Super review by Cal Gibson, of The Secret Soul Society.

An end of summer Brasileiro bonus. Five previously unreleased tracks from the archives of two of Brazil’s finest: between them Robson Jorge and Lincoln Olivetti have had a hand in more than 1000 releases (say what?) and worked with the likes of Gilberto Gil, Tim Maia, Rita Lee, Gal Costa and Jorge Ben. Brazilian musical royalty, basically.

With such a roll call of honour, you just know these five cuts from 1982 – 1986 are going to be primo grade-A boogie business. Precision-tooled, and as sunny and soul-shaking as an afternoon frolicking in the surf: they were knocking this stuff out in their sleep back in the day.

Suspira kicks things off, a lolloping groove with bright pianistic chords, underpinned by a bassline that darts hither and thither, before the vocals sprinkle on the sauce. Horns jump in, then a touch of strings: it’s warm, inviting, flecked with a samba vibe. Disco meets jazz meets soul in down town Rio. Effortlessly uplifting.

Dance Baby is all there in the title. The BPMs drop a tad and the bass gets pushed forward, while the guitars do a chicken scratch fandango. There are more horns, working in tandem with vocals that mimic them, perhaps a touch of Chic in the arrangement, laid back but funky as hell. It takes a lot of effort, and experience, to make things sound this easy, that’s for sure.

You is a highlight: fat synth basses taking control, quacking and stacking up to bolster the bottom end delightfully, as the chord progression arcs ever higher. Everything placed just so in the mix, digital keys laying down the smoothest of soundbeds for the brass, again, to spar with the singers, and wax lyrical over. A touch of melancholy sidling in to spice up proceedings. Great stuff.

Batebca sends us out on a keening sax line, backing chorus bouncing along to the beat. The jazz influences clearly at play alongside the funk. The melody suggestive of past indiscretion, of loves lost and romances unrealised. There’s a definite Balearic feel to this one: a misty mood for those no longer young. A testament to fleeting youth.

So yes, here you’ll find World-class musicians right at the top of their game, banging out underground classics at will: time has passed but the music stays strong, strong, strong. An absolute masterclass in the art of the groove.

Robson Jorge & Lincoln Olivetti’s Deja Vu will be released on September 1st by Selva Discos. There`s a listening party, Q&A, tomorrow, August 31st.