Samba 808 is the new album by Wado, who after 5 previous albums and 10 years of career, has decided to make it free for download. According to its press release, after conversations with various labels, he couldn’t come up with a fair deal and decided to give it away at his site. As the title suggests this is samba with electronics, but with it’s contributions and partnerships with the cream of current MPB (Zeca Baleiro, Chico César, Curumin, Fabio Góes, Marcelo Camelo and André Abujamra amongst others), it is a mixed bag of styles and ideas with even a wonderful take on “Elas Estão Descontroladas”.  I saw Wado play quite a few years ago, and it was OK, but I would gladly pay and go and see him again performing this album as he has definitely matured as a song writer and arranger. Again, recommended listening for the state of current MPB

Download it at the site or directly here.

Home to major pop culture aggregating blogs Trabalho Sujo and Urbe amongst others, O Esquema.com.br  is releasing the free download of the compilation O Violão. Previous releases by O esquema include João Brasil’s big forbidden dance, so I think it’s worth your clicks.

The compilation started out as a summer DJ remix compilation but then summer came and went and the idea of Dj mixes didn’t really gel, so what they did instead was to ask artist friends and comrades to supply acoustic versions of their own tracks and thus create a more cohesive collection with an autumnal feel.

Thus what we have here is a fine collection of names from the current Brazilian indie-mpb sei la que scene; friend of Man Recs, João Brasil, Céu, Kassin (from Moreno+2), Wado, Lucas Santtana, Curumin and so on. As I said before well worth your time.

Download O Violão (ZIP)