Nyron Higor
is singer/songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from Maceió, on Brazil's northeast coast. His music cuts across MPB (Musica Populaire Brazil), samba, Brazilian jazz, hip-hop, R&B, EDM, and more. This eponymously titled album follows 2022's instrumental
Fio de Lâmina
; it was widely celebrated in German and English clubs, thanks to DJs including
Gilles Peterson
,
Mr. Scruff
, and
John Gomez
. This second album takes its inspiration from the golden era of MPB (the 1970s).
Higor
branches out. Despite its 24-minute length, it enfolds and mixes deep Brazilian roots with global influences and contemporary production to create a quietly dazzling exploration of harmony, rhythm, and lyrics in a work of resistance from a young Brazilian Black man. Seven of these tracks were recorded in Maceió; the remainder in Rio de Janeiro.
Bruno Berle
Batata Boy
co-produced the set.
Opener "Ciranda" employs a samba snare shuffle under a muted jazz trumpet, electric piano, nylon-stringed guitar, synth, and percussion. Its lilt and melody are lush over
's warm, sensual textures and ambient space. (He plays all the instruments on the tune.) "Louro Cantador" blends samba and jazz with drums, bass, keyboards, guitar, loops, and percussion. It sounds like the peak of summer. The album's mid-section offers three vocal tracks. "São Só Palavras," featuring
Alici Sol
and
Berle
, is fueled by a rock snare shuffle that frames
's bassline and duet vocals, while
Sol
relates the heartbroken lyrics as
plays everything else while coloring in breezy, midtempo MPB grooves. The song's protagonist begs her beloved to stay away, because she will surrender each time he beckons. "Estou Pensando Em Você" features
Johanna
on alternating lead and chorus vocals. It commences with a reverbed tom-tom loop painted by acoustic guitars, piano, programmed percussion, and a bassline that feels like an embrace. "Maravilhamento" (translation: wonderfully) is performed by
playing all the instruments and
Nathalia Grilo
offering spoken and sung lyrics atop a collage of organs, synths, layered guitars, electric bass, and drum kit. While its rhythm reflects MPB's sense of rhythmic flow and syncopation, the architecture is dreamier and neo-psychedelic; its lyrics reflect passion as the instruments swirl and hover around them. "Som 24" is a delightful intersection of funky jazz and MPB. Governed by percussion and drum loops, shimmering electric guitars, synths, and keys, they offer impressive harmonic interplay.
sings and plays bass on
João Menezes
' "Eu Te Amo," a halting, jazzy love song with the composer on guitar,
on Rhodes piano, and
on xylophone. Closer "Me Vestir de Você" is a cover by
Menezes
Paulo Novaes
with
in duet, backed by gentle MPB and samba-jazz. It's romantic and illuminating. The backing trio includes
, and uber percussionist
Bianca Godoi
.
It may be premature to label
the next rising star from Brazil, but
is a major statement from a visionary musician who combines tradition and modernity with compelling compositions and unintrusive modern production. ~ Thom Jurek