Singer-songwriter Dora Morelenbaum is Rio’s most beguiling voice right now. As a member of Latin Grammy award-winning supergroup Bala Desejo, she has enamoured worldwide audiences – energising ecstatic dancefloors and concert halls with a particularly ebullient brand of MPB. On solo turns, meanwhile, Dora’s honeyed vocals and sophisticated compositions have drawn comparisons to Joyce Moreno – 2021’s gentle debut EP Vento De Beirada garnering international admirers, extolling its elegance and expansive beauty.

It is, then, as an already coveted member of Brazil’s new wave that the carioca announces her debut solo album Pique (Mr Bongo, 2024). On Pique, we hear an already accomplished Dora at her most emboldened.

Preserving the grace of her debut EP, but imbued with new-found groove and a gargantuan-sounding band, Pique is a vivid and exceedingly fun first full-length album. While there certainly remain moments of serenity here, Dora’s debut album finds her in a more dynamic mode – as a commanding bandleader, a curios composer and an exuberant performer. In her own words, “Pique was an album made in motion and ended up being about just that.”

Pique’s sophisticated compositions do indeed shift and swing – from sumptuous soul to evocative MPB, through jazz, funk and disco. And, at each dextrous turn, an animated Dora is a compelling frontwoman – buoyed by playful production, courtesy of fellow Rio star and co-producer Ana Frango Elétrico.

Release on Mr Bongo in partnership with Coala Records (Brazil) and Think! Records (Japan).


Dora Morelenbaum - VW Blue

Sourcing rare records to reissue can involve meticulous research and years of digging, but then occasionally, Lady Luck smiles upon you. We don't think we would have ever heard of the Medium Wave Band if Gary from Mr Bongo hadn't known Wolverhampton-based record dealer, Steve Ward. Whilst offering Gary some records for sale, he remembered he had a spare copy of an old 7" single that he thought Gary might like. Steve didn't know much about the release and it had never been sold on Discogs. Looking at the record itself, it was minimalist in appearance and information, there wasn't much to go on other than that it was from the Birmingham area. The mystery drew us in…

The A-side, 'So Tender’, is a late-night, jazzy slow-jam, with beautifully sultry, soulful female vocals which sounded vaguely familiar. On listening to the B side, 'Games (Instrumental)’, you are rewarded with a superb example of Britfunk / independent UK jazz-funk. The pulsating, bass-led dancefloor groove and sensibility is a sound reminiscent of productions usually found on labels such as Elite, but the 7” was not released on a label, it was a private press by the band themselves. So who are the enigmatic The Medium Wave Band?

After some fruitful internet digging and correspondence, we got the answers. The band lineup featured Elliot Browne on guitar (lead & rhythm), Ron Lyseight on guitar (rhythm), Andrew Proverbs on keyboards, Tony Peart on drums, Paul Snook on bass, Linton Levy on saxophone, and surprisingly, the beautiful vocals we had been enjoying were those of Jackie Graham, a.k.a the hugely successful UK vocalist, Jaki Graham. Maybe best known for her pop hit with David Grant, 'Could It Be I'm Falling In Love', but also featuring on the cult classic track 'Fire In My Heart' by Escape From New York.

Influenced by artists and bands including George Benson, Ronnie Laws, Weather Report, George Duke, Ramsey Lewis, Azimuth and Chick Corea to name a few, the guys booked into a studio near the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham and recorded the two tracks that make up this 7”. Only 200 copies of the original 7" were ever pressed and were sold mostly in Birmingham at Summit Records by the band’s friend DJ Frenchi , and also at live shows. Despite its limited distribution channels, the record received solid support from fans and those in the music industry, including Morgan Khan of the influential record label Street Sounds. DJ and journalist, Lindsay Wesker, reviewed the release and this led to the band travelling to London for several radio interviews. They played live shows across the country, including at the prestigious Ronnie Scott's in London, and they supported both Shakatak and Weapon of Peace in Birmingham.

Thanks to all those involved bringing this release into fruition and for solving the mystery behind a wonderful Britfunk and UK soul record that could have otherwise been lost in the mists of time. We are delighted to see this obscure gem get another chance to shine.

The Medium Wave Band - Games (Instrumental)

When DJ-producer datadata brings her multi-instrumental finesse to remix the certified jam, "Say Yea" by Cor.Ece and Bad Colours, the result is an ethereal music meditation — a captivating blend of electronic jazz, house, and a merging of sonic souls.

Say Yea (datadata Remix)

Stream & Pre-Order LP: https://melting-pot-music.lnk.to/ultimabossa

‘A Ultima Bossa’ by Midan featuring LESKY is out now. It's the new single from Midan’s forthcoming album ‘Letter to Brazil’, releasing 21.03. on LP and digital.

The young producer, DJ and digger from Cologne channels his deep love for Bossa Nova, Samba and MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) into a 17-track strong album. Accompanied by his good friends FloFilz, Saib, Mr. Käfer and LESKY. Artwork by São Paolo-based illustrator André Cast.

