Me Chama de Gato Que Eu Sou Sua

A pleasant surprise that the ‘electric chicken’ follows up their Latin Grammy-nominated second LP with an album full of upbeat 70s/80s Brazilian boogie influences, a sound very much in vogue with key cratediggers, DJs and labels. In particular the horn arrangements look to the original 70s funk that was part of the Black Rio movement, a vital part of Rio’s political musical history from which eventually sprung the baile funk scene. The fact that a white non-binary ‘indie’ artist has adopted this sound shouldn’t be so surprising as disco’s history of portraying queer love and the feeling of otherness makes it a flexible genre to explore.

‘Electric Fish’ sets the tone, upfront funk bass à la ESG and an irresistible chorus, while ‘Lets Go to Before Again’ is a piece of electro-bossa, bringing a slice of Rio to the proceedings. ‘Coisa Maluca’ (Crazy Thing) harks back to the twee indie cuteness of previous albums, but then we’re straight into the syncopated funk of ‘Boy of Stranger Things’ where they sing in English: ‘I’m the boy of the stranger things/I’m not the girl that you think.’ The album is inflected with these personal touches, hinting at Elétrico’s personal life as well as their cultural references.