Review: Diogo Strausz - Dance Para Se Salvar (Favorite Recordings)

Favorite Recordings? You bet they are as we get ready for a year of Brazilian frenzy with Diogo Strausz and his new album 'Dance Para Se Salvar': World Cup and all that you know! 

You may recognise the name Diogo Strausz

from his associaton with Razor-N-Tape, particularly the with the track 'Gravity' featuring Brandon Markell Holmes (he of 'Fuller' and much more - see review HERE) and the 'Caramba' EP (see review HERE) but this new 8-track album sees a move to the Paris based label Favorite Recordings.    

But this Brazilian multi-instrumentalist exile in has made a name for himself having produced Gal Costa and Marília Mendonça plus having other productions remixed by the likes Yuksek (he of Partyfine - see review of their latest album HERE) and Ron Trent (he of 'Lift Off' - see review HERE)

The combination of Diogo Strausz and Favorite is ideal for a Disco-Funk album with the additon of 70/80s "that celebrates both the vibrant dance culture and the rich musical heritage of Brazil".

And just to prove it, with analog spirit, the album was crafted using vintage studio gear, fans of Gilles Peterson will immediately be drawn to the "explosive track",  'Ele é Artista' that features Bruno “Patchworks” Hovart (Voilaaa, Mr. President, João Selva, Uptown Funk Empire).  And whilst there might be a hint of 'For Your Love' a la Brasil about it, this is not a one track album  and there's elements of Azymuth, Deodato and a Lincoln Olivetti 'Hot Parade' where disco-jazz-funk meets MPB.

It's a shame the two shortest tracks, 'Carnaval de Gringo' and 'Viver, Lutar, Reerguer' are not longer as there's potential for full on bongo madness so it's great that 'Frevo Mulher' gets the full on synth HST space ship treatment; jazzdancers new favourite (no pun etc). But you ain't done yet as the disco ball spins so you 'Dance To Save Your Soul' (sung by the ladies in English this on this one) and the bonus track, 'Popotão Grandão' (EWF meets disco-chic).

Diogo Strausz has a made a name for himself as a master blender of old Brazilian soul with contemporaries influences like Bala Desejo (see review HERE), Rubel (see review HERE) in a new 'revival' that Favorite Recordings have been leading on the dance floor for many a year now, 'Dance Para Se Salvar' being a perfect match.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER (Vinyl): https://favoriterecordings.bandcamp.com/album/dance-para-se-salvar

Artist: Diogo Strausz

Title: Dance Para Se Salvar

Release date: 16th January, 2026

Label : Favorite Recordings

Catalog Number :TBC

Format: Vinyl LP Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Diogo Strausz - Caramba EP (w/ Kai Alce and Lex Wolf Remixes) (Razor-N-Tape)

"¡Ay, caramba!", you might say, not another essential release on Razor-N-Tape?

Yes that's right!  Diogo Strausz who brought you  'Emancipação' that many thought was a modern Azymuth, returns with a new verson of 'Canto Das Três Raças' and a Kai Alcé NDATL Vocal Mix.

No surprise that the Brazilian producer's track sounds, feels and dances like Clara Nunes' original version on a 'Sunday Afternoon At Dingwalls' (with Gilles Peterson and Patrick Forge) - perfect London [or insert you're own Capital] Jazz Dance samba/música popular brasileira classic.

It's bound to appear on a Mr Bongo compilation in years' to come but no need to wait as if you get this, the Atalanta based Kai Alcé knows how to make it even more dancey.  You'll recall what he did on 'The Symington Avenue' EP by Toronto Hustle x Sean Roman (see review HERE) so if you you want to be in the groove as those musclecars, you know what to do.

Not only that, on other side, 'Caramba' is more NY percussively heavy with a disco ball of synths, whistles and cuíca.  And on the remix, try the Lex Wolf Technobloco Mix where the Lextension master (Ed. did you see what he did there) reformulates 'Caramba' into over 8 minutes of "Kraftwerk meets Marcos Valle".

We're always impressed with a Razor-N-Tape project but this is "¡Ay, caramba!" even for them.

 

BUY LINK: https://www.juno.co.uk/products/diogo-strausz-caramba-ep-vinyl/1077536-01/

Artist: Diogo Strausz 

Title: Caramba EP
Release date: 4th April, 2025
Label : Razor-N-Tape.
Catalog Number : RNTR079
Format :  12" - 4 track vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp