Belarus collective Soyuz grace Mr Bongo with their third album, building on a formidable background in lush orchestral jazz to deliver an album of astonishing beauty. Their music draws on 70s Brazilian MPB as a major source of inspiration, but everything has a twist which feels unique to composer and arranger Alex Chumak's location in modern day Belarus. As a result, the album sounds comfortingly familiar but strangely new in the same breath, and oh so very easy on the ears. The sound is light and airy, with space to soar through liberal reverb, while the rhythm section gently buffets rather than slamming. You won't hear another record as sweet and sincere as this all year, we promise.