Review: СОЮЗ (SOYUZ) - KROK (Mr Bongo)

This time last year we had our first taste of СОЮЗ (SOYUZ) and we said then, "you need this" and the same goes for the album!

 

SOYUZ's 'Spring Has Sprung' featuring Asha Puthli and Sven Wunder went onto appear on Mr Bongo's Record Club Vol 7 (see reveiw HERE) and it's still a mystery how/why Asha Puthli (Asian space disco queen) and Sweden's disco king Sven Wunder appeared on the same track.  Especially as, the Belarusian exiled band СОЮЗ lead by  Alex Chumak are on their fourth album, 'KROK' meaning 'step'.

My linguistic skills do not extend to Belaarusian but it's not long into this album that you get a sense of Brazilian influence, like 'Lingua Do Mundo' (featuring Tim Bernardes).  This is because after an album in Poland, Alex is now settled in São Paulo, thus, 'KROK' has a unique sound and feel of Eastern prog-folk mixed with Rubel, also on Mr. Bongo (see review HERE).

The album was recorded direct to tape featuring Brazilian musicians Sessa, Biel Basile, and Marcelo Cabral (apart from the guest vocal feature by Tim Bernardes recorded at a later date).

The titles like 'Калі ты запытаеш / Kali ty zapytaješ' and 'Ніці / Nici' give no indication to the level of gentle loveliness of the songs and then 'Voo Livre' mixes up the the homeland folk-jazz with groovey Latin prog in a OST way.

I'm already in love with this album as it packs a punch with a velvet gloove to a world audience - did I say, "you need this"?

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER. KROK | СОЮЗ / SOYUZ

Artist: СОЮЗ (SOYUZ)

Title: KROK 

Release date: 24th October, 2025

Label : Mr Bongo 

Catalog Number : TBC

Format :  Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Reivew: Rubel - Beleza. Mas Agora A Gente Faz O Que Com Isso? (Mr Bongo)

Last years' "Seu Jorge" is back with more heralded as sophisticated Latin soul-folk-jazz beach-pop that's even more refined and chilled - could that be possible? 

'Beleza. Mas Agora A Gente Faz O Que Com Isso?' the "difficult" follow-up to 'As Palavras, Vol. 1 & 2' (see review HERE) is a gently good as the first. 

If you know Seu Jorge's 'Carolina' (Mr Bongo, 2002), Rubel's has the antedote in 'A Janela, Carolina’ that's a Portuguese version of 'A la Ventana, Carolina' by Mexico's El David Aguilar (worth check that out for a very nice whistle): what a great re-work it is!

And there's only one other cover version and that's from a similar time, Radiohead’s ‘Reckoner’, from the album 'In Rainbows', 2007 that Rubel transforms with the assistance of "Brazilian maestro Arthur Verocai" adding to the beautiful, melancholic textures through his string thand horn arrangements" - it's a fitting climax as his vocal out-Yorke's Thom's original.  

So what of the other seven tracks on the album that are all Rubel's originals. 'Feiticeiro Gozador' is an absolute dream of a guide as it's drenched in Verocai-ist strings and gentle Jobim to Nacimento vibes.  This level of low intensity is a feature of his compositions with his vocals and acoutic guitar (Ed. the album cover photo almost says it all).

It's all beatiful but if pressed, I'd say 'Noite De Réveillon' is just that bit more with a gentle trumpet solo adding to the softness of the strings whilst, having no knowlegde of Portuguese as a language, I'm guessing 'Carta De Maria' and 'Praticar a Teimosia' are the the love songs of choice.

Not the same as Mr Bongo's last album release, Nina Maia's 'Inteira', the deluxe edition (see review HERE) but there's clearly some Latin American music history links and Rubel is an important addition to it.

BUY LINK: https://mrbongo.bandcamp.com/album/beleza-mas-agora-a-gente-faz-o-que-com-isso

Artist: Rubel

Title: Beleza. Mas Agora A Gente Faz O Que Com Isso?

