“Nothing is pure, everything is mixed.”

Since 2007, UK-based collective Saravah Soul have been on a quest to blend interactive Brazilian influences with Western funk and soul and while at it, throw in African rhythms here and there to add flavour. Saravah’s sophomore album Cultura Impura offers us the upbeat frenzy of West African hilife, the cojo choir music that often accompanies capoeira battles, all underpinned by some Yankee funk and chicken grease chords galore. Yes, the result is ecclectic, but also cohesive and not surprisingly, suited to your dancefloor. Or better yet, a carneval – in Rio, perhaps, or why not Notting Hill.

Singer and guitarist Otto Nascarella is the glue that ties the Saravah musicians together. Kinetic lead single ‘Alforria‘ speaks directly on his being denied entry to the UK and provides a good introduction to the group’s music. Nascarella’s unmistakeable, raspy vocals garnish ‘Funk de Umbigada‘’s vibrant bass and jittery cowbells, and help the band pull off the daring Hendrix cover ‘Fire‘ to great effect. This is no rip off – the Frevo choirs add a fresh, call and-response element to the song to complete a very successful experiment. The coco-flavoured ‘Dá Ne Mim‘ would be fully experienced during a round of Capoeira – the martial art that African slaves brought westwards to Brazil about 500 years ago.

The greatest feat of Culura Impura is that it manages to translate live energy onto a record especially tangibly, a very sought-after quality in music that is seldom captured to full effect. Saravah Soul let that pifano flute run rampant without respite. And that can be forgiven, because these are talented musicians whose plight to make us move removes any need for a break. Live performance, please.

Words Sven Carlsson
Buy Cultura Impura here