Live percussionist turned DJ & Producer; Rafael Moraes first made a name for himself in the Brazilian house scene when he took command of the radio program Beats Eldorado; a platform upon which he was able to showcase his aptitude for mixing genres of modern electronic music. Alongside Ale Reis and Andre Torquato he created the Brazilian collective Nomumbah whose album ‘Love Moves’ was released on Yoruba to great acclaim, definitively capturing the essence of the beauty of Brazilian culture and winning well deserved recognition and praise from heavyweight artists including Louis Vega, Gilles Peterson and Henrik Schwartz.
Likewise, this first EP release under his own name does little to disappoint, presenting an intelligent blend of elements of jazz, broken beat, Latin rhythms and deep house. ‘Ahead’ demonstrates his expertise and creativity in fusing rhythms as intricate beats gain momentum over a poignantly incessant piano loop and the equally yearning vocals of Andre Torquato. The heat rises ever so slightly with the thumping b-line and off beat rhythms of ‘What?!’, yet the trance like spectrum of sounds make it an ideal track for 5 in the morning. ‘Birth’ is equally, if not more, meditative. This tranquil and organic blend of hushed whispers and Amazonian sounds, coupled with the gradual and refined crescendo of rhythms. Rounding things off is a vocal reworking of ‘Birth’ featuring the distinguished tones of Capitol A, leaving you with a sense of completion; a sense that with ‘Modern Traditions’, Moraes’ labour of love is finally delivered.
Rafael Moraes 'Modern Traditions EP'
1. Rafael Moraes featuring Andre Torquato ‘Ahead’
2. Rafael Moraes featuring Andre Torquato ‘What?!’
3. Rafael Moraes ‘Birth’
4. Rafael Moraes featuring Capitol A ‘Birth’ (Vocal Version)
All Tracks Written by R. Moraes
Produced & Mixed by Rafael Moraes @ Kizum Studios
All Instruments by Rafael Moraes & Andre Torquato
Track 4 Vocals by Capitol A
Executive Producer: Osunlade
Published by Yoruba People’s Music (ASCAP) / Sony ATV Music
P&C 2012 Yoruba Records