Release date: 17th October, 2025

Label : Mr Bongo 

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP320

Format : LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Hollie Cook - Shy Girl (Mr Bongo)

It's hard to believe that Hollie Cook's self-title debut album on Mr Bongo came out in 2011 with a mix of bouncy pop-reggae-lovers rock as this 'Shy Girl' is still at it with Horseman and... some great 'grown-up' tracks! 

That debut album was produced by Dennis Bovel and latter, Prince Fatty gave it a full dub overhaul.  Fatty himself co-wrote much of that album with Cook whilst the lead track, 'Milk & Honey' was co-written with some jazz influene including Ben Lamdin (he of Nostaligia 77 - see review HERE).

The last time we saw Ms. Cook was with the 'Move My Way' (see review HERE) but 'Shy Girl' is her fifth album to date and a return to her debut roots with MC Horseman after her collabI with Mykal Rose on the the last dancehall/soundsystem album. 

A twelve track 'tropical-pop' album recorded in London, LA, NYC and Spain (Vejer de la Frontera) over 3 years with the General Roots Band it's obvious that this 'Shy Girl' isn't shy whilst the song are full of vunerability, love, loss, melancoly, just your normal teen-pop subject matter; and I say that in the best of ways as her singing voice still sounds young and pure (Ed. not a bit of the image of Dad's Sex Pistol period or Hollie's own 'Lil' Slit period).

Radio DJs watch out for 'In The PIctures' which is my current favourite with some jazzy vibes and a slip of a dub button (in more ways than one) and it's almost directly ready for a version, but not a single status.  The first single is going to be 'Night Night' but I'd have gone for the deep 'Frontline' that's more Black Uhuru than, say, the 'competition' of Rhoda Dakar's 'Version Girl' project.

'Take Me In Your Arms' is a great reggae doo wop (that's another one that's going to be great version) and the horns on 'Crying Wolf' are so good, it's like Rico's back in The Specials, at a slower pace.

This album is bound to get support from the Rodigan's, Letts' and Peterson's of the BBC 6 Music playlists and it (and Hollie) deserves to be a huge hit; 'River Runs Deep' and We Share Love' after all.

Shy girl no more me thinks.

BUY LINK: Shy Girl | Hollie Cook

Artist: Hollie Cook

Title: Shy Girl

Release Date : 10th October, 2025

Label : Mr Bongo Records

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP323

Format: Vinyl LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Nina Maia - INTEIRA (Deluxe Edition) (Mr Bongo)

Anyone for a Brazilian Girl without a Pearl Earring?  I should say so as Mr Bongo's diving for treasure has found yet another star!

If Don Glori is on the edge of Brazilian soul-jazz (see review HERE) and Julia Madstre's 'Maravilhosamente Bem' is at the "dreamy pop" end (see review HERE),  Zé Ibarra's 'AFIM' as nu-MPB (see review HERE), Nina Maia's 12 tracks are an impossible mix of all three plus influences of Caetano Veloso, Tim Miai and Arthur Verocai plus the modern nu-wave of Bala Desejo (see review HERE).

Apparenly, this album was released last year in Brazil with 8 tracks and came into Mr Bongo's hands via a cassette tape entitled 'Pleased To Meet You' in Stockholm of all places.  Nina herself is based in São Paulo, Brasil and 'INTEIRA' (whole) is an incredible debut album for the 22 year old singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, producer who definitely has a feel for the beautiful and dramatic.

The album features Yann Dardenne (acoustic guitar, co-producer and the one who had the cassette mentioned above, Francisca Barreto (cello and vocals), Thales Hashiguti (viola and violin), Valentim Frateschi (bass), Thalin (drums) and Nina on piano, Rhodes, guitar and production.

"Any relation to Tim?", I hear you shout from the cheap seats.  Not that I'm aware but you could include him in the mix of influences along with Beatles and Kate Bush for he obvious, a non-dancey Kelley Polar for the not so obvious. In fact, it's hard to give a comparison as it really stands out on it's own as a brilliant album.

