For a special one-off Record Store Day release, we are extremely proud to present two previously unreleased and unheard tracks from the formative years of Brazil’s iconic jazz-funk titans. Recorded between 1973-75 at the late great keyboard maestro José Roberto Bertrami’s home studio in Rio, the demos are a mesmerising document of the futuristic sound Bertrami, Ivan Conti (drums), Alex Malheiros (bass) and Ariovaldo Contesini (percussion) were developing before going on to release their cult favourite, self-titled debut with Som Livre.
With a huge opening 8-bar drum break, and Bertrami’s keyboard spaceship including Arp Solina Strings, Fender Rhodes 88, and a Clavinet with Wah Wah, ‘Castelo (Version 1)’ captures Azymuth’s alien space-funk sound in its rawest, most progressive form. ‘Juntos Mais Uma Vez’ on the B side is an enormous instrumental soul ballad, which ebbs and flows with heart-wrenching Hammond organ melodies, punctuated by the low-slung, deep groove of Brazil’s most beloved rhythm section.