Raw Carimbo and Forrò sounds from the North of Brazil!
Think of classic Brazilian music and odds on your mind will turn to samba or bossa, perhaps a touch of batucada or some Tropicalia.

Bring it up to to the present day and your ears may hum to the sounds of Bailé funk or even some mutant technobrega , but hidden away in the far north of the country – centred around the city of Belém and not far from the border with French Guyana – lies an altogether different musical beast; the overlooked rhythms of Carimbo and Sirimbo…

Intrepid photographer and DJ Frédéric Thiphagne – boss of the excellent les mains noires website – recently relocated from his native France to São Paulo and has been getting his hands dirty digging for the sounds of Northern Brazil.  Here he presents a great mix of Carimbo, Forro and Siria rhythms – a far cry from the sounds of Rio or Salvador de Bahia.  Taking in everything from raw folkloric percussion to classic Forrò, floor-shaking Carimbo and a touch of reworked balanço, check out the deep sounds of Belèm and the North of Brazil…

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You can check the tracklisting and more information on the music on Fred’s site here

The Blue Rhythm Combo from Barbados were responsible for some of the heaviest funk and soul to come out of the Caribbean in the ’60s and ’70s.
Jazzman Records have just released some of their best sides in a triple 7″ pack – vital pieces in the sprawling jigsaw of Caribbean music.

Towards the end of last year Drummer Antonio Rudder gave a short interview about the origins and history of the group…..

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It’s an outernational mix up for your listening pleasure! 
Pupa Tee from the Ragnampiza crew in Florence drops a strictly 7″ selection. Covering some great DJ cuts and jazzy instrumentals, Pupa Tee hooks up his effects unit and runs through some classic and obscure rocksteady, roots and dub for a percussion-heavy version excursion.

Listen and enjoy!







Download here