I learned about favelas, or Brazilian slums, when I saw City of God, and have learned even more by studying the street art scene in Rio. Neither paint a very positive picture of the communities. The EP, “Future Visions” by electronic artist Favela was one of the best of the year and rather than conjure despair, the music is actually quite hopeful.
What brings hope? Belief in the future? Confidence that your life means something? Empowerment? Favela’s new “Future Visions” EP outlines these themes without any superficiality; each song is an anthem of inspiration and pushes past a fear of the unknown. The opening track hits the ground running, powered by a sputtering engine. It has the skeleton of a love song, but there is an emphasis on optimism over morbid uncertainty. “I become so short-sighted,” he sings, an admission that allow him to finally move past his initial doubts.
Aside from the poetic nature of the tracks, the release also sounds immaculate. The single, “Gong” became quite popular, much thanks to that ukelele and the compressed drums that could have been sampled from Radiohead’s “Videotape.” “Blinker” even has a loop that gets under your skin. It’s his vocals that give the music its overall somber quality, delivered at a register where his English accent is magnified.
Favela is from Leeds, and is working on new music at the moment. If it is an ounce as emotive as this release, then we will be in good shape. A new track just dropped earlier this month, so more is sure to come very soon.
Sawdust & Gin 