World's Fair

 
It takes dedication to leave the lovely climes of São Paulo (82 °F as of 3:30 pm today…) for the relative cold of New York, but Curumin, as well as CéU, Bebel Gilberto, José González, Otto, and others, are heading north to play at Red Hot + Rio 2: The Next Generation of Samba Soul, December 4 and 5 (this Thursday and Friday) at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Both The Village Voice and The New Yorker have things to say about it (and for the latter, things to draw about, as well). Here’s The Voice’s take:

“Luciano Nakata Albuquerque—a/k/a Tim Maia’s heir apparent Curumin—has run a band since age eight. Still, the new world that the Brazilian-Japanese artist represents most fully came to fruition in this hemisphere on historic November 4, when he dropped his essential second disc, Japan Pop Show. The São Paulo native is perhaps the foremost visionary of samba-hop as an artist, but as a person, he even more importantly embodies the rise and flowering of a global generation fearlessly exploding restrictive divisions. This shift is reflected in his facility with everything from Chief Xcel’s patronage to the trippy space rock of ‘Mistério Stereo, making him the perfect multifaceted act to represent the melting pot and the Mountaintop in this lineup. With CéU, Bebel Gilberto, José González, Otto, and João Parahyba (of Trio Mocotó) at Red Hot + Rio 2: The Next Generation of Samba Soul.”

BAM Howard Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Ave)
Dec 4 & 5 at 8pm
Tickets: $25, $45, $65
http://BAM.org

In recognition of World Aids Day (Dec. 1), a portion of the proceeds from Red Hot + Rio 2 will benefit BrazilFoundation’s AIDS-related projects. BrazilFoundation is a non-profit organization which invests in sustainable and socially progressive humanitarian causes throughout Brazil. More information about this organization can be found at www.Brazilfoundation.org.

DOWNLOAD “Sambito (Totaru Shock)” from JapanPopShow

“Caixa Preta” is also available FOR FREE on iTunes, as the FREE Latin single of the week (11/25/08 to 12/02/08)!

Artist: Curumin
Album: JapanPopShow
Label: Quannum Projects
Street Date: October 7, 2008 (digital) // November 4, 2008 (physical)

CONNECT: World’s Fair | MySpace | Youtube

 
Curumin, whose second full-length, JapanPopShow, came out last week on Quannum Projects (Yahoo described it as “mash[ing] Brazil cultures both traditional and modern, with an edgy, alluring zeal that will make hipsters spin and old schoolers sigh”) will be performing at a very special show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music next month.

On December 4 and 5, 2008, Curumin, along with CéU, Bebel Gilberto, José González, Otto, and João Parahyba (of Trio Mocotó) will be the featured soloists at Red Hot + Rio 2: The Next Generation of Samba Soul, an all-star benefit tribute to the music and culture of Brazil.

Samba soul emerged during the post-Tropicália movement of the ‘70s. Mixing samba with R&B, soul with baião, pioneering artists like Jorge Ben Jor and Tim Maia signaled a cultural awakening that changed the direction of Brazilian music forever. Curumin, of course, with his fluid combination of funk, soul, psychedelic rock, samba, and hip-hop, is one of the most important new faces of this genre, and playing in Brooklyn with a band comprised of Domenico, Kassin +2, Janja Gomes, Money Mark, and Moreno Veloso, fans of all kinds of music should be excited for this exceptional event.

BAM Howard Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Ave)
Dec 4 & 5 at 8pm
Tickets: $25, $45, $65
http://BAM.org

In recognition of World Aids Day (Dec. 1), a portion of the proceeds from Red Hot + Rio 2 will benefit BrazilFoundation’s AIDS-related projects. BrazilFoundation is a non-profit organization which invests in sustainable and socially progressive humanitarian causes throughout Brazil. More information about this organization can be found at www.Brazilfoundation.org.

Curumin just recently played at one of Brazil’s biggest festivals, alongside the Jesus and Mary Chain, Animal Collective, and Spoon,among others. You can see pictures of his set here.

JapanPopShow came out on 11/4, here’s what’s being said about it:
“[The album]…is easily one of hip-hop’s finest releases of 2008. That is, if you consider a mash of samba, funk, soul, rap, jazz and bossa nova to be hip-hop…It is, literally, all good.” - Metromix

“Brazilian musician Curumin’s second album is hard to classify, but in the best way: funk, psychedelic rock, hip-hop, reggae, dub, and more all co-exist on this album, sometimes even within the same track. The mix is a smart one, and it makes sense, considering Brazil’s history as a melting-pot nation. There’s enough influence from Brazil’s musical past to keep traditionalists listening, but enough forward thinking to take the album into new territory. Hard to pigeonhole, but easy to enjoy.” - XLR8R (8/10)

DOWNLOAD “Sambito (Totaru Shock)”

Artist: Curumin
Album: JapanPopShow
Label: Quannum Projects
Street Date: October 7, 2008 (digital) // November 4, 2008 (physical)

CONNECT: World’s Fair | MySpace | Youtube

It may only be mid-November, but if you’re one of those who does best-of lists, you’ve probably already started thinking about everything that’s come out. World’s Fair has had a big year in 2008, with releases from all our labels. Here they are, in chronological order.

