Ooh the warm rays of summer, the clear blue skies, the gentle bubble of laughter as the evening draws in and you’re at a party on the beach. I get the impression that’s the kind of vibe Sergio Mendes is after with his latest release ‘Encanto’. A collection of summery grooves and the odd reinterpretation with a host of relatively high profile faces chipping in with their two penneth for good measure.

Its starts off in promising style with Fergie taking on vocal duties for a vampish rhythmic version of the ‘The Look Of Love’ and from then on its a latin fuelled party all the way with contributions from Will.I,am (is there anywhere that man doesn’t get these days?) on the next track ‘Funky Bahia’.

As you travel further you discover this is actually really good fun, as fans of Mendes might expect this is steeped in Brazilian flavour with dense polyrhythmic backdrops and light an airy melodies (his Rhodes piano work is gorgeous) washing over the top of the tracks which are underpinned with nimble agile basslines. The collaborations aren’t forced in any way and Mendes seems to effortlessly bring out the best in the artists he works with and while you might be familiar with The Black Eyed Peas who are onboard the other more unfamiliar names on offer work just as well.

The likes of Carlinhos Brown simply compliment his style effortlessly and established hands such as Siedah Garrett and Natalie Cole shine on their respective songs. Overall its one of those releases that reminds you how to have a good time, so pour a drink (preferably brightly coloured and sickly sweet), stick a little brolly in it and take this album with you to a party, its good in its own right, when you’re pissed it will probably be excellent.

The album is released on June 23rd through UCJ