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Now I’ll admit it’s been a few years since I was in Brazil’s North-East but I have a sneaky suspicion this is not what your average Nordestino will have in their CD player. While What’s Happening in Pernambuco draws on the region’s musical heritage (Coco, Ciranda, Embolada and the folkloric Maractu) it clearly follows in the well-trodden footsteps of Rio and São Paulo, which have been putting out cool lounge compilations for years.

Regardless of whether it’s the music of the masses it is the culmination of the Manguebeat revolution — the fight to save the state of Pernambuco from itself. The manifesto was written by local journalist and Mundo Livre star Fred Zeroquarto with the help of Nacão Zumbi’s Chico Science. The aim was simple — to open their ears to sounds emanating from Europe and the US, create a space for excavating the traditional sounds of Brazil and to bring a sense of musical cool to the North-East. What’s Happening can be seen as a showcase of their success.

The album slips rather effortlessly between rap, electronica, new bossa and punk rock lite. It opens with the warm familiarity of Eddie’s ‘Podjie Me Chamar’ provided by perfectly produced harmonies, subtle percussion and gentle acoustic guitar. Otto’s ‘Bob’ offers a warped electronic take on things with its ambient drum n bass overtures and guest vocals by Bebel Gilberto. A more traditional tone is taken by Vates e Voilas with ‘Instante Feliz’ while Mombojo bring a hip hop flavour.

The collection was compiled by local cultural guru Paulo Andre and is the seventh in Luka Bop’s series on Brazil. What’s Happening in Pernambuco is released on 26 February.

Links:
www.lukabop.com