Listening to this record, it’s amazing to think that legendary drummer Ivan ‘Mamão’ Conti is in his seventies, experimenting with electronic rhythms and Brazilian funk music. Poison Fruit is the result of his efforts, an extensive catalog of electronic sounds and heavy Latin-grooves that keep you moving.
As one third of cult Rio jazz-funk trio Azymuth, the crazy samba influence is prevalent throughout this whole project, as the drumming on this record is interwoven with jazz-heavy keys and synths that bring a smooth energy to this album. Tracks like “Jemburi” and “Ilha Da Luz” give a softness to the record, whilst the higher-paced moments on this album are more dominant and with tribal drumming on tracks such as “Bacurau” and “Poison Fruit.” The latter track has thick synth and bass leads and an acid-house groove that takes the track by storm. Ivan ‘Mamão’ Conti really exceeds my expectations with this release, a stellar album showcasing his talents as a drummer and producer.
Also a quick note about some of the remixes on this record – they really do add to the dynamic energy of this album, with amazing contributions from the likes of Tenderlonious on “Ilha Da Luz (aka Mamão’s Break),” Glenn Astro and Max Graef on different versions of “Encontro (aka Azul),” Reginald Omas Mamode VI on “Que Legal” and Dokta Venom’s Digital Dub Mix on “Poison Fruit.”
Overall, this is an amazing new album from the Brazilian legend, one which will be playing on my speakers for a long time. Listen to Ivan ‘Mamão’ Conti’s excellent new album Poison Fruit below via Bandcamp and make sure you support! Released via Far out Recordings.
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