may '19: recap
Francisco Espregueira
Looking back, our trace is visible. We came a long way. And through that road we kept 50 tracks, as usual. May was rich in anthems that we will hear far beyond this month.
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Daily Magazine on Underground House Music, Broken Beat, Contemporary Jazz & Soulful Vibes
Filtering by Category: Neo Soul
blacks & blues: spin, don't know why & you know the feeling
Francisco Espregueira
On three tracks, the Blacks & Blues project is faithful to the highest standards defined by the 2000Black label, in charge of the release. Wonderfully written and performed by Obenewa, accompanied by the absolute groove of instrumentals and production from Dego and Kaidi Tatham.
Read Morejitwam: honeycomb
Francisco Espregueira
HONEYCOMB is Jitwam’s second album and one of the defining releases of this year, on the underground rotations. Hitting the sweet spot between his work in dance music and efforts as a bandleader, connecting people in-studio and on-stage, the record encapsulates his incredible journey leading him to this project.
Read Moreapril '19: recap
Francisco Espregueira
Continuing the incredible amount of brilliant releases from March, this month’s playlist carries on a eclectic note. Our favorite songs from every artist that we showcased during April are included, making this playlist another personal journey through what we’ve been into.
Read Moreschemes: schemes
Francisco Espregueira
Scheme’s debut project hits us straight onto our soul. The all-star team of arrangers, composers and writers from Montreal navigates through free jazz, hip hop soul and broken beats with no compromises.
Read Morec.tappin: ashes to ashes
Francisco Espregueira
C.Tappin has come to our attention in September of last year, collaborating in the mesmerizing Uhuru album with Summers Sons duo (Turt and Slim.). As a pianist/singer, based in South-London, he is leading for the first time a project of his own.
Read Moremelodiesinfonie: a journey to you
Francisco Espregueira
The Swiss producer built a reputation of his own. His third album, A Journey To You, is about to drop on Jakarta Records - an incredibly smooth 12-track project that takes Melodiesinfonie art to another level.
Read Morej.lamotta: suzume
Francisco Espregueira
Recorded across the world that is Berlin, involving an array musicians from all around the globe, J.Lamotta’s new album sees her expanding her production repertoire by crafting a warm body of sound. There’s a live feeling to it like it’s playing near us.
Read Moremarch '19: recap
Francisco Espregueira
March is typically a month, in which, an overwhelming amount of great music is released. As the great work of independent artists and labels further spans worldwide, it is truly remarkable the amount of original, creative and groovy inputs we are constantly receiving at o sótão.
Read Moreshafiq husayn: the loop
Francisco Espregueira
Shafiq Husayn sonic identity has always consisted on importing sounds and genres into his pothole of creative madness, always rooting back to the hip hop beats‐and‐rhymes basis. The Loop is the new LP by this LA-based polymath - an epic project which saw its inception in 2012.
Read Moreb. cool-aid: syrup
Francisco Espregueira
Syrup, B. Cool-Aid’s new seven-track EP, is one of the finest and smoothest hip hop records of the year so far. Following BRWN, released in 2017, Ahwlee (on the beats) and Pink Siifu (on the lyrics) partnered once again to create a cohesive record, that manages to feel expansive despite its brief runtime.
Read Moreclever austin: pareidolia
Francisco Espregueira
Co-producing the influential Hiatus Kaiyote collective, Clever Austin (born Perrin Moss) has his debut album released through Touching Bass. Pareidolia is a genre-bending sonic and emotive trip with virtuosic, percussive groove at its core.
Read Morefebruary '19: recap
Francisco Espregueira
February was rich in anthems that we will hear far beyond this month. We composed a playlist of 50 tracks to summarize the best ingredients we were able to use on this special cocktail. Eclectic as always: jazz, electronic, hip hop and soul music from all over the world.
Read Morete'amir sweeney & professor h: circle
Francisco Espregueira
The works on Te’Amir Sweeney’s & Professor H’s Circle began in early 2016, as they visualized the project while sitting and listening to beats. They dreamed of bringing together a community of musicians working towards a common goal – a live hip hop album that reflected the cultural fabric of the city of L.A.
Read Morejanuary '19: recap
Francisco Espregueira
January went by like a dream with an eclectic soundtrack, suited for different parts of this month’s plot. The BPM’s changed through 50 tracks and with them the vibes flowed up and down in a frenzy way. Just like those escalators in the picture, full of people, crossing Hong Kong, a world away from here.
Read Moreathletic progression: dark smoke
Francisco Espregueira
Athletic Progression are responsible for one of the surprises in this beginning of 2019, embracing the rhythms of hip hop, with colors and tones of jazz and soul music. Dark Smoke is the debut album from this danish Hip Hop & Jazz outfit, comprising nine tracks.
Read Morechildren of zeus: the winter tape
Francisco Espregueira
Tyler Daley and Konny Kon follow up July’s acclaimed Travel Light album with a new project that dropped on christmas eve. The Winter Tape raises the question of its composition: whether its been made up of unreleased material they had lying around or was intentionally created as an album isn’t obvious at all.
Read Moredecember '18: recap
Francisco Espregueira
The best we've heard and wrote about during this month. December brought us the electronic vibes of Prequel, Kamaal Williams, Contours, Kaidi Tatham Mark de Clive-Lowe or Vertiqua. We felt that jazz never left them and they keep driving us to it in modern forms.
Read Moremark de clive-lowe: leaving this planet (2.0)
Francisco Espregueira
Originally released as a 5 track EP in early 2011, Mark de Clive-Lowe reissues Leaving this Planet as a full length compilation. Collaborations, one-offs, B-sides, remixes and other bonuses from the LA-based renowned producer.
Read Moreotis jr. & dr. dundiff: cool
Francisco Espregueira
Otis and Dundiff are both from Louisville, Kentucky. Cool is their second album, following up 2017’s Hemispheres. Sometimes musicians take their time to find a formula, to carve out a way in which they create. Not these two. A creative connection was instantly born.
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