Mexican Summer Us Vinyl & CDs

Review: Performed by an ensemble sporting an intriguing array of instruments (harp, bass clarinet, flute, violin, pedal steel, piano, synthesizer and vibraphone included), Jefre Cantu Ledesma's latest album is a wonderfully drowsy and evocative affair full of drifting ambient motifs, slowly shifting melodic movements and gentle, blink-and-you-miss-them solos. The scene is set magnificently by 21-minute opener "Palace of Time", where effects laden instrumental passages meander across the soundspace to the accompaniment of sporadic percussion and a lone, operatic voice. The aptly titled "Joy", with its haunting clarinet refrain and woozy vibraphone melodies, comes and goes all too quickly before "Tracing Back The Radiance" offers a triumphantly blissful conclusion to a brilliant and beguiling album.

Review: With 2019's Grandeza, Sao Paulo's Sessa made a modest impact thanks to his captivating, intimate sound. Calling to mind the likes of Leonard Cohen, Caetano Veloso and Tom Jobim, his songs speak of the deep roots of South American folk, but also dance with a light touch which is unique to this bright new talent. Now Sessa is back with a new album on Mexican Summer entitled Estrela Acesa, and his sound has gently grown outwards to take in ornate orchestral accompaniments. Crucially though, his tender approach remains as endearing as ever, resulting in another album of dreamy reveries for sweet moments of calm.