INTEIRA

Inteira (meaning whole) was originally released last year on the Seloki label in Brazil, an indie with a terrifically varied roster of releases. Mr Bongo chose Maia from a cassette compilation gifted by Seloki and decided to release this, her debut album, to the worldwide market (albeit as a ‘Deluxe Edition’, with four extra tracks). It’s a wise choice; there’s everything here that could break her as an international act, her warm ethereal voice, reminiscent of Marisa Monte, and songwriting influenced in equal measures by samba canção, MPB and Lô Borges and Milton Nascimento’s Clube da Esquina – now considered a genre within itself. There’s also her assured production which draws on light jazzy touches, seemingly acoustic simplicity and electronica that brings to mind 90s-era Massive Attack. This trip-hop influence is apparent on ‘Kaô’ with its lethargic breakbeat and treated textures. For a debut it is assured, highly melodic and accessible, with no rough edges, it will be interesting to see where she goes next.