Sound Contours

On this global bass mix, energy is central: Rhythms of the Afro-latin world are brought together in a transatlantic call-and-response between Africa, Europe, South and Central America -- a swirl of synthetic and acoustic beats, a weaving of sampled and recorded voices, a synthesis of roots and branches -- joined by producers from nearly every continent. The second Global Electronic episode, Global Antenna mixes digital cumbias from post-EDM Mexico, Argentina and Ecuador with a selection of high-energy clave-rooted beats and kuduros from all over the Portuguese-speaking world, while dropping in hip-hop and dancehall-inflected beats that flip sounds from locales as far-flung as Bollywood. It matches French MPC producers ventriloquizing Brazilian MPB samples with Italian producers ventriloquizing Central African tribal recordings, and blends the latest electronic techniques with classic Latin percussion instruments and African mbira. It selects from African artists living part-time in Europe, and even listens in