Hear "The Cosmic Sound of Cabo Verde” In This New Vintage Compilation

Our friends over at Analog Africa come through with an electrifying compilation of late 1970s and early 80s Cabo Verdean dance grooves.

Space Echo - The Mystery Behind The Cosmic Sound of Cabo Verde Finally Revealed presents some of the earliest electronic recordings from the island nation, reviving its eclectic musical past with trance-inducing songs that combine elements of funk, soul and techno.

The 15-track selection highlights a golden period in the nation’s music scene, when the use of synthesizers was first introduced, redefining previously existing styles like morna and funaná—a genre that was charged with being “too sexy” and hence banned under Portuguese colonial rule.

"Musical genius Paulino Vieira, who by the end of the 70s would become the country’s most important music arranger, [recorded] eight out of the fifteen songs presented in this compilation with the backing of [his] band Voz de Cabo Verde," the label mentions. As a band leader and keyboardist, Vieira became "the mastermind behind the creation and promulgation of what is known today as 'The Cosmic Sound of Cabo Verde'."

Analog Africa will release Space Echo - The Mystery Behind The Cosmic Sound of Cabo Verde Finally Revealed on May 27. Get into it ahead of time with the preview below.

Paulino Vieira, 1984.