BUY LINK: https://mrbongo.bandcamp.com/album/inteira-deluxe-edition

Artist: Nina Maia

Title:  INTEIRA (Deluxe Edition)

Release date: 22nd August, 2025

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRB325

Format:  LP / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: VA - With Love: Volume 3 - Compiled by miche (Mr Bongo)

The last time miche released 'With Love' we said that he has definitely found a niche in soul, funk, jazz, Latin, disco deep diggin' fraternity following in the footsteps of Peterson /Charles/Scruff/Luke Una: this time the 17 tracks selected on this new compilation seem to be even more coherently leftfield as a nu-soul genre of itself - if only we could think a inclusive name?

'With Love' Volume 1 came out in 2022 which was followed by Vol. 2 a year latter (see review HERE) so we've had quite a wait for Volume 3 and there's probably two reasons for this; 1. miche is even more in demand as an Internation DJ and 2. these 16 tracks are as even more definitely further into 'What followed Northern Soul' as all these tracks are super rare.  

You'll recall 'We Out Here' 2023 festival programme that Miche played B2B with Rainer Trüby and last year it was 8 Hour 'Root Down With Love' (Ed. did you see what they did there?). Now with 3 volumes of 'With Love', what do you reckon?  A 24 hour B2B set with Rainer - and if there was, you'd still be excited to hear the next track just like on this compilation.

BUY LINK: https://bfan.link/with-love-vol-3

Artist : Various Artists

Title : With Love: Volume 3 - Compiled by miche

Release Date : 25th July, 2025

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP327

Label : Mr Bongo

Format : 2XLP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Various - Gabriele Poso presents Ritmo Italiano ‘Unspoken Sounds of Italian Tamburo' (Mr Bongo)

Mr Bongo hits the beach with Gabriele Poso and his  Ritmo Italiano ‘Unspoken Sounds of Italian Tamburo'; and I don't want to talk about it as it's so good.

Gabriele Poso is a renown digger for compilations as deep as 'The Languages Of Tambores (A Spiritual Journey Through The Cultural Heritage Of Drums)' to his own albums like 'Batik', you can guarantee that his mix of jazz, Latin, world, folk will be percussion heavy and dancefloor friendly.

Poso, the Sardinian multi-instrumentalist, percussionist and producer has dug deep into thost Italian Libraries and he goes in at top and as hard as you can get with a cover version of the classic jazz dance 'Caravan' by Puccio Roelens E La Sua Grande Orchestra TV: and in true 'unspoken' style, I'm not going to tell you how it goes but it's a surpise.

Equally, Gegè Munari Percussion Modern's 'Pollice Man' suits a TV theme with a rockin' guitar.  What's far more obvious is samba-infused ‘Napulitano D' 'O Brasil’ by Don Marino Barreto Jr. and the mambo of Vico Anthony's Percussion Paesanos' 'Mambo Ravioli'.

Tony Espositio's 'Pagaia' is very much in the Jonny Trunk 60s library sound whilst Rosario Jermano's 'Grand Oceano' slips into North Africa for some jazz refreshment in the souk; a little bit Weather Report. But hang-on, you need Agostino Marangolo's jazz-funk monster 'Certi giorni mi sento bene, certi giorni mi sento male' - why haven't people been talking about this?

Tony Cercola's 'Lumumba' appears in original and Clap!, Clap! versions which is all a bit of fun and Poso has his own track, 'Ritmo Italiano' which fits perfectly into a disco in Rimini

The 12 tracks are a fabulous selection from the leftfield and it's a happy sit next to some recent Italo, like 'Bruno Boogie' by Euro Nettuno & Bruno Belissimo (see review HERE), La Dune's 'Sugar' (see review HERE) and even Roy Inc & Darren Morris' 'Credit Me' (see review HERE).

