Boca do Rio, an Afro-Brazilian World music group from Northern California, delivers a unique blend of pop hooks, pleasing vocal harmonies, funky rhythms, and African percussion with contemporary beats on their EP The Dam is Breaking. The result is joyously melodic and uplifting, with the contemporary accessibility of the Rippingtons and the depth of Stan Getz’s “The Girl from Ipanema” and the Brazilian bossa nova from years past. Boca do Rio (Portuguese for “mouth of the river”) strikes the perfect balance between delicate smoothness and energetic edginess, resulting in vibrant, vast landscapes of sound. Rooted in distinct instruments that seem both timeless and yet also grounded in the here and now, The Dam is Breaking is full of energy, passion, vitality and life. Possessing an urgent environmental message, every song is impeccably written, arranged and performed, resulting in an EP that is superbly crafted and expertly produced.



Track 2: “Come Over” succeeds at simultaneously conveying feelings of sorrow, hope and fulfillment. An introspective longing pervades the track, and Boca do Rio is able to wash away any unpleasant feelings with clever wordplay (“Solitude lives by herself”) and an uplifting, urgent chorus.



Track 3: “Dreamer (Love in the Time of Climate Change)” is immediately catchy, and is Boca do Rio’s most accessible tune on their entire EP. The “When the waters come crashing down” refrain is unforgettable, and embodies the environmental message of the entire EP.



Track 5: “Beija Quem” is the lightest and most fun song on the EP, a relaxing, laid back track. It urges us to “live before we’re gone,” and is another great example of the band’s overall message. It easily succeeds at being the most soothing song on the EP.