released: november 14, 2024

genre: soul, brazilian

from: anaiis – toulouse, france (based in london, uk), grupo cosmo – brazil

label: 5db records

a few thoughts: french singer anaiis has made some of the most ethereal soul and jazz music in years. seeing her at the barbican a few years ago was a truly mesmerising experience, the delicate tone of her voice give me chills then and gives me chills every time i listen to her. her last album this is no longer a dream is incredible, a stunning and expansive body of work showcasing her talents as a singer and as a songwriter. anaiis & grupo cosmo (brazilian artist sessa) have released, and i’m not sure i’m calling it yet for this year, but the album of the year for me? everything from the bossa nova grooves, the brazilian soul and funk that both give this warm, hypnotic and delicate feel, make it one of the more musically intimate albums i’ve listened to this year. grupo cosmo sessa’s varied, delicate and punchy production gives space for anaiis to share her vulnerabilities, singing both in french and english throughout their self-titled debut. luedji luna sings with anaiis on “toda cor” an incredible opener that sounds angelic with its swelling strings and beautiful vocals from both singers, who really complement each other perfectly. “voyage” features vocals from sessa, who brings a calming, comforting energy to a guitar-driven melody, while anaiis serenades us in french with a smooth yet powerful voice. “honeycomb” is a sensual track with emotive singing from anaiis, as she drifts effortlessly between french and english. the strings on the track are incredible, giving it such a vast, orchestral vibe, as the guitar grooves are hypnotic, and synths, while the flutes add so much emotion and intensity to it, as it transitions into a more drum-heavy, r&b melody, with anaiis’ playful yet sensual singing throughout giving it such a sweet and delicate energy. i had a joyful cry to “b.p.e”. the menacing and groovy rhythms of the drums and bass are utterly hypnotic, anaiis’ emphatic voice, the acoustic guitar grooves that kick in, and the grandiose strings that add an angelic quality to the whole track. the vibe of it is just so good, and i had to replay it a few times as i was listening to the album for the first time. “a gente mesmo (interlude)” is a sweet percussion-led continuation of the last track, with brazilian tv or speech samples, while “como és” is an atmospheric track, led by incredible guitar grooves, strings and angelic keys that create such a rich sonic texture, with gorgeous melodies that feel utterly angelic throughout. anaiis’ vocals add to the intensity of the track. “finding toda cor” closes the album out with a hypnotic groove, led by percussion, guitar and bass melodies, converging into one mesmerising rhythm, while the drumming throughout is exceptional. it’s a fitting way to close out a truly flawless body of work. thank you anaiis, thank you grupo cosmo, for your music.

the album: