HORSE MEAT DISCO / VARIOUS ARTISTS

A labour of love, it showcases a tantalising cross- section of disco, funk, boogie, samba and MPB, from past to present. Unearthing tracks from the seemingly endless gold mine of Brazilian gems, the compilation features legends such as Jorge Ben, Gretchen, Marcos Valle and Robson Jorge & Lincoln Olivetti, alongside unsung heroes including Ze Carlos and Carlos Bivar. Over 20 years ago, the Horse Meat Disco crew (James Hillard, Severino Panzetta, Jim Stanton and Luke Howard) began their weekly residency at Eagle London back in 2003. That same year, Luke made his first visit to Brazil, beginning a musical love affair that is still going strong. "I had always wanted to go to Brazil since I was a kid, and when I finally had the opportunity to go with Princess Julia, I was just blown away. I've visited Rio every year since 2003, and in that time, I've learned Portuguese and tried to discover as much as I can about Brazilian music and popular culture. I learned to dance samba with the Paraiso School of Samba in London and paraded three times at Rio Carnival. Brazilian music was a brand- new world for me to explore and get excited about--a whole universe of genius musicians, singers, and styles." 9 years later, Mr Bongo invited Luke down to their Brighton HQ for a listening session of some of his favourite Brazilian boogie and disco 7" finds. A compilation was greenlit, but multiple licensing delays and the release of other HMD compilations meant that it lay dormant for years. Fast forward to 2024, and with the help of esteemed, Rio based record collector Tee Cardaci, along with suggestions from HMD's James Hillard, the dream of an HMD Brazilian compilation finally materialised. It's a carefully curated collection that includes the electronic-boogie/italo-disco-esque 1984 groover 'Venha (Remix)' by the singer Ze Carlos, two cuts by Luiza Maura taken from her sought- after Deixa Girar 7", and Gretchen's sultry 'Ela Tem Raca, Charme, Talento E Gostosura' written by Jorge Ben. At its core, this compilation captures the excitement and sense of discovery that won over Horse Meat Disco's heart more than 20 years ago. A vibrant mix of feel-good favours, it homes in on a sun-soaked strand of disco and boogie that has been enriched with the spirit of a nation where music serves as a central pillar of life.