Way way back in 2008 a record was released by a group calling themselves Little Joy that set many KCRW DJ’s hearts aflutter. While the inclusion of Fab Moretti from the Strokes was what many people paid attention to, I was much more intrigued by the other man in the trio (rounded out by Binki Shapiro), Brazilian musician Rodrigo Amarante. The first song I heard off of that release was his song “Evaporar” and the simple arrangement and plaintive vocals remained in my mind for days and months and even now I can remember sitting in my car on that first day I heard Anne Litt play the song. That record was one of my favorites of the year and ever since I’ve been hoping for more music from Amarante. It’s taken far too long, but Amarante has finally resurfaced on record with his own solo album, Cavalo. With assists from Moretti and long-time collaborator Devendra Barnhart, Cavalo picks up where Little Joy left off, but deepens all of the qualities that made Amarante’s work on that album special. Part of my love for Brazilian Portuguese is not only in how the language sounds, but especially in the English accents it produces. No other accent caresses the syllables as lovingly as Brazilians speaking and singing in English, as you can hear on the lovely “I’m Ready,” (which is partially sung in Portuguese just to make the heart swoon even more). Can’t express just how much hearing this new music from Amarante makes my heart feel glad…certainly one of my favorite records of the year.