After setting dance floors alight with their latest release BREAD in 2024, Sofi Tukker are back with their alter ego, offering up gentle Brazilian rhythms. During butter, they mainly reinterpret songs and offer their acoustic counterpart. A true ode to Brazilian culture, the album is filled with bossa nova, samba and a clever mix of styles that has taken nearly 10 years to conceive and produce. Recorded in Brazil, the duo invited several artists (Silva, Ral and Seu Jorge, among others) into the studio and offers a more melodic and perhaps slightly more subdued take on their musical evolution.
In the new version of “Hey Homie (butter version),” classical guitar and maracas lead us to radiant brass instruments. Silva is back with a touch of autotune, reminding us that the city is not far away.
On “Bread (butter version),” we are treated to a magnificent hybrid of Brazilian culture and jazz, backed by Seu Jorge’s warm voice. Sofi Tukker spoils us with melodica on “Jacaré (butter version),” transporting us to the bustling streets of Brazil and the lambada that could spring up there, while “Veneno (butter version)” is a feminine samba that skilfully blends the music of Parà with Mari Merenda and Sophia Ardessore. This is followed by the sensual and rhythmic duet with Brazilian singer-songwriter Liniker on “Intensity,” where lovesick lovers flirt, respond to each other, overlap and follow each other against a backdrop of whistled melody. “Cafuné (butter version)” is a percussion-focused piece featuring the voice of Channel Tres and well-balanced electro touches. “Spiral (butter version)” recounts the end of a story without bitterness, where paths diverge to a bossa nova rhythm. “Perfect Someone (butter version)” opens like an old film, with the accordion and violins then taking flight in an interesting musical evolution reminiscent of Gotan Project. “Throw Some Ass (butter version)” retains the original guitar score but is imbued with an impressive fusion of genres. Finally, “Guardian Angel (Stand by You) (butter version)” leaves us with a jazzy jam. Tucker’s voice bridges the gap to the last track, a collaboration with The Knocks entitled “Brazilian Soul (Acoustic Bossa Version).”
With this counterpart, the duo proves once and for all that they can do anything. Comparable to the best of Bet.e & Stef while remaining unclassifiable, this hybrid of genres could become a must-have if it weren’t so difficult to categorize. A vibrant, original and successful tribute to Brazilian culture. As their names suggest, these albums go together as well as bread and butter.
