Nilton Castro, was, I think, a Brazilian percussionist working in Europe. Polish, state-run, label, Pronit released his first – perhaps only – solo single, Śpiewa Swoje Piosenki, in 1966. At some point he definitely relocated to Paris. There, he cut the album, Rhythm & Soul, in `72, and contributed to sessions with pioneering pop people, such as Elli Medeiros and Ramuntcho Matta, throughout the `80s. Nilton’s LP, Mes Mains, was recorded during the `70s, but only surfaced as some kind of bootleg / private press in limited quantities in the early `90s. Sound Metaphors’ Miss You imprint has rescued it for reissue, and listening to the music now – it was completely new to me – I can only imagine that it’s a “sought-after” on the afro / cosmic scene. Similar, say, to the brilliant  Jean-Pierre Boistel / Percussions Pour La Danse set that Left Ear licensed a few years back.

Mes Mains is a purely percussive workout, reminiscent of the rituals reproduced by maestros such as Michael Babatunde Olatunji and Abdelmadjid “Guem” guem. Hits of hypnotic hand drums driving traditional trance-dance rhythms. Tapping into the universal stuff, that deep down, is in everyone’s ancestral roots. The grooves, though, are generally gentle. Soft gongs / bells ringing with melody. Murmures is actually a beatless flute and choral piece. The “click, clack” of wood blocks like the “tick, tock” of a clock keeping time. Without a doubt the record’s best listened to in the sunshine, and in the open air.

Samba, however, after a brief roll of military snares, launches into a breakneck Rio street carnival batucada. Its surdo and cowbell competing in complex counterpoint. Maracatu is also strongly South American flavoured, but a slower rumba, with an MC – Nilton, I assume – directing the dance. His catchy whistle providing a hook, and for me branding the track as “Balearic” as the aforementioned Guem’s classic, Le Serpent, and as much of a secret, rediscovered smash as Mário Rui Silva’s Kazum-zum-zum. The closing piano-led piece, Ondes (Les Vagues), is another sublime standout, and could easily be mistaken for a side from Joe Claussell’s Spiritual Life label.

Nilton Castro’s Mes Mains is out any time now on Miss You. For folks in Japan, both Lighthouse Records and Ranamusica have the LP up for preorder.