Various: Daora: Underground Sounds of Urban Brasil – review

Brazilian music continues to follow its own path. This two CD collection is a tour of the cutting-edge scenes of São Paulo, Bahia and Rio, encompassing hip-hop and electronica but focused as much on organic instrumentation and rhythms. Among a rich seam of brass-heavy Afrobeat, the surf guitar style of Iconili shines, while BaianaSystem and Afroelectro mix samba school drums with dub. Even rappers such as Espião and Ogi offer more inventive backdrops than their US cousins. Tradition is honoured with an elegant song of praise from Amabis and a crazy cowbell-driven chant by M Takara. An alternative sound of summer.