FUNCIONARIO - MOMENTO CLARO

Released: 05/07/2024

Inspired by the realms of ambient and fourth world music, the Portuguese artist Funcionário’s follow-up to 2022’s Cavalcante occupies the same dreamlike, sonically adventurous space as Jon Hassell and Brian Eno, and Japanese environmental artists such as Takashi Kokubo and Hiroshi Yoshimura. Setting the tone for this magical record, the stunning opening track ‘Esperança’ is a nine-minute meditation in which constantly evolving keyboards and ocean sounds are set in dialogue with each other, with other highlights including the meditative ‘Retrato’, a kind of monasterial soprano sax polka that brings to mind the more organic, nature-sampling side of Oneohtrix Point Never’s Replica; and the wonderful ‘Momento Claro’, which combines glistening Music for 18 Musicians-like vibraphone patterns with thrilling percussion work in the stye of Carlos Niño. Momento Claro is an incredibly rich work of ambient-electronic music that reveals new layers with every listen.