The scintillating Brazilian singer Flavia Coelho’s debut album, 2011’s Bossa Muffin, was greeted as ‘one of the most joyful, easygoing fusion sets of the year’ (Guardian), for its sunny, slinky rhythmic and melodic mesh of samba, bossa nova, reggae, ragga and Afrobeat. Its 2013 follow-up, Mundo Meu, revelled in yet more variety, featuring Arrested Development rapper Speech and legendary drummer Tony Allen.
Another guest on Mundo Meu was Senegal’s Cheikh Lô, whose blend of jazz/funk-laced mbalax grooves and lilting, lyrical vocals was originally championed by Youssou N’Dour. A decade on from his acclaimed debut album, Lô’s latest, Balbalou – on which Coelho returns the favour – marks another career highlight.