TIGERBALM - Bubblegum Discos TIGERBALM

Four years on from her acclaimed debut International Love Affair, Tigerbalm (Rose Robinson) returns to Ubiquity Records with the thrillingly kaleidoscopic Bubblegum Discos. A bolder evolution of her globally infused nu-disco sound, the album reflects a newfound confidence and a desire to collaborate with handpicked musicians and vocalists from around the world.

Painted in vivid sonic colours, Bubblegum Discos showcases Tigerbalm's two great musical loves: Brazilian musical culture and vintage dancefloor workouts from the African continent, infused with nods to Italo-disco, proto-house and soca.

The album's first half leans into South American influences. Nayar, crafted with Napoli's Giorgio Lopez, leads the way with lightly reggaeton-inspired nu-disco, followed by the Brazilian disco rush of Diga Me and the breezy samba-disco of Vera En Paraty. Robinson delivers her first-ever lead vocal on the partly improvised neo-boogie workout Coco Makoko.

The album then pivots to Africa, with standout contributions from Andre Espeut, Montreal-based Haitian vocalist Waahli on the horn-rich Do Da Soca, and Afrobeats vocalist Idd Aziz on the body-popping Afro-Disco. Closer Conga brings things home with heavyweight Afro-centric disco rhythms and deep dub bass.

Action-packed and impeccably crafted, Bubblegum Discos is the sound of an artist delivering on her early promise, and then some.