As Ramrock's Jo Wallace told me, 'Italo new went away' - I think we can now safely say, 'Italo is definitely back' with Ritmo Italiano ‘Unspoken Sounds of Italian Tamburo': I can tell you!

BUY LINK: https://bfan.link/gabriele-poso-presents-ritmo-italiano-unspoken-sounds-of-italian-tamburo

Artist: Various

Title:  Gabriele Poso presents Ritmo Italiano ‘Unspoken Sounds of Italian Tamburo' 

Release date: 20th June, 2025

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP317

Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Zé Ibarra - AFIM (Mr Bongo)

Not entirely sure about he cover image but what with Julia Mestre and Dom Glori, Mr Bomode as Zé Ibarra adds a third prong to their summer attack with the album 'AFIM'. 

If Don Glori is on the edge of Brazilian soul-jazz (see review HERE) and Julia Madstre's 'Maravilhosamente Bem' is at the "dreamy pop" end (see review HERE), where does that put Zé Ibarra's 'AFIM'?

Well, it a perfectly compact eight tracks that cover MPB history as in the likes of Caetano Veloso, Tim Miai and Arthur Verocai plus the modern nu-wave of Bala Desejo (see review HERE); in fact, Dora Morelebaum co-wrote 'Essa Confusão' (also check out Dora's album 'Pique' - see review HERE).

As well as being a member of Bala Desejo and having a previous solo album releaed a couple of years ago, 'Marquês, 256.' in Brasil and Japan, he's also toured with Milton Nascimento!

I'm not sure is unique cover version of another Brazilian singer/songwriter, Sophia Chablau's 'Segredo' is going to 'crossover' but the rest of the album is multi-directional and will turn lots of heads.

Artist: Zé Ibarra

Title: AFIM

Release date: 13th June, 2025

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRB324

Format:  LP / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Don Glori - Paper Can't Wrap Fire (Mr Bongo)

Mr Bongo hits the beach with Ausssie beach culture as they check the waves that Don Glori's new album 'Paper Can't Wrap Fire' is going to cause in summer heat.

We know Don Glori from the glorious single 'Brown Eyes' for it's Naarm/Melbourne/Brazilian soul-jazz.   And we know he's well in with the local big heads Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo and has even helped out with Catrips' album 'From A Darbin Cave' (see review HERE).

This is full of summer soul with other stand out tracks like 'Flicker' which features Bianca Kyriacou and 'Janet'; both featuring ML Hall as does 'Brown Eyes'.

So it is a bit of a surprise that half dozen tracks are more of a collage of what the label calls "genre-surfing" nu-jazzy, bruk, soul, funky beats that clearly fit in with the scene down under like his other mates from the hood like, Ziggy Zeitgeist (see review HERE), Allysha Joy (as in 30/70 - see review HERE), Close Counters (see review HERE) and with Finn Rees (see review HERE) to name just a few.

'Song For Ants' and 'Power' are possibly the best tracks that ride the wave whilst the longer jazzy 'Precious' showcases multi-instrumentalist Don (aka Gordon Li) and the band.  You won't be surprised if 'Ron Song' was recorded on the Sugar Loaf mountain and the set ends on 'Saturn's Return' (a nod to Sun Ra?) but there's not a XXXX bad track on here.

But this guy should be on the main stage at WeOutHere and numerous other festivals in the near future along and in case you were wondering, the title is an old Chinese proverb (Ed. we love a Chinese proverb, especially an old one) that translates as 'you can't deny the truth'.  And this truth is no one can deny this is a truely great album; the eye of the tiger is watching you!.

Artist: Don Glori

Title: Paper Can't Wrap Fire 

Release date: 16th May, 2025

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRB322

Format: LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Julia Mestre - Maravilhosamente Bem (Mr Bongo)

"Sexy" and Brazilian, Mr Bongo has got the love tent out of Julia Mastre and the album, 'Maravilhosamente Bem'.

