New music - w22

This week’s music: Álvaro Lancellotti, The Kyoto Connection, Joao Selva, and Maya Delilah

2025 has already proven to be a year of profound musical exploration, with artists across the globe redefining boundaries and weaving fresh narratives into the fabric of contemporary music. At Fragile Circus, we celebrate records that not only move us but also expand our sonic horizons. This week, we turn our attention to four remarkable releases: Álvaro Lancellotti’s “Arruda, Alfazema E Guiné,” The Kyoto Connection’s “Four Seasons In Kyoto,” Joao Selva’s “Onda,” and Maya Delilah’s “The Long Way Round.” Each of these albums offers a unique journey—through spiritual Brazilian grooves, meditative Japanese ambient, vibrant tropical modernism, and soulful London jazz-pop. Here’s an in-depth look at why these records are essential listening in 2025.

Álvaro Lancellotti – Arruda, Alfazema E Guiné

LABEL: Amor in Sound GENRE: Latin

Spiritual Rhythms and Afro-Brazilian Alchemy

Álvaro Lancellotti’s “Arruda, Alfazema E Guiné” is a masterclass in the fusion of Afro-Brazilian spirituality, rhythmic invention, and lyrical introspection. Released in October 2024 on the American label Amor in Sound (helmed by Mario Caldato Jr. of Beastie Boys fame), the album is the product of deep cultural encounters and personal reflection. Lancellotti, a renowned Brazilian singer-songwriter, draws inspiration from the spiritual practices and syncretic traditions of Afro-Brazilian culture, as well as the contemplative philosophy of yoga. The result is a body of work that feels both rooted and transcendent, channeling the ritualistic power of percussion and melody into songs that are at once earthy and ethereal[1].

The album resists categorization, weaving together samba, candomblé-inspired rhythms, and contemporary songwriting. Lancellotti’s percussive approach is central, giving the music a physical, almost trance-like energy. The production—handled by Lancellotti himself alongside Pedro Costa and Adriano Sampaio, with co-production from Mário Caldato—emphasizes organic textures and a sense of communal performance. The engineering, split between studios in Brazil and mixed by Caldato in Los Angeles, brings a clarity and warmth that lets every hand drum, guitar strum, and vocal nuance shine[1].

For those who want to explore more spiritual and contemplative Brazilian music:

• Hermeto Pascoal - "Planetário da Gávea" - Experimental spiritual jazz with Brazilian roots

• Carlos Maria - "Cosmos Universal" - Meditative Brazilian folk fusion

• Maria Bethânia - "Noturno" - Deep explorations of Brazilian spirituality and ritual

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The Kyoto Connection – Four Seasons In Kyoto

LABEL: Temples of Jura GENRE: Ambient

A Meditative Journey Through Japanese Ambient Traditions

“Four Seasons In Kyoto” marks the final chapter in The Kyoto Connection’s Ambient Japanese trilogy, following “Postcards” (2018) and “The Flower, The Bird and The Mountain” (2022). The project, helmed by Argentine composer and producer Facundo Arena, is a loving homage to the ambient and environmental music movements that flourished in Japan during the 1980s and 1990s. This 2025 release is both a tribute and a transportive listening experience, inviting the audience to imagine life in a quiet rural village where nature and tradition shape every moment[2].

Comprising 15 evocative compositions, “Four Seasons In Kyoto” captures the changing moods of Japan’s landscape. Arena collaborates with friends and fans in Japan to infuse authenticity into the soundscapes, blending field recordings, gentle melodies, and subtle electronics. The sonic palette is spacious and immersive, with each track unfolding like a slow meditation on time and place. The album’s ambient textures are reminiscent of pioneers like Hiroshi Yoshimura and Satoshi Ashikawa, yet Arena’s voice remains distinct—a blend of reverence and innovation[2].

Standout tracks include the title piece “Four Seasons in Kyoto,” which layers shimmering synths over environmental sounds, and “A Drop of Dew,” whose delicate piano lines evoke the fleeting beauty of spring mornings. “Playground” and “Yurei” offer playful and haunting contrasts, showcasing Arena’s range as a composer.

