Best of Mangue Beat

The sounds of South America don't get much more gripping or vital than Mangue Beat. Maracatu-style drums, which are typical of the Pernambuco region, propel a heady mix of rock, hip-hop and funk to thrilling effect. A towering figure of the scene, the late Chico Science and his band Nação Zumbi offer muscular carnivalesque beats and raw guitars, while Mundo Livre S.A. enter beneath a nimbus of punky guitars and luminous samba.