It’s always a pleasure when musicians transcend genre boundaries effortlessly. And this is part of what makes Chico Mann’s latest album so enduring. Analog Drift (Muy…Esniqui) is an escape into Brazilian funk, trippy 8-bit electronica (fitting, given the name of the album), reggae, soul, and an utter mishmash of all sort of other delicious flavors. It is this sense of diversity that drives this record to its ultimate success.

Beyond transcending musical genres, this album is thrilling because it also transcends musical eras. It wouldn’t be a stretch to call this a musical time warp or journey of sorts. Parts of this album sound as if it has been ripped from the techno-synth of the 80s – just take a listen to “All That Is Rising”. Then there’s the classic video-game-esque “Anima” which sounds as if it came right from the 90s. Many other songs even travel from a more distant era of retro funk/soul.

And to the non-Spanish speakers, don’t fret. There are a few tracks with English lyrics, although the lyrics in this album generally serve a rhythmic purpose anyway, so you’re just as well off with the Spanish songs. Beyond the lyrics, Analog Drift is an engaging album musically. There is a commonality to each song in that a static, funky guitar keeps rhythm throughout, but the pace changes from song to song to keep the music interesting and in flux. For example, beginning with the album’s highlight “Ya Yo Se”, which falls towards the end, the album begins to steadily decrease its tempo, leading to a gradual, smooth finish.

There is nothing overtly flashy or spectacular about what Chico Mann has done with Analog Drift, however everything is just done very well. There is a slight lull in the middle, but overall the music is lively and there are enough new sounds to keep things interesting. Analog Drift excels where other funk records might drag because it experiments and moves, never quite marrying itself to one idea for too long.

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