Don Glori is on the edge of Brazilian soul-jazz and the 'next' Seu Jorge (see review HERE) so what's the thinking at Mr Bongo signing Julia Mastre?  Well, as you can see from the album cover, she's ready for a full summer of camping but she's not going to be in the shade as we've got 11 tracks of Brazilian  Sade/dreamy pop that'll swifly take over the radio airways.

Not only that, we know that she's not just hype having made a global impression as part of the Bala Desejo 'SIM, SIM, SIM' phenomenon (see review HERE) that spawned Dora Morelenbaum ('Vento De Beirada' - see review HERE) plus the 'Electric Fish' of Ana Frango Elétrico (see review HERE).

There's a high level of dreamy soul bossa pop ('Pra Lua', 'Sau Fera' and 'Canto da Sareia') and don't be put off by the title 'Vampira' as it's got nothing on Mary Shelley's scibblings; more of a summer bandstand party in Shelley Park with strings whilst 'Sentimento Blues' takes it even further on a sentimental journey peaking with 'Seu Romance' on the slo-mo bossa yacht.

Your dance DJ is going to rush to 'Veneno da Serpente' for some groove on the beach along with 'Marinou, Limou' featuring Marina Lima.

This is a sunny 2025 to lift spirits, hopes and dreams of 'Hidden Waters' with more strange and sublime sounds of Rio de Janeiro (see HERE).

Artist: Julia Mestre 

Title: Maravilhosamente Bem 

Release date: 8th May, 2025

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRB316

Format:  LP release 23rd May 2025 / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Don Glori - Brown Eyes / Power (Mr Bongo)

With even more in the best in the The Naarm / Melbourne community, Don Glori gets down with some powerful brown eyes with this new release on Mr Bongo.

Don Glori is on the edge of Brazilian soul-jazz with 'Power' which is classic jazzdance key work that Azymuth would be proud of.

'Brown Eyes' lead will for radio plays with some poolside flute and modern Cullum approach; as in were told Don has taken inspiration from Kendrick Lamar (Ed. Didn't Jamie Cullen launch himself with a cover of Pharrell's big hit 'Frontin'?) 

Yet another Mr Bongo discovery as who wouldn't want be part in Ziggy Zeitgeist (see review HERE), Allysha Joy (as in 30/70 - see review HERE), Close Counters (see review HERE) and with Finn Rees (see review HERE) to name just a few.

This digital single is from a forthcoming album called 'Paper Can't Wrap Fire' that'll be a vinyl and digital release.

Artist: Don Glori

Title: Brown Eyes / Power 

Release date: 26th March, 2025

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRB322

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: VA - Horse Meat Disco Presents Disco & Boogie from Brazil Vol.1 (Mr Bongo)

The fact that the title includes 'Horse Meat Disco Presents' and 'Brazil Vol. 1' should be enough to get everyone excited, to add 'Disco & Boogie' is just the icing on the cake, samba on the carnival, chips on the plate, etc.

The horse logo may not be as rampant as the early HMD Strut compilations, but many of these 16 tracks are 'hard' - no only in so much that us mere mortals won't hard the chance to find originals (as will welcome back Max from "his final week working in Rio"!) but even for disco/boogie standards, 'hard to find' is also edgy as the opener by the 'Harmony Cats' sets the tone.

Mr Bongo fans will recognise the name Jorge Ben and the summer-funk of 'Rio Babilônia' along with Marcos Valle's classic, 'Parabéns (Dança Do Daniel)' (one for the flute gang) and straight-up boogie-disco of Robson Jorge/Lincoln Olivetti's 'Suspira'.

No surprise that the HMD guys would go for the dust biting intro of 'Pássaro Selvagem' (Os Carbonos) that wanders into a rain forest or the heavy Earth, Wind & Fire horns of 'Sol De Verão' by the un-Brazilian sounding 'Lafayette'.

As you can gather, there's tracks that you won't have heard of but are influenced by the International sounds of the time but I can't pin down my current favourite, 'Venha (Remix)' by the mostly unknown Zé Carlos (Ed. could it be a Latin Edwin Collins?)

