The Rough Guide To Brazilian Street Party

Swinging wildly between the street and the studio, between local tradition, favela transgression, and '80s fixation. Between an unlikely up-north frevo from erstwhile Seu Jorge associate Gabriel Moura, and the dubby cross-hatching of hip-hop maverick B Negao. Between the animist, ensemble maracatú of Comadre Fulazinha, and the funk-rock grind of Anna Luisa featruing Pedro Luis & A Parede, all the while throwing loud, confetti-like palmfuls of its common currency -- Afro-rooted rhythm -- into the crowd as it goes. "Mr Bongo"s "Brazilian Beats" series worked a similar formula to often brilliant ends, but then they often relied on bigger names. Although it sometimes flies too close to the commercial knuckle, you won’t find many Brazilian comps as fearlessly diverse as this, with such an emphasis on lesser sung artists, and that has to count for something.