Moriah Plaza Propolis

FFO: Masayoshi Takanaka, Trio Ternura, Gal Costa, and Brazilian Octopus.
With effortless cool, Moriah Plaza blend Brazilian samba, cinematic Latin jazz and psychedelic 60s pop on new EP ‘Propolis’.
Moriah Plaza’s self-titled debut album, released on Batov Records in 2023, garnered critical acclaim and widespread airplay, across BBC Radio 6 Music and NTS in the UK, FIP in France, Bandcamp Weekly, and Apple Music, positioning the group as one to watch in the worlds of global pop and contemporary jazz.
‘Propolis’ EP picks up from the where the debut album left off, except now presenting more of a collaborative effort from the relatively settled Berlin-based group of Tamir Chen (bass) and Moosh Lahav (keys, flute), originally from Tel Aviv and formerly of the shoegaze band Soda Fabric, alongside Gretchen Schadebrodt (vocals, guitar) from Chile and Alice Moss (drums) from the UK.
Title track “Propolis”, co-written with Brazilian poet and singer Cecília Erisman, carries a joyful Brazilian tone, recalling Os Mutantes and Hermeto Pascoal with its bossa meets psych “la la la
la la” hook, flying flutes, and organ riffing.
“Dizendo” exudes the effortless cool of a Latin American cafe , cigarette and coffee at the ready. The laid back jazz organ, subtle Latin touches and Gretchen’s carefree vocals carry an irresistible charm.
“Besos en La Playa” takes the listener further across the continent into a more pronounced Latin jazz mode, with Spanish lyrics whispering romantic beachside tales.
The EP closes on the slow-building, “Dom Dom”, gradually blossoming into an epic vocal crescendo, drawing reflections of Stereolab and Zero 7. Alice Moss’ drumming and Moosh Lahav’s gentle flute provide the balance.
‘Propolis’ sees Moriah Plaza take strides into widening their influences and redefining their genre defying sound, and could very well appeal to fans of groups as seemingly disparate as Calexico and Khruangbin.