Further Listening

For listeners enchanted by The Kyoto Connection's meditative ambient soundscapes, several artists offer similarly contemplative journeys:

• Susumu Yokota - "Symbol" - A masterful blend of Japanese ambient textures and ethereal soundscapes

• Visible Cloaks - "Reassemblage" - Contemporary interpretations of Japanese environmental music

• Masayoshi Fujita - "Book of Life" - Vibraphone-led ambient compositions with a similar seasonal sensitivity

Joao Selva – Onda

LABEL: Underdog Records GENRE: Latin

A Modern Wave of Tropical Fusion

Joao Selva’s “Onda” is a vibrant testament to the enduring power of Brazilian music to evolve, adapt, and inspire. The album is described as a “true hymn to creoleness and tropicalism,” brimming with the flavors of funk, jazz, disco, and the rhythms of the Black Atlantic. Selva, a Brazilian nomadic spirit, crafts a musical cruise that is as exuberant as it is thoughtful, bringing together a cast of collaborators including the effervescent Flavia Coelho and multi-instrumentalist/producer Patchworks (Voilaaa, The Dynamics, David Walters)[4].

“Onda” is rooted in Brazilian tradition but refreshingly modern in its execution. Selva draws from samba, bossa nova, and MPB (Música Popular Brasileira), infusing these genres with contemporary funk and jazz elements. The production is lush, rhythmic, and danceable, with arrangements that nod to both the golden age of Brazilian music and the cosmopolitan sounds of today’s global scene. The album’s “exhuberant travelogue diary” quality is heightened by its seamless integration of diverse influences—from the mythical Black Atlantic to the bustling streets of Rio and Paris[4].

For Those Who Enjoyed Joao Selva's Tropical Fusion:

• Tim Maia - "Racional" - Classic Brazilian funk with spiritual undertones

• Marcos Valle - "Vontade de Rever Você" - Sophisticated Brazilian groove with jazz and disco elements

• Gilsons - "Pra Gente Acordar" - Contemporary Brazilian music that bridges tradition and modernity

Maya Delilah – The Long Way Round

LABEL: Blue Note Records GENRE: Jazz

Jazz-Pop Brilliance and Intimate Storytelling

Maya Delilah’s debut full-length album, “The Long Way Round,” is a dazzling showcase of the London-based artist’s gifts as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Released on Blue Note/Capitol, the album arrives on the heels of Delilah being named a 2025 Spotify “Artist To Watch” and a member of the Fender Next “Class of 2024.” The record brings together all the elements that have made Delilah a rising star: intimacy, technical prowess, inspiration, and a remarkable ability to blend genres into something both fresh and familiar[5].

Delilah’s music traverses pop, R&B, jazz, and soul, with a style described as a “unique blend” of these influences. Her background—studying at the BRIT School and building a devoted online following through livestreams and TikTok—has informed a sound that is both technically accomplished and emotionally direct. Delilah cites Anderson .Paak, Tyler The Creator, John Mayer, and Derek Trucks as inspirations, and these influences can be heard in her fluid guitar work, soulful vocals, and genre-bending songwriting[6][7].

“The Long Way Round” is, in Delilah’s own words, “a combination of so many parts of me.” The album draws on her experiences, relationships, and travels, resulting in songs that are deeply personal yet universally resonant. The production is crisp and modern, with arrangements that allow Delilah’s guitar and voice to shine. The album’s intimacy is matched by its musical ambition, moving from jazz-inflected ballads to upbeat pop-funk numbers with ease[5].

For fans of Maya Delilah's jazz-pop sophistication:

• Tom Misch - "Geography" - Guitar-led jazz-influenced pop from London

• Nala Sinephro - "Space 1.8" - Contemporary London jazz with electronic elements

• Madison McFerrin - "I Hope You Can Forgive Me" - Intimate jazz-inflected songwriting with modern production

These artists share Delilah's commitment to musical excellence while blending jazz sophistication with pop accessibility. Each brings their own unique perspective to the intersection of technical prowess and emotional storytelling.

Whether you’re drawn to spiritual Brazilian grooves, meditative Japanese ambient, the cosmopolitan pulse of modern tropicalism, or the intimate storytelling of London jazz-pop, these records demonstrate the extraordinary diversity and creativity shaping this year’s musical landscape. Dive in, listen deeply, and let these artists guide you through new worlds of sound.

Check out the FAB 50 playlist on Spotify for all of my recent discoveries!