Da Lata- Birds (LP)
Da Lata's highly anticipated fourth album Birds is a genre busting journey through London Afro-Brazilian soul music. The most homogeneous Da Lata record to date, Christian Franck has honed his craft and expanded his art to create a glowing testimony from the melting pot of the capital's musical life. Gathering his family of collaborators with diverse musical backgrounds in soul,jazz,and gospel as well as African and Brazilian forms, Birds is an album that finally lays waste to that tired idea of World music. There are tracks that are inspired by Chris' journeys to the source, there are elegant horn and woodwind arrangements recorded in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, there are lyrics in different tongues, but this is a London record.
Birds is an album of warm organic grooves infused with sophisticated funkiness and splattered with instrumental colour. From the Afro skank swagger of the low slung opener Mentality to the Beatles-esque pathos of the closing title track, it's a record packed with soulful surprises and beguiling rhythms. The sound is both intimate and expansive, drawing the listener into Da Lata's London tropicalia and out into the cosmos. Birds is an album about keeping doors open and conversation flowing, it's about survival, hope, family, resistance, awareness, unity and love.
"As always, Da Lata's music is SUPERB" Laurent Garnier
"Sounds great every time" Gilles Peterson
"Mentality" track of the day KCRW
"This is a deeply alluring album, lovingly crafted.....Da Lata are back and on tip-top tropicalia form" Blues & Soul ★★★★☆
“The work of curious and sensitive listeners who are happy to meld Afrobeat at its mellowest with psychedelia, jazz, hip-hop elasticity, and horns recorded in Belo Horizonte, Brazil” Afropop
"Brilliant new album from Da Lata...the groove remains consistent, strong and uplifting throughout."Music Is My Sanctuary
"A perfect tonic for cold winter days" Bandcamp Album of The Day
“the results are perhaps more accessible than they’ve ever been resulting in a welcome return after a five-year absence” UK Vibe
"This track is beautiful (Memory Man)" Errol Touching Bass (NTS)
"This is just bloody amazing (Thunder of Silence)!" Snowboy
"I like the funky groove a lot- it’s very catchy!" Shantistan
"Love this and will support" Alex Attias (Mi Soul)
"Thanks and will support" Rob Luis (Tru Thoughts)
“This is lovely” Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s)
“So great to have Da Lata back” Colleen Murphy (WWFM)
“Loving this and the whole album” Rainer Truby
“Man this is beautiful” Mark De Clive Lowe
“Got this one and very nice indeed” Chris Greenwood (Mi Soul)
“Beautiful!!!” Massimiliano Conti
“Excellent and supporting” Debbie Golt, Resonance FM
“Thanks for sharing this wonderful album!” Twisted Soul
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Tracklist