British Sea Power: Do You Like Rock Music (Rough Trade)
“Listening is like riding a beast; BSP’s unvarnished, delightfully meandering anthems sound larger than life. Bring on foliage and military uniforms, lads, we’re prepared to salute…” - The Los Angeles Times, Buzz Bands

“The glorious sound of a unique band going for broke….” - The Guardian (4/5 stars)

DOWNLOAD “Waving Flags”

The Autumns: Fake Noise From A Box Of Toys (Bella Union)
“Los Angeles’ the Autumns have been a reliable source of brooding, dreamy pop since 1994, appealing to fans of shoegazers like Cocteau Twins and goth titans the Cure. For their fourth full-length, founders Matthew Kelly and Frankie Koroshec have sharpened their teeth and made some decidedly authentic noise. ‘Boys’ signals newfound aggression for these underground darlings.” - Chicago Sun Times

“Succulent dream pop collides with fast and racy indie rock.” – Exclaim

DOWNLOAD “Boys”

Daptone 7″ Singles Collection, Vol. 2 (Daptone Records)
“Few top Brooklyn’s R&B champs Daptone Records, which compiles the cream of its DJ-friendly 45s for a second volume of the label’s Singles Collection. The reverb is delicious and soulful (Lee Fields’ ‘Could Have Been’), the guitars snarl (The Mighty Imperials’ ‘The Matador’) and everything grooves.” - RELIX

“From start to finish, this compilation of rarities represents first-rate soul music.” - UR Chicago (4.5/5)

DOWNLOAD Charles Bradley & The Bullets’ “Now That I’m Gone”
(more…)

Already a huge underground star in his home country, where currently no veritable independent music scene exists, São Paulo, Brazil’s bright-eyed musical prodigy Curumin (KOO-roo-mean) is set to release JapanPopShow on Quannum Projects on November 4, 2008. The album, which came out digitally in October, combines the breeziness of MPB with the melody of American pop music, topped off with Curumin’s (aka Luciano Nakata Albuquerque’s) distinct Portuguese croon.

JapanPopShow, which follows up Curumin’s debut, Achados e Perdidos, opens with the title track, which takes its name from an early-80s Brazilian variety program in the vein of The Ed Sullivan Show. This is dance music, from start to finish, and further carves out his inimitable style of samba soul, now sprinkled with more afro-beat, dub and experimental funk. The tropicalia flair of “Esperanca” evokes the breezy Brazilian pace, “Sambito (Totaru Shock)”’s beat-driven energy is helped by Tommy Guerrero’s electric guitar, and the legendary vocalist Marku Ribas appears on “Dançando No Escura.” But it’s also affectionately personal: on the Os-Mutantes-meets-Manu-Chao “Magrela Fever” he sings about the joys of riding a bike, while the infectious “Compacto” is about his love of 45s.

Download “Sambito (Totaru Shock)” here.

Curumin has always been a big fan of records, and the album art for JapanPopShow takes a very vinyl-based visual approach. Designed by Curumin’s brother, the art pays homage to the 7” single, with track-specific artwork (ominous witch hands for “Caixa Preta,” a tropical fish for “Misterio Stereo”) for many of the songs.

The album was executively produced by Curumin, Gustavo Lenza & Lucas Martins, but Curumin himself handles most of the instrumentation, including drums, cavaquinho and vintage synths. He also gets help from some of his labelmates, including Honeycut’s Hervé Salters, Gift of Gab, Lateef, and Chief Xcel, the last three who lend their talents on “Kyoto,” a song that follows in the tradition of Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, political and smart but still amazingly catchy, amazingly tuneful.

For Curumin’s showcases in New York and SXSW in March 2008, he traveled with two musicians, and each took the stage equipped with an MPC, combining live instrumentation with beat manipulation for a truly captivating dynamic. Curumin also switches between the drums and cavaquinho, all the while mesmerizing his audiences worldwide with his soulful voice and warm spirit. He will return to the States on December 4 and 5, 2008 as part of Red Hot + Rio 2 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, celebrating the next generation of innovative Brazilian musicians alongside artists including CéU, Bebel Gilberto, José González and Otto. Additional US tour dates are also planned for January.

