Avaialable from Mr Bongo on vinyl LP and CD https://www.mrbongo.com/products/the-sylvers-ii-vinyl-lp-cdThis is a masterpiece. And we mean it. Beautiful, golden-era soul written by Leon Sylvers III, produced by Jerry Butler and Keg Johnson.

The Sylvers were a family from Los Angeles who were very successful during the 70’s and into the early 80’s, with chart hits – deep into pop-disco territory by then! – including ‘Boogie Fever’, ‘Hot Line’ and ‘High School Dance’.

This is the groups second album, from 1973, and is one of their strongest. Opening with the awesome mid-tempo ‘We Can Make It If We Try’ the record moves through funk, boogie and deep soul moods, finishing on a hazy, acapella version of The Beatles ‘Yesterday’.

The Sylvers always provide a goldmine of samples. This album has been flipped by Madlib (for MF DOOM), Homeboy Sandman, 50 Cent, Ghostface Killah, Black Milk, Roc Marciano, David Banner & 9th Wonder and more.

Official Mr Bongo reissue. Replica original artwork. Licensed from Pride Inc. 2006.

The Sylvers – The Sylvers II

Lugar de Agonia [Instrumental]

Pedro Mizutani & Skinshape – Lugar de Agonia [Instrumental]

Mr Bongo proudly announces the first single from Don Glori’s forthcoming third album ‘Paper Can’t Wrap Fire’. The cornerstone of the LP, 'Brown Eyes' is a joyous soul-jazz groover featuring the captivating lead male vocals of fellow Melbourne/Naarm local, ML Hall. On first listen you’d be mistaken for thinking this is a straight-up love song. Yet underneath its uplifting soulful flavours and sultry vocals, lies a deeper topic at play.

‘Brown Eyes’ discusses the comfort of seeking and finding your community when you had previously felt like an outsider. As Don mentions, “This song is about feeling 'othered' in a predominantly white society like Australia. The first verse is about being tokenised/tolerated and having to stake your claim to a place at the table. The second verse and hook are about finding people who have a shared history with you and feeling at ease around them. When you meet another person like that, and you don’t have to explain all the above, it’s a comforting feeling.” 

“It was the first song I wrote start to finish for the record, starting with the opening riff on the piano. I was taking a lot of cues from Jordan Rakei’s cover of Donald Byrd’s ‘Wind Parade’, as well as throwing in a nod to The Doobie Brothers inserting hooks where they shouldn’t be.”

The result is an empowering hit of jazz-injected soul, nourished by a funk flavour. A track that ebbs and flows between sections of sweeping tenderness and head-nodding, bassline-heavy grooves. Crisp swung drums, masterful keys and those honeyed vocals from Hall, backed with lush harmonies from Ruby Dargaville, Isadora Lauritz, and Bianca Kyriacou, combine to send you cruising out across the horizon.


Don Glori - Brown Eyes (Ft. ML Hall)

In an ever-expanding musical universe, Azymuth have long existed as a celestial giant, drawing countless artists, musicians and followers into their orbit. Marking fifty years since their 1975 debut album Azimuth, their new album Marca Passo proves that the band’s alchemic brew of Brazilian jazz-funk and cosmic samba soul remains as vital as ever, as the group honours the profound legacy of their departed founders.

Recorded in Rio de Janeiro, Marca Passo is the first full-length release since the passing of founding drummer Ivan "Mamão" Conti in 2023, following the earlier loss of keyboardist José Roberto Bertrami in 2012. Alex Malheiros, the sole remaining original member, sees his stewardship of the band’s musical legacy as his spiritual duty. He is joined by the equally devoted Kiko Continentino (Milton Nascimento, Djavan) on keyboards, who has been with the group since 2016, and new recruit Renato Massa (Marcos Valle, Ed Motta) on drums.

Yet since their earliest recorded music, Azymuth have always been far greater than the sum of their parts. The "three-man orchestra’s" unmistakable sound is rooted in Brazil's MPB studio scene of the 1970s and early 1980s—a time when artists blended traditional Brazilian rhythms with global jazz, rock, and emerging psychedelic and progressive elements. Marca Passo continues this legacy, seamlessly fusing Brazilian musical traditions with global influences while showcasing the exceptional musicianship that powers Azymuth's distinctive, multi-dimensional sound.

The album is produced by studio mastermind Daniel Maunick, responsible for Azymuth’s two previous studio albums, Fênix in 2016 and Aurora in 2011. Daniel’s credits also include albums by Marcos Valle, Sabrina Malheiros and Terry Callier. Azymuth also invited Daniel’s father, British jazz-funk royalty Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick, of Incognito, to play guitar on a new version of Azymuth’s eighties classic “Last Summer In Rio”, in tribute to the song’s composer, José Roberto Bertrami. Equally, “Samba Pro Mamao” is a new composition dedicated to Azymuth’s beloved original drummer, Ivan “Mamão” Conti.