Born and raised in Paris, the half German half Algerian producer is one the most exciting new jacks on the German beatmaker scene. At the age of 23, Midan has already released a bunch of albums for renowned labels like Casual Low Grind, Mutombo Records and Beat Jazz International.

Follow Midan
Spotify https://lnk.to/midan_spotify
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/de/artist/midan/1500084626
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nadimbrah/

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Produced & mixed by Midan.
Mastered by Flitz&Suppe.
Illustration by André Cast
Graphic design by Chicken.

Cat No: MPM 352-6
Artist: Midan
Titel: A Ultima Bossa (feat. LESKY)

© ℗ 2025 Melting Pot Music


Midan - A Ultima Bossa (feat. LESKY)

Presenting the second single taken from Melbourne/Naarm multi-instrumentalist Don Glori’s forthcoming third album ‘Paper Can’t Wrap Fire’. ‘Power’ is a spiritual, choir-led, Brazilian-infused beauty. 

It was a song that Don wrote after being fed up with dealing with bad promoters and agents. It’s a simple mantra - protect your power and energy and do what feels free and good. A playful composition, musically it's divided into two parts. The first was inspired by Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly' and the West Coast sonic world, delicately balancing the spiritual choir, ghostly horns, and jazz break intro. The song then morphs as it progresses, with the gravity that the choir once provided, ripped away by the next section.

From sombre to cheeky, the group chant turns to a satirical hook from the opposite view of the cynical promoter.
 
‘Take your fee, take your seat, come on man keep it up,
Take your fee, take your seat, come on man just shut up’

The song then breaks into a segment that nods to the Brazilian legends Azymuth and their 1977 track 'Tamborim, Cuíca, Ganzá, Berimbau’. Alcides Neto, Robyn Cummins and Al Kennedy provide the shimmering pandeiro, conga and drum percussion rhythms, as Joel Trigg lets rip with a swelling Rhodes solo that crescendos to the finale.


Don Glori - Power

An album of rock fusion.tracks - written, performed, played. recorded and mixed by David Taylor Hughes. Remastered album from the 1990's.

HOTEL DE VOGUE

Taken from the album 'Home' - due out in mid-February on Sound of Speed Records.

Culross Close are:

Eli Emmnauel - Bass
Hasani - Percussion & Incense
Anthony Kieron - Keys
Nathaniel Jiddu - Synthesizers
May Goode - Drums


Artwork c/o of Ears -  http://earstotheground.net/

Pre-order

Requiem + Reflections

Up next on Rhythm Section we welcome Dutch Newcomer - @dukehugh
Duke Hugh's making a big splash with this 9 track double EP, Canvas.

Here's the 7th track from Canvas, as premiered on Bandcamp's weekly show: https://bandcamp.com/?show=203

Duke Hugh - Believe

Pour la 1ère fois, nous avions le plaisir de recevoir le duo Yussef Kamaal !  
Leur album "Black Focus" - sorti en ce début novembre sur le label de Gilles Peterson, Brownswood Recordings - étant un véritable coup de coeur, on se régale également de cette sélection des compères de South London.
Bonne écoute !

Video replay › http://www.lemellotron.com/show/yussef-kamaal-dj-set

Diffusé et enregistré le 16 novembre 2016.
Broadcasted and recorded on november 16, 2016.

Yussef Kamaal
› http://www.yussefkamaal.com/
› https://yussefkamaal.bandcamp.com/
› https://www.facebook.com/YussefKamaal/
› https://twitter.com/yussefkamaal
› https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/yussefkamaal/
› https://play.spotify.com/artist/710FHFQeXKC6dZGCxt7kQh?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open

Yussef Kamaal • DJ set • LeMellotron.com

Gin Tonic Orchestra, a brand new band out of St. Etienne (France), deliver the second release on Mother Tongue records.

The brainchild of keyboard player and producer Victor Dijoud - also known as Kaffe Crème - and drummer Leo Puccio, alongside multiple collaborators both in their studio and stage incarnations, Gin Tonic Orchestra is a collective of young talents, gathering their musical inspiration from future jazz, broken beat and latin vibes.

The Stefania EP - a tribute to their native city - is the band’s debut recording showcasing compositions such as “Hands On The Drums”, a driven yet subtle soulful track coloured with jazzy cymbals and lush harmonies and “Get A Umbaye”, where Afro-latin grooves are juxtaposed against elements of funk and ethereal flute solos, reminiscent of the London and New York acid jazz era.

UK legendary keyboard player and producer Kaidi Tatham appears on track two of side A with a stunning remix of “Hands On The Drums” mixed by none other than Eric Lau, giving the track a new life with a heavy broken beat feel, filled with syncopated riffs and intricate synth solos.

Vinyl pre-orders for Stefania will be available exclusively from mothertonguerecords.com from August 27, with the release date set for September 4 2019.

Pre-Order Vinyl

Exclusive Premiere: Gin Tonic Orchestra "Hands On The Drums" (Kaidi Tatham Remix)

Fanni Zahar - flute
Szabolcs Bognar - Rhodes, synth
Levente Boros - drums

Mixed at Studio Einz, Budapest
Mastered at Analog Cut Berlin

Crossroads

Record label. Record shop. Film label. Since 1989.