Dec 4 Brooklyn, NY @ BAM (Red Hot + Rio 2)
Dec 5 Brooklyn, NY @ BAM (Red Hot + Rio 2)

Artist: Curumin
Album: JapanPopShow
Label: Quannum Projects
Street Date: October 7, 2008 (digital) // November 4, 2008 (physical)

CONNECT: World’s Fair | MySpace | Youtube

Curumin’s second full-length, JapanPopShow, is coming out next week digitally (with an iTunes pre-release this week) and physically on November 4, and this ain’t no sophomore slump…

“Compacto”’s already been hyped by places like XLR8R and Wired, and now the Brazilian singer-percussionist extraordinaire has another track, “Sambito (Totaru Shock),” ready for the taking, courtesy of the very knowledgeable Soul-Sides, who also added this album review:

“Sambito (Totaru Shock)” DOWNLOAD.

“Quannum’s upcoming release of Curumin’s sophomore effort, ‘JapanPopShow,’ combines the feel good samba along with touches of afrobeat, hip hop, and even reggae. Curumin not only sings in both English and Portuguese (Brazil’s official language) on the album but also handles most of the instrumentation. Labelmates Blackalicious and Lateef The Truth Speaker drop by on ‘Kyoto,’ with Chief Xcel handling the production while Gift Of Gab and Lateef drop their 16 bars. “Caixa Preta” continues with the hip hop beats as the intro drums sound like Neptunes production.

‘Sambito’ has a very bouncy feel to it. Accompanied by San Francisco skateboard legend Tommy Guerrero on guitar, the song lyrically references the joy of playing along to the music with friends. My personal favorite track on the album is the seductive love ballad ‘Misterio Stereo.’ With its lovely cavaquinho, a small four-stringed guitar, and hypnotic background instrumentation, it’s one of those songs that just sounds sexy even if you can’t understand the Portuguese that Curumin lulls.”

Curumin also talked to DJ EJ about the new record, his favorite music, his upcoming shows at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and plenty more. Check the whole interview out here.

Download “Sambito (Totaru Shock)” here.

Artist: Curumin
Album: JapanPopShow
Label: Quannum Projects
Street Date: October 7, 2008 (digital) // November 4, 2008 (physical)

CONNECT: World’s Fair | MySpace | Youtube

São Paulo, Brazil’s bright-eyed musical prodigy Curumin is preparing to release his second full-length, JapanPopShow, on Quannum Projects. The album will be coming out on iTunes next Tuesday, September 30, with an exclusive digital booklet, and will be available on other DSPs the following week, on October 7 (the English-language bonus track “In the Hot Sun of a Christmas Day” will come with all digital purchases). The physical copy will hit shelves on November 4. The album highlights Curumin’s distinct style of samba soul, but it also features guest appearances from Gift of Gab, Chief Xcel, Tommy Guerrero, and Honeycut’s Hervé Salters, and Lateef.
 
 
The first single off the album, “Compacto,” “is available for download now. You can watch video for it here.

JapanPopShow takes its name from an Ed-Sullivan-esque variety show that was popular in Brazil in the early 80s. Check out a clip from the original theme song here, and contrast with Curumin’s title track (courtesy of an unofficial but highly-welcomed fanmade video).

Artist: Curumin
Album: JapanPopShow
Label: Quannum Projects
Street Date: October 7, 2008 (digital) // November 4, 2008 (physical)

CONNECT: World’s Fair | MySpace | Youtube

Brazilian samba-soul singer (and drummer and cavaquinho and MPC player) Curumin is getting ready to release his second full-length in the US, JapanPopShow, with help from the good folks over at Quannum. The record will be available in CD (and mp3) on October 7, of course, but Curumin’s always been a big fan of vinyl (”Compacto” is about collecting 45s), and the album art for JapanPopShow takes a very vinyl-based visual approach. Call it the best of both worlds, if you will: the ease and size of a CD with the design appeal of the LP. Here are just a few of the designs — more to come!

Take, for example, the artwork for “Misterio Stereo.” A love song, the fish, looking majestic but slightly aloof, adds to the, well…the mystery of the track, and also the sweetness of the emotion expressed. Notice also the wear along the edge of where the 45 would be underneath. As anyone who has ever spent any time searching through bins can attest to, this is a very authentic, almost endearing touch.

This next one, too, has the same 7″ wear, but there’s something a bit more subversive about it, and far more menacing. It’s the art for “Caixa Preta,” a song that discusses the troubled Brazilian airline industry (”What’s in the black box?/The truth has been bought” are the first [translated] lines of the song). Which, of course, makes the vaguely Wicked-Witch-of-the-West hands slinking out of the aforementioned black box a lot more eerie, and the song a lot more powerful.

