Lionmilk on João Donato’s Quem É Quem 
The Stones Throw debut from L.A. songwriter and producer Lionmilk taps into a dream-woven wonderland of pop, soul, and psych that tosses the listener from one silken sliver to the next. Produced, recorded, played, and sung by himself, the record is dense and dizzying, a maze of light and color that’s sanded and slung into soft shapes awash in a brilliant West Coast sunlight. I reached out to the songwriter to see what record might be hiding on his shelf and he came back with a ‘70s Brazilian nugget that may well be off your radar. Check out Lionmilk’s exploration of the Latin soul stunner below.
“João Donato’s Quem É Quem is my contribution,” offers up Lionmilk. “I’m not sure if this is as slept upon but it is definitely one of my favorites. I’m also not certain how this album came to me, perhaps a friend recommended it or it was revealed through youtube digging. I just love this record, each tune is a bop. So much space in the songwriting and all delicious. I love how his voice is not Beyonce. It feels warm and makes me dance. The drums slap, strings peel me apart, and his piano playing is straight pocket. The music doesn’t try to compensate for anything, it’s just straight to my heart.”
As usual the question of influence comes up with the record. “I’d say the record has made a great influence into my own style and I enjoy playing it on my commute or at kickbacks”, admits Lionmilk. “His melodies on the tracks like “Amazonas (Keep Talking)” and “Nãna Das Águas” stayed looping in my mind for a while. A classic Brazilian album through and through. I can’t recommend it enough!”
Recent years have seen the album available in unofficial reissues and some Japanese, expanded CD versions. A deeper cut than the usual ‘70s Tropicalia, soul and funk that populates Brazilian banter, the record’s well worth absorbing in full if you’re all set on Jorge Ben and Ceatano Veloso essentials. Pick it up in tandem with Lionmilk’s new album, When The Flowers Bloom, out May 30th from Stones Throw.