Ana Frango Elétrico - Me Chama De Gato Que Eu Sou Sua (2023) [Hi-Res]

With two critically acclaimed albums and a swathe of award-winning production turns under their belt, Ana Frango Eletrico present their most confdent and accomplished work to date: Me Chama De Gato Que Eu Sou Sua / Call Me They That I'm Yours. Gesturing to a tradition of Brazilian boogie music, but bouncing with modern pop ebullience, the album sees the Rio artist evolve from a captivating upstart into a surefooted scene leader in full stride.

The new album finds Ana at their most assured and full-voiced. Album opener "Electric Fish", with funky bass and shimmering backing vocals, sets a buoyant tone. "Boy of Stranger Things" is its bombastic counterpart. It's the grooviest Ana has ever sounded. And the most brazen. Lyrically, where Ana was once oblique on personal matters, they are now forthright - lucidly exploring their gender identity, citing accessible cultural references, and often singing in English.

"I started this album in 2021 with the intention of showing, in means of sound, understandings and feelings about queer love, subjectively exposing myself," the non- binary artist states - before qualifying that though "feeling was its driving force, the album is really about musical production."

"There's so many references to different decades," Ana explains. "Seventies drums with eighties processing ... Going back, getting beyond ... Testing the limits of organic sounds". Characteristically playful, on Me Chama, Ana takes vivid and rewarding detours through funk- infected R&B ("Dela") and art pop ("Dr. Sabe Tudo"). "Nuvem Vermelha" is a cinematic chanson with lush strings that recalls Arthur Verocai. Then, "Coisa Maluca" loafs with the indie insouciance of Canadian slacker Mac Demarco. Later, "Let's Go Before Again", is a full-on drum machine workout evocative of Stereolab.