Of course, all of these songs (and designs) will be included in the forthcoming JapanPopShow full-length, though you can hear “Compacto” now.

DOWNLOAD “Compacto”

Or watch the video, which features a lot of live kickass MPC playing, below

Artist: Curumin
Album: JapanPopShow
Label: Quannum Projects
Street Date: October 7, 2008

CONNECT: World’s Fair | MySpace | Youtube

São Paulo, Brazil’s bright-eyed musical prodigy Curumin (KOO-roo-mean) is set to release JapanPopShow on Quannum Projects on October 7, 2008 (digitally)/ November 4, 2008 (physically). The album, which had originally been scheduled to come out five months earlier, follows up Curumin’s debut, Achados e Perdidos. The 13 tracks combine dense instrumentation with a modern beat-conducting approach, topped off with Curumin’s (aka Luciano Nakata Albuquerque’s) distinct Portuguese croon.

JapanPopShow opens with the title track, which takes its name from an early-80s Brazilian variety program in the vein of The Ed Sullivan Show. This is dance music, from start to finish, and further carves out his inimitable style of samba soul, now sprinkled with more afro-beat, dub and experimental funk. The tropicalia flair of “Esperança” evokes the breezy Brazilian pace, “Sambito”’s beat-driven energy is helped by Tommy Guerrero’s electric guitar, and the legendary vocalist Marku Ribas appears on “Dançando No Escura.” But it’s also affectionately personal: on the Os-Mutantes-meets-Manu-Chao “Magrela Fever” he sings about the joys of riding a bike, while the infectious “Compacto” is about his love of 45s.

Download “Compacto”

The album was executively produced by Curumin, Gustavo Lenza & Lucas Martins, but Curumin himself handles most of the instrumentation, including drums, cavaquinho and vintage synths. He also gets help from some of his labelmates, including Honeycut’s Hervé Salters, Gift of Gab, Lateef, and Chief Xcel, the last three who lend their talents on “Kyoto,” a song that follows in the tradition of Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, political and smart but still amazingly catchy, amazingly tuneful.

For Curumin’s showcases in New York and SXSW in March 2008, he traveled with two musicians, and each took the stage equipped with an MPC, combining live instrumentation with beat manipulation for a truly captivating dynamic. Curumin also switches between the drums and cavaquinho, all the while mesmerizing his audiences worldwide with his soulful voice and warm spirit. He will return to the States on December 4 and 5, 2008 as part of Red Hot + Rio 2 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, celebrating the next generation of innovative Brazilian musicians. Additional US tour dates are also planned for January.

“The woozy, reggaefied title track has the brain-melting charm of a pot-addled jam. Elsewhere, dense funk collides happily with old-fashioned samba and bossa nova; “Kyoto” suggests Caetano Veloso fronting Funkadelic. If “Fumanchu,” a throwaway based on a simple electric piano riff, can provide such immense pleasure, there’s some sneaky magic in effect.” — SPIN ****

“Brazilian musician Curumin’s second album is hard to classify, but in the best way: funk, psychedelic rock, hip-hop, reggae, dub, and more all co-exist on this album, sometimes even within the same track. The mix is a smart one, and it makes sense, considering Brazil’s history as a melting-pot nation. There’s enough influence from Brazil’s musical past to keep traditionalists listening, but enough forward thinking to take the album into new territory. Hard to pigeonhole, but easy to enjoy.” — XLR8R 8/10

“JapanPopShow affirms with authority the potential the artist has already demonstrated in his live performances. A great album from beginning to end.” — Rolling Stone Brasil

“JapanPopShow is possibly the easiest way to tap in to Brazilian culture without actually going there. It’s what we imagine a São Paulo beach party sounds like; funky drum circles, romantic Portuguese dialect and the intermittent smoke before bodyboarding pristine waves. With elements of dub, Afro funk, samba soul and hip-hop setting the mood, Curumin sounds like a Brazilian version of Jack Johnson on a mild Bonde Do Role kick (”Compacto”). Add to that some bossa nova guitar reminiscent of João Gilberto on “Esperança,” and you’ve got music that speaks to the soul.” - REMIX Magazine

“This São Paulo singer and multi-instrumentalist combines traditional Brazilian music with modern electronic flourishes to create a sound that simultaneously digs into the past and looks to the future.” - PLAYBOY 10 To Watch in 2008

Check Out “Compacto” Here!

Artist: Curumin
Album: JapanPopShow
Label: Quannum Projects
Street Date: October 7, 2008 (digital) // November 4, 2008 (physical)

CONNECT: World’s Fair | MySpace | Youtube