grupo Ofá, and with Arto Lindsay at the helm of production, the casting unveils a raw artventure. Jazz, electronic textures, Afro-Brazilian music, and other idioms stack up over rather slow, offbeat rhythms. "Sim e Não" and "Ananké" stand out as the two pinnacles of this powerful record. Released as a collaborative effort across three labels (Selo Risco, Jazzybelle, and Think! Records), this is not an easily accessible release for everyone. However, this piece of work has the merit of taking a few risks and, despite being entirely instrumental, pays tribute to its home country and to Língua Geral—a forgotten 16th-century language of Brazil. Dope certified, out in Lp and digital here.

Written by stereopainting