Flee, an Athens-based archival label, has released Candomblé: Sacred Rhythms in Brazil, a compilation that pairs raw field recordings of candomblé ceremonies from late 1980s Salvador with contemporary remixes. The album showcases the polyrhythmic drumming and chants of this Afro-Brazilian religious tradition, reimagined for modern dancefloors.
Side One: Raw Field Recordings
The first side features 10 ritual compositions captured in a community in Salvador. The recordings are hazy, unbalanced, and filled with tape hiss, immersing listeners in the frenetic environment. Overlapping voices on Ossaim and a wailing male voice on Xangô create a fragmented yet compelling experience. The drumming remains constant, with clattering clave-style hits on Ogum and bell-driven mid-tempo swings on Entrada dos Orixás evoking undulating waves.
Side Two: Contemporary Remixes
The second side features remixes by producers from around the world. Brazilian DJ Anderson do Paraiso transforms percussion into sparse baile funk on Festa Iansã. French percussionist Vincent Taeger layers drum kit breakbeats into a chugging funk odyssey on O Santo da o Nome. Portuguese producer Xexa slows the pace into dub-infused ambience on Pluralidades. Swiss artist Jonas Albrecht delivers the standout track All My Love, stacking drum loops into a blistering seven-minute techno piece.
Other Notable Releases
Debit's Potpourri (Naafi) blends Latin American folk with club bass, featuring trance synths and guaracha rhythm. Lau Ro's Lau (Mexican Summer) offers wistful bossa nova guitar and psychedelic reverb. Akusmi's Terra Incognita (Tonal Union) updates spiritual jazz with synth-inflected arrangements, featuring percussionist Sarathy Korwar and harpist Marysia Osu.
