Pitchfork

When last we checked in with Luaka Bop, the David Byrne-spawned imprint with a flair for the global, the label had found itself in a U.S. distribution-less limbo state following the dissolution of the Stateside branch of V2.

That was back in February. Now, with August on its way out the window, the Bop is back with a brand new distribution deal and a bevy of chic releases on the agenda.

Having partnered with North Carolina-based Redeye Distribution (whose clientele includes Daptone, Gern Blandsten, Kanine, GSL, Yep Roc, and Flameshovel, among others), the newly reinvigorated Luaka Bop will first conjure up that previously mentioned double disc live set from perennial favorites Os Mutantes. Titled Os Mutantes Live at the Barbican Theatre, London 2006, the release pretty much speaks for itself, no? Note also that said London show, from May 22, 2006, was the Mutantes' first in some 33 years and featured guest appearances from Devendra Banhart and Noah Georgeson.

Os Mutantes Live, which dropped UK-ways back in July, is due in the U.S. this November. A separate DVD of the gig is expected to follow in January 2008. For now, check out Os Mutantes Live cut "Ave Lucifer" below.

After that comes What's Happening in Pernambuco: New Sounds of the Brazilian Northeast, the seventh volume in the Brazil Classics series, which the UK got back in March. This compilation collects celebrated sounds from the Northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco, including representative cuts from the Mangue Beat movement. Listen to Mombojó's "Cabidela", off What's Happening, by clicking the link below. The compilation is due Stateside in February 2008.

Luaka Bop returns to the Northern Hemisphere with the release of the latest record from sage folkie Jim White. Transnormal Skipperoo includes guest turns from Laura Veirs and Tucker Martine, among others, and was produced by Joe Pernice and Michael Deming. It arrives October 1 in the UK and Europe, with a North American release planned for March 2008. White has a handful of October shows lined up as well, listed for your convenience below.

After that, brace yourselves for the latest release from Brazilian trio the +2s, known for rotating their chief songwriter/producer with each release. This time around, Alexandre Kassin takes the reins for the previously mentioned Kassin+2 release Futurismo. Put out this past April across the pond, Futurismo will finally crash U.S. shores in April of next year. John McEntire (Tortoise, the Sea and Cake) and Sean O'Hagan (High Llamas) guest on the LP.

Finally, Luaka Bop keeps rolling along with the May 2008 (plenty of time to save up for this one!) U.S. release of Nobody Can Live Forever: The Essential Soul of Tim Maia. Esteemed as the "Brazilian Funk Soul Godfather", Maia should strike a chord with the Sun Ra fan in all of us, and this collection sums up his otherworldly charms.

Jim White:

10-10 Liverpool, England - Academy 2
10-11 Cardiff, England - The Point
10-12 Birmingham, England - Glee Club
10-14 Manchester, England - Night and Day
10-15 Brighton, England - Barfly
10-17 Oxford, England - Academy 2
10-18 Birmingham, England - Barfly
10-19 London, England - Luminaire