Combining acoustic guitar with rhythmic splashing sounds, Spain’s Xurxo Mares creates a charming, Galician-rooted instrumental piece appropriately titled “Pandeirada da auga.” It’s fairly short but…
Come to the Water
Author: Tom Orr
Tom Orr is a California-based writer whose talent and mental stability are of an equally questionable nature. His hobbies include ignoring trends, striking dramatic poses in front of his ever-tolerant wife and watching helplessly as his kids surpass him in all desirable traits.
Timeless as ever Bossa Nova
U.K. pianist Michael Eastwood leads the way as a global cast of a dozen players glide through “Bo-sete-nova,” a bossa nova tune with a time…
Learning From the Past
Composed in 1933 and quickly suppressed, “Soldados de pantano” (Soldiers of the Swamp) was a song that articulately addressed the evils of fascism and the…
Say Hello
A lively, infectious mashup of zydeco and New Orleans jazz, “Hello Baby” by Jeffrey Broussard and the Nighttime Syndicate is also a perfect showcasing of…
The Music World is Their Oyster
Ghazi & Boom.Diwan x Arturo O’Farrill- Live in the Khaleej! (self released, 2025) Lest you doubt the infinite possibilities for fusion in the global music…
Afrobeat Finery
It’s a shade smoother than most Afrobeat, but “Pressure” by Reb & the Good News out of Portland, Oregon is nonetheless a deep-cutting slice of…
Not Just Wishful Thinking
Without losing the surreal cynicism or rhythmic undercurrent of the original, Vini De Groove gives a northeastern Brazilian vibe to Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were…
It’s Got What You Need
A hard-hitting blend of rock, reggae and soul, “Need You to Care” by America’s Talia Keys packs a punch on all three levels, as well…
Spot-On Brazilian Symbiosis
Her skill set includes work as a producer and sound designer, but it’s the voice of Brazilian artist Cammi that matters on “Azul Neon,” rising…
Reggae Roots Planted Brazilian Style
Brazil’s homegrown reggae scene is long-established and ever-robust, with “Lua” by André Ayel a recent example of how well Jamaica’s signature sound fits with the…