Marca Passo releases on limited edition blue, red & black vinyl LP editions, CD and digitally on the 6th June 2025, via Far Out Recordings, supported by European and North American tours.

Azymuth - Fantasy '82

Azymuth - Belenzinho

Azymuth - Last Summer In Rio (Featuring Jean Paul "Bluey" Maunick of Incognito)

Proudly presenting ‘Transe’ the first single taken from Zé Ibarra's forthcoming second album. You may be familiar with the hypnotic entrancing tones of Zé’s vocals, through his work in the four-piece, Latin Grammy award-winning Brazilian powerhouse, Bala Desejo and the band Dônica. Zé has also toured with Brazilian legend Milton Nascimento on vocals and guitar, a real honour but also a reflection of Zé's craft to be selected in the band by such a musical titan.

A classic singer-songwriter, 'Transe' sees Zé starting as the song would have been written, simply an acoustic guitar and his voice flowing in an intimate dance. It’s an instantly comforting tone reminiscent of classic Brazilian songs from the past (think Caetano Veloso), before the song builds with ghosty string arrangements, vocal overdubs, and percussion. The energy in Zé's voice intensifies to a climax, as the dial swings in a more contemporary direction powered by a grooving bassline. 

Speaking about the song, Zé mentions, “This song represents, at this moment, a side of me that is still little explored and more intimate. It moves between pop and conceptual, creating an experience closer to a film than a traditional song. This effect is reinforced by the guitar and bass of Frederico Heliodoro, who is also part of Milton Nascimento's band."

‘Transe’ therefore shows a more experimental side to Zé beyond the scared partnership of voice and guitar. Mixing elements of jazz, MPB, and progressive rock, it’s rich and dynamic with a cinematic feel that is full of suspense. A stunning single and a taste of what is to come from one of the finest modern-classic musicians in Brazil’s blooming contemporary scene.


Transe

https://brintex-collective.bandcamp.com/track/3454-thoughts

Brintex Collective - '3454 (thoughts) feat. Ranie Ribeiro)'

Stream 'Changin Me' now : https://bfan.link/changin-me

Changin Me is an atmospheric surf rock trip, carried by waves and sunlight, the track captures the essence of the Swiss project Worries And Other Plants : a DIY blend of psychedelic indie, raw emotion, and visual art. Born in a living room among friends, this project led by Dio grows songs like plants, nurtured by emotion and artistic experimentation.

Changin Me

Worries And Other Plants - Changin Me

Pedro Mizutani & Skinshape - Canal (Instrumental)

This one was an unexpected treat. Two of our favourite contemporary musicians, Finn Rees & Sholto coming together and collaborating on a double dose of celestial, cinematic alchemy.

At Mr Bongo we are massive admirers of drummer, musician, and producer Sholto (Oscar Robertson). His two albums on Funk Night Records and DeepMatter Records, had both been highlights of their respective years. We’d gotten to know Oscar and sent him a few records. Included in the package was Australian pianist-composer Finn Rees’ debut album, Dawn Is A Melody, which was one of our favourite releases on Mr Bongo in 2024.

In Oscar's words 'For me it was a standout modern jazz record - encapsulating a spiritual / hazy dreamy soundscape which hugely resonated with me. Glissando keys and harp with lush melodies, I was instantly intrigued.”  

The pair started following each other online and as luck would have it, Finn was staying in London for the summer season, so they arranged to meet. The pair instantly clicked and said it felt like they'd known each other for years. After 40 minutes of chatting, they started to jam. 

'Love In Memory' and 'Bluebell' were recorded over two days - a track a day in Oscar's SFJ studios. Laid down on mostly analogue equipment, the pair utilised Wurlitzer’s, mellotrons, and ribbon mics through Oscar’s ‘70s Studer desk. Composed and crafted without any real intentions, other than a shared appreciation for the same style of music and approach, the tracks started to take shape. The results were as lush, nostalgic and textured as you’d expect from these two brilliant musicians, with a classical feel inspired by artists such as Piero Piccioni, Piero Umiliani, and Henry Mancini. 

For the beautiful string arrangements, the pair recruited the talents of Sholto's long-time friend and collaborator Clementine Brown (Penguin Cafe Orchestra) and Matthew Hayes of 30/70, Allysha Joy, Xpress Point, Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange fame, was brought in to play bass on 'Bluebell'.

So here we have it, a chance collaborative project built on two musicians' mutual respect for each other's outputs. The result is truly breathtaking.


03 Handle It

Mr Bongo

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