Diggin’ This: Opa – “Goldenwings” (Far Out Recordings)

 

Can’t stop listening to this album.

 

 

 

Translated as “Hi” in Uruguayan slang, Opa meld North American jazz and funk with Uruguay’s native Candombe rhythms.

 

 

Originally a collection of demos recorded in the mid-70s, Back Home incorporates cosmic synths and frenetic jazz drums. The band have also found themselves being sampled by DanDigs.com favorites Madlib and Flying Lotus.

 

 

Album opener “Goldenwings” is the one for me. It’s a taut, energetic Afro-jazz-funk workout that imagines Fela Kuti jamming with Parliament.

 

 

Opa – “Goldenwings”

 

 

 

 

 

The reissue of Back Home is set to be released on March 8 via Far Out Recordings.

 

 

 

 

Stream it on Spotify here and get Back Home on vinyl here.

 

 

 

 

Check out more of my favorite music from Uruguay here

 

and

 

listen to more of my favorite Flying Lotus and Madlib cuts here and here

 

and

 

hear more of my favorite releases from Far Out Recordings here

 

and

 

listen to the tracks I’m very into right now on my 2024 Essentials playlist here.