Comprised of the cream of Brazilian groove — three original members of Azymuth, a full orchestra and members of Banda Black Rio — the Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra deliver a perfect springtime party starter on their sophomore release.
Black Sun builds on the elegant dance floor groovers of the orchestra's eponymous 2014 debut, with more ambitious arrangements (courtesy of Arthur Verocai) and ever-infectious rhythms. Cuts like the sultry invitation of "Step Into My Life," with its irresistible glitter-ball bounce and creamy string arrangements, and the spacy synthesizers and syndrums on the Patrick Adams-indebted "Flying High," would have rocked dance floors four decades ago, yet they're performed with such drive and joy they eschew nostalgia.
Ditto the airy cosmic acid jazz of "The Two Of Us" (featuring an impressive vocal from Mia Mendes), and the playful showcase for bassist Alex Malheiros, "Walking Bass (In the Street)," both modern disco jams that defy you not to get on the dance floor.
Not a duff track here, and while instrumental versions extend the album's runtime to nearly 80 minutes, they don't seem redundant, given their accomplished musicianship and cosmopolitan arrangements.
(Far Out Recordings)Black Sun builds on the elegant dance floor groovers of the orchestra's eponymous 2014 debut, with more ambitious arrangements (courtesy of Arthur Verocai) and ever-infectious rhythms. Cuts like the sultry invitation of "Step Into My Life," with its irresistible glitter-ball bounce and creamy string arrangements, and the spacy synthesizers and syndrums on the Patrick Adams-indebted "Flying High," would have rocked dance floors four decades ago, yet they're performed with such drive and joy they eschew nostalgia.
Ditto the airy cosmic acid jazz of "The Two Of Us" (featuring an impressive vocal from Mia Mendes), and the playful showcase for bassist Alex Malheiros, "Walking Bass (In the Street)," both modern disco jams that defy you not to get on the dance floor.
Not a duff track here, and while instrumental versions extend the album's runtime to nearly 80 minutes, they don't seem redundant, given their accomplished musicianship and cosmopolitan arrangements.