My top 12 albums from this year! 12 only because it fits nicely in a 3x4 grid. Here’s a Spotify Playlist with a highlight from each album.

1. Curyman by Rogê

Arthur Verocai, arguably Brazil’s most acclaimed arranger, has been experiencing a carrer rennaisance lately. After he appeared on Mood Valiant by Hiatus Kaiyote and Talk Memory by BADBADNOTGOOD in 2021, I’ve been following him very closely. Usually his intricate, colourful arrangements can single-handedly save a song for me.

But when I first listenened to Curyman, I found I wasn’t listening to Verocai’s horns and strings. Rogê is an incredible singer and guitarist. He is as good, if not better than the 1970s samba-rock legends he is clearly inspired by. The acoustic guitar and percussion are so tight, I can’t sit still when I listen to this record. Rogê’s vocals are both delicate and rhythmic, fitting the music perfectly. The dry drum production sometimes remind me of modern neo-soul, but overall, Curyman perfectly nails the sound of 1970s Brazilian pop. Overall a gorgeous, fun record that has overcome the language barrier to become my favourite album of this year.

Genre: Música Popular Brasileira, Samba-Rock
Best track: “Existe Uma Voz”

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Best Tracks: Move Over and Let Me Dance, Pt. 1
Genre: Funk, Psychedelia
Year: 1971

Released in 1971, In the Beginning… was definitely designed to capitalise on Hendrix’s death. The record comprises of 26 minutes of old recordings from The Isley Brothers with Jimi Hendrix. It’s a shame Hendrix and the Isley Brothers never did a full album together, because this sounds incredible! This short-lived band featured the greatest guitarist ever with some of the greatest singers ever. Even a cash-grab release like this is going to sound really good.

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Best Tracks: The whole thing
Genre: Post Jazz, Experimental
Year: 2017

The most intricate album I’ve ever heard. Red Burns is structured like a continuous story, fading between tracks like scenes of a documentary. The story feels like the account of an American folklorist exploring New York. Red Burns visits a wide variety of African and Latin American genres to paint a picture of the African Diaspora living in New York today. The album is led by a rotating cast of musicians, artists, and poets. Red Burns comes together as a collage of the personal histories and cultural identities of each of its artists.

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