Mr Bongo proudly presents, AFIM, the second solo album by one of Brazils most exciting new talents, Z Ibarra. You may be familiar with the hypnotic, entrancing tones of Ibarras vocals through his work with the Latin Grammy award-winning, four-piece, Bala Desejo and the band Dnica. He has also toured with the musical titan, Milton Nascimento, performing guitar and vocals, which is quite the honour and a testament to Ibarra’s craft. As a solo artist, he has performed headline solo shows in Japan, Portugal and the US, as well as recently completing a support tour with the great, Seu Jorge.

AFIM is comprised of eight tracks, featuring Zs own compositions as well as cover versions of tracks by contemporaries and friends, Sophia Chablau, Tom Veloso, and Dora Morelenbaum. It combines elements of MPB, jazz, pop and progressive rock in a bold, authoritative style. The album represents the intersection between different facets of the artist, from the stripped-down, intimate, guitar singer-songwriter, to dense arrangements with sweeping strings sections. Writing this album allowed Ibarra “to explore sides of myself that had not yet been organized in an album: a certain darkness, a more cinematic musicality, a desire for new soundscapes.

The album features the single, ‘Transe’, a song with an instantly comforting tone reminiscent of classic Brazilian songs of the past (think Caetano Veloso). It is built on a rhythmic guitar that supports dynamic sound layers, opening space for Ibarra’s intense interpretation. Cinematic atmospheres that lend an air of mystery come courtesy of string arrangements by Jaques Morelenbaum.

His unique cover version of Sophia Chablau’s ‘Segredo’ is equally compelling, taking Sophia’s punky-indie original in a different direction and making it feel like his own. ‘Essa Confuso’, a song celebrating the intensity of love and co-written by Dora Morelenbaum, is steered into epic, 70’s AOR, singer-songwriter territory with wind arrangements by Ibarra, Jorge Continentino and strings by Jaques Morelenbaum.

The album is the result of the collaboration of experienced musicians and long-time partners of Ibarra. Fellow Bala Desejo and Dnica member Lucas Nunes co-produced the album. The core band featured on the record consists of Lucas Nunes on organs, Alberto Continentino on bass, Daniel Conceio and Thomas Harres on drums and percussion, Rodrigo Pacato on additional percussion, Chico Lira on Fender Rhodes and Guilherme Lrio on guitar.

The overall feel of the record is archetypically quintessential without slipping into retro mode. It is a stunning album from one of the finest musicians of his generation. A true star of Brazils blooming contemporary scene.

A1. Infinito Em Ns
A2. Segredo
A3. Transe
A4. Retrato De Maria Lcia
B1. Da Menor Importncia
B2. Morena
B3. Essa Confuso
B4. Hexagrama 28