Much like the long awaiting Vol. 2 of ' The Original Sound of Mali' that came out last month (see review HERE), this compilation has taken 13 years since the quartet of James Hillard, Jim Stanton, Severino Panzetta and Luke Howard started this labour of love; Luke himself visiting Brazil for the first time in 2003, to context, a time of "four-to-the-floor bordom", which gave HMD themselves a leg up - see Rough Guide to Brazilian Electronica HERE).

Partly due to licencing issues and due to their own success (Ed. who remembers the Ponica roadblock appearance?) it's finally here in it's double LP glory this is a musical mix as vibrant as 70s World Cup squad!  "Goooooooooooooalllllllllllllllllll" as someone might say.

BUY LINK: https://www.mrbongo.com/collections/horse-meat-disco/products/horse-meat-disco-presents-disco-boogie-from-brazil-vol-1-vinyl-2lp-cd

Artist: Various Artists 

Title: Horse Meat Disco Presents Disco & Boogie from Brazil Vol.1 

Release date: 21st March, 2025

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP302

Format :  2xLP Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: VA - The Original Sound of Mali 2 (Mr Bongo)

Thinking about a Mr Bongo Record Club compilation that focuses on the original sounds of Mali, this new compilation adds to 2017's Vol. 1 digging deeper into incredible sounds from the 70s and 80s.

French journalist and African music expert, Florent Mazzoleni joined forces with Mr Bongo's David Buttle to bring you this amazing, if not magnificent dozen of tracks by such household names as Ousmane Kouyaté & Ambassadeurs Internationaux, Rail Band, Les Messagers du Mali, Mystère Jazz de Tombouctou and many more.

Drawn from the 70/80s post-independent Mali, the freedom of traditional musicians with modern instruments went to their heads and ended up in the melting pot: none more so than Les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako with 'Get Up James' - this is not a one track album, I repeat, definitely NOT as one track album, but if you love James Brown, this is one to get up to - it's 'James NOT James' to mis-quote.

Hotels in Bamako were the place to party back in the day and now it's a hot bed of recording studios due to the Tinariwen effect and those Ambassador's know how to switch to that camel jazz walk 'n' blues ballad ('Matou Kagni').  Of course there's lots on international visitors to the Hotels bringing western music and it's possibly best asseminated in the opening tracks 'Kefimba' and Bouba et Sakona Sacko's 'Mamaniya'. 

'Yayoraba' and 'Moussokéléyato' by Allata Broulaye are marvellously 'rock-guitar' based mixed with wailing vocals  you can see why Robert "I'm a Brummie" Plant is such a fan of Malian music.

And not to be outdone, there's a couple of jazz bands, Malian style of course; Mystère Jazz de Tombouctou and Tentemba Jazz du Mali and possibly our favourite, the Rail Band ('Massaré Mousso') as Bamako would be for the rail terminous and all the hotels; that's how it all works.

And if there's any mod-revivalists still tuned in, the cover version of 'Midnight Hour' by Tjiwara Band de Kati to end on is pretty sharp in its own way; great guitar and drum solos which just about excuses the vocals not being up to Mr. Pickett soul quality. 

So whilst Vol. 2. still has the Mali/desert blues feel of Vol.1 . Zani Diabaté et Le Super Djata Band, Alou Fané & Daouda Sangaré et al, but if you do get it only for 'Get Up James', you won't be sorry.  And if you get the album for the other tracks, you won't be sorry either: Win - Win! And get on up and add this album to the collection. 

BUY LINK: https://www.mrbongo.com/products/the-original-sound-of-mali-2-vinyl-2lp-cd

Artist: Various Artists 

Title: The Original Sound of Mali 2

Release date: 7th February 2025

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP278

Format :  2xLP Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review - Dora Morelenbaum - Pique (Mr Bongo)

Dora Morelenbaum is the superstar from Brazil with a debut album on Mr Bongo - you must here it.

