Som Sistema

Bern-based Afro-Brazilian singer Mariana Da Cruz’s seventh album is an urban, global-minded set that moves freely across genres, coloured by vintage synthesisers, analogue sequencers and out-of-date drum machines. ‘Rolexxx’ uses South African amapiano to look at superficial consumerist extravagance. ‘Chata (feat. Magugu)’ adapts Angolan kuduro to background a rap about being a straight-talking lover. Other subjects include the long-term effects of colonialism and ongoing social and political upheaval. As the album develops, a heavy baile funk influence starts to take hold, with the 808s of ‘Nosso País’ sounding almost quaint in comparison to the current abrasive sounds of funk, while the boom-tchak of ‘Tudo bem mais complicado’ almost has you nostalgically reminiscing for simpler times. There’s no shortage of inventive production and programming here: ‘Vamos embora’ starts off with a Brazilian trap beat and then morphs into a manic breakbeat with bleeping video game effects.