We are instantly dropped into the record. A rush of adrenaline and it’s up to us to figure out where exactly do we stand. The insistent “strings” loop unsettles even the percussion, loose and propulsive. A brief pause signals the return for part 2 with some daring brass stabs adding an extra voice. One gets the feeling that the producer stands quietly amidst the storm, observing its effects. Nigga Fox has been flexing his muscles, keeping the production fit and – as always – very personal. At the same time, it’s casual, effortless, revealing a steady hand and ideas that just seem to be extracted from the air.

With DJ Firmeza in “Sanzaleiro” it’s a game of contrast, dissonance, driving force and constant pushing of limits. Here, brass stabs communicate how epic this journey is. Layers are deployed where common sense would dictate none extra should exist, and so again we find ourselves looking for a handle. Once found, we can participate in this displacement of the atmosphere. It ends just as “Sasuke” begins. Its main motive suggests tranquility, but elements gradually appear from all corners: an erratic bassline, broken beat, organ keys pressed down, voices from the yard. No agenda but the sonic agenda, the natural flow of this producer’s unmatchable sense of composition.

Retreating a little bit to “Gás Natural”, there’s a break at around 01:21 we feel could go on forever and take a life of its own. This reinforces the notion that a typical Nigga Fox track could in fact be more than one. Gateways, portals are there. They show glimpses of different realities or, if you’re pragmatic, just call them options.