How do we know she's a superstar? Well, she part of Bala Desejo (see review HERE) along with her bestie, Ana Frango Elétrico who had her album out last year (se review HERE) we've been getting itchy for more Dora Morelenbaum since the 'Vento De Beirada EP' last year as her debut album has 11 new tracks.

And who can not love the sunny feel-good of this album, especially 'Venha Comigo', the jazz-funky 'Sim, Não' and the odd-ball kooky extremees  of 'Caco' and 'VW Blue'.

But not only that, there's a string drenched ballad 'Essa Confusão' that'll knock you out with its understated jazz ballady along with the jazz pop of 'Petricor' and the thrilling 'Nem te procurar' that ties all these various strings together that makes this album so good?  

Dora has said, “'Pique' was an album made in motion and ended up being about just that. From the beginning, it was an album that sought to build new textures that are part of the sound landscape I envision ahead. And from these colours and textures, it builds bridges between a more traditional universe, sonically and poetically speaking, and a new perspective on songs.”

And you can't argue with that.  Any fans of Brazillian culture and its musical heritage from MPB, bossa nova, samba to tropicália will love this.

Artist: Dora Morelenbaum
Title: Pique 
Release date: 18th October, 2024

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP275,

Format :  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Various Artists - Mr Bongo Record Club Vol.7 (Mr Bongo)

How do Mr Bongo keep releasing such fantastic tracks?  We don't know but it's a good job their Record Club releases the annual compilation (now on Vol. 7) so we've got all the top tracks all in one place.

We've already had a sneak peek at this with SOYUZ featuring Asha Puthli & Sven Wunder and 'Spring Has Sprung' (see review HERE) so now Autumn has arrived you even more summery Latin love from Mr Bongo and from further a-field on this 21 track compilation.

Not only is there chilled out Latin jazzdance classics, some stormin' U.S. disco funk (particularly The Duncan's 'Too Damn Hot' and 'Love Games' by Thandi Zulu & The Young Five) and the best disco track you've always wanted to get your hands on, 'Come Inside' by The Shades Of Love.

I like this Latin/disco-funk 2-genre theme that's a little reflective of other recent Mr Bongo comps like the John G​ó​mez and Nick The Record Present TANGENT (see review HERE - these two DJs were really good a the recent WOH Festival even though the clouds were gathering at the time) and the 'With Love' series by Miche (see review HERE - who was at many stages at WOH but I saw him mostly at the Near Mint record fair). 

Not so keen on the 'Between The Sheets' cover version but as to endorse and merge the themes, the closing track is a rare one, classic and BIG all at the same time- a Studio Rio version of 'Lovely Day' with Bill Withers himself!  You'll all have a lovely day listening to this from beginning to end and back again - highly recommended.

PS. also worth revisiting, Mr Bongo Record Club Vol 6. (see review HERE).

Artist: Various Artists 

Title: Mr Bongo Record Club Vol.7

Release date: 4th October, 2024

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRBCDLP304

Format :  2xLP Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: SOYUZ featuring Asha Puthli & Sven Wunder - 'Spring Has Sprung' (Mr Bongo)

You need this!

Of course we've been looking forward to Mr Bongo's Record Club Vol 7 ever since Vol. 6 came out (see reveiw HERE) but when you have a track that features Asha Puthli (Asian space disco queen) and king of a modern dancefloor, Stockholm's Sven Wunder on a track by fan of both SOYUZ, you know 'Spring Has Sprung'.

Lush spiritual disco Swedish OST and you've got the idea.

Asha has been giging all over Europe and you may have seen her at Glastonbury and there's We Out Here Festival to come soon (can't wait).  And not only that, Mr Bongo are re-issuing her 'The Devil Is Loose' LP on gold vinyl no less later in the year!

Full album release in October.

Artist: SOYUZ featuring Asha Puthli & Sven Wunder 

Title: Spring Has Sprung 

Release date: 2nd August, 2024 

Label : Mr Bongo 

Catalog Number : MRB304BTI19

Format :  Digital / Bandcamp