For quite a number of years now, the advent of highly innovative electronic producers working out of Brazil has been predicted by those in the know. And lo and behold, from São Paulo, San Salvador and Rio, crossover projects of great quality never cease blossoming.
Without forgetting Recife in the northeastern region of Pernambuco, here admirably represented by DJ Dolores and the Orchestra Santa Massa. Well known for the Mangue Beat movement instigated by Chico Science (R.I.P), his group Naçao Zumbi and later Mestre Ambrosio, its fantastically rich and varied traditional folklore has inspired the younger generation into wild and wonderful fusions for some time.
DJ Dolores, aka Helder Aragão, is no exception. Rather more of a sonic wizard, mixing street sounds with his electro-concoctions of break beats, drum'n'bass or dub into an eclectic but strangely homogenous vibe. To which he adds a skilful dose of local tradition in the form of the rabeca (violin), percussion and the chanting provided by the Orchestra Santa Massa (featuring certain members of the aforementioned Naçao Zumbi).
'Contraditorio?' (Contradictory?). I think not. This is the vibrant expression of a fantastically creative young musician, an urban artist well versed in ancient folklore fearlessly carrying his heritage into a new age, the age of Mangue Electronica.

Marushka