Records that find you

Listening to new music is exciting. Hearing something new is like opening a present. You may have an idea of what it will be but you can't be sure until you listen. You can read reviews, hear previous tracks by the artist, even know her personally but nothing can fully prepare you for what you hear.

Even an old record can be new. Sometimes you find something from the past and, upon listening to it, you wonder how you could have not known this existed before. Why doesn't everyone know about this, and if they did why hadn't they told me?

This happened to me this past week with 'Africa Brasil' by Jorge Ben (1976). Quite possibly one of the best Brazilian funk albums ever. I could go on but why bother. The words I associate with it won't get you any closer to the music. It is a present you have to open and experience yourself. I'm just hear to tell you it exists. The rest is up to you.

Jorge Ben "Africa Brasil" (Philips, 1976)
Seek it out.

Write back and tell me about great records you have discovered.

Jim