Loyal reader, if you've read my work even once, you know that an interesting description of a band's sound goes a long way with me. It should come as no surprise then that my interest was piqued when I received a message about a band whose music is described as "Appalachia gone Afro-Brazilian." No, you didn't misread that. And to be honest, that's not even a complete description of the Matuto's sound.

So what's it all about, Alfie? Well, the album begins with a song that sounds like a cross between New Orleans jazz and Cajun music. The accordion will make you want to throw some salt on your hardwood floors and two-step with someone. If it's possible to slow dance to a Cajun song, then the ballad "The Way I Love You" is the song to try it. The accordion in this song is amazing, and overall the feel is like a soul song put to a Cajun melody.

Where does the Appalachia aspect come in? It's there, mostly in the fiddle throughout the album. I wouldn't call "Horse Eat Corn" Appalachian music, but it features some pretty good string work with the guitar and the fiddle.

Probably the most unexpected song on this album (and that's saying something considering just how much variation this album has) is "Demon Chopper." If you played this for me without telling me who it is, I would guess Dixie Dregs. It has that same swampy, progressive jamming quality as the Dregs and right in the middle is a percussion break that definitely shows the Afro-Brazilian aspect of this band.

I hear a lot of music and I can tell you one thing with absolute certainty. You won't find many albums like this one this year. If you're a fan of Afro-Brazilian or Louisiana music, add this album to your collection.