Da Lata – Songs From The Tin

Da Lata, the downtempo supergroup of Patrick Forge and Chris Franck, deliver their album, <I>Songs from the Tin</I> -- it’s like a trip to Brazil without having to deal with begging street children. “Cores” has a tinge of sadness in it, something mournful in the drumming and the vocals (even though I don’t understand Yoruba or Portuguese). In fact, this melancholy becomes a motif throughout the album, popping up in “Rain Song” and “Inae.” The rhythms on the album stay true to the source; rather than opting for electronic versions of drums and maracas, the percussion sounds authentic. “Pra Manha” is a sweetly sublime piece of work. Some Brazilian sunshine comes through the clouds on “Indo” and “Rio Vida,” but, overall, Da Lata has done themselves proud.