Deejay Kidd - "Magalenha"

Brazil is washed.

The party has ended for Orpheus; carnival lights have gone black.

A common refrain at the cusp of the 2010s was that Latin America's sleeping giant was about to break out of hibernation. The policies of the Cardoso regime would finally pay off. High oil prices did not register poorly with Petrobras. Surely it would be springtime for Lula and Brazilians! But such seems to be the case decade after decade. Whether the article was filed in the 2000s, 1990s, 1980s, or even earlier the conclusion is always the same: sound the alarm.

All it took was a series of World Cup routings for the world become aware of the order and progress shenanigans.

But the present selection is not so much concerned with politics as it is with music from the Western Hemisphere's only Portuguese speaking country. Any party only stands to benefit from tropicalia and semba selections. For quiet listening, bossa nova and protest songs accomplish such an end. An option even exists for modern bass aficionados in the form of baile funk and rasteirinha. Brazil has range. The song below - titled "Magalenha" - proceeds directly to the traditional instead

Released yesterday, the track is built around the hook of a Sergio Mendes song by the same name. Immediately noticeable is that Deejay Kidd -  and independent footwork producer, not to be confused with KiiD'FoOx the batida producer - has speed up the source material. A typical, quick kick/snare beat is added as a cymbal from the original is retained for flare. Perhaps the introduction is too long. Maybe the verse is looped one too many times. All in all, though, the track is more structured more or less like a pop song: Introduction-Chorus-Verse-C-V-interlude-V-interlude-bridge-V-C. Aside from the obvious difference of singing and mere syllables on the interchanging sections, a synth is added in the chorus as well as what sounds like a distant second cymbal. Back-up singers appear in the interlude and a third taste of Mendes singing is put forth in the bridge.


Were a schism to happen to the juke scene - a line drawn between home-listening and dance-floor oriented beats - the author be unable to pick a side. But the allure of competitive sample digging for the latter camp may have only limited potential. Regardless, both k10ck3's Roy Ayers mix and the present selection give a glimpse of what may follow. Strong effort overall.



Notable Mention: Dj Rafa fox [Nova Escola Produções]

In contrast, the second feature is, at least somewhat, rooted in politics.

The author was unaware of DJ Rafa Fox a few days ago; but for good reason. Consider that the beat-maker only started his SoundCloud account seven days ago. While an earlier, affiliated account is not difficult to find - and full of mixes than vary in style, from afro-house and kizomba to funana, and length from ten minutes to twenty plus) - but the niche aspect is undeniable. With only twenty-one followers, Raafael Varela's page is difficult to simply stumble upon.

Yet, beginning just a few days ago, the name began sporadically coming up. With a penchant for traditional elements, especially guitar, the producer's musical profile merits attention. Only four songs have been released but tarraxo, batuco, and afro-house have already been touched upon. Bass is typically well mixed and a further affinity for vocal samples is heard. More importantly, however, all of Rafa Fox's beats swing hard batem bem.

Yet the above description is painfully general. Any handful of artists featured on these pages can be described in much the same manner; albeit with a more extensive body of work. Does anything set Nova Escola Produções apart from the crowd?

Geographically, Varela's home seems to be significant. Cova da Moura is among the oldest immigrant communities in the Lisbon area. That last bit, though, is rather misleading. After all, the town with population of about 7,000 is some 35 miles outside of the capital city. Access by public transportation or otherwise is difficult. In a painful oversimplification, the result is a large Cabo Verdean enclave. Alongside members of former Portuguese colonies at large the community has developed in relative isolation while preserving culture.

What follows, however, is concerned only with the present. One of two songs released today, "Ferro na Corpa" is the only solo effort. But Rafa Fox has set the bar high with this mid-tempo batida. Rather than show homage with a "dedicado a" or a similar fixture, the beat-maker has simply stated "Tip very interesting tag "Tipo Firmeza." Attitude aside, the track is strong. A kick/tom combination is used for the main beat. Two different shakers viciously groove as a djembe plays, nearly inconspicuously. Bifurcated by interlude,the song's second section feature a more present, bouncing bass. The melody, meanwhile, is carried by a stringed instrument with a higher register than an oud but lower than sanshin or shamisen. Despite an inability to identify it the author insists sounds are reminiscent of Asian culture.

With any luck, the "Ferro na corpo" is but one of many future endeavors.

- J.N.

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