There isn't an American or British equivalent to Ed Motta - this eccentric and outrageously gifted Brazilian is a complete one-off. Who else would move so confidently from Pharoah Sanders-style space jazz to Broadway musical pastiche, throwing in ballads, funk, soul-dance, pop-samba and a stunning Earth, Wind and Fire tribute (A Charada) along the way?

Occasionally you might be reminded of Prince, or Van Hunt, who pay their respects to established pop and R&B norms while subverting or reinventing them. However Motta, as songwriter, producer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist, goes a little further.

Each track on Aystelum creates a different mood; each is worthy of close study, but the album rolls by as easily as the smoothest "funky Brazilian Love Affair" compilation. The medley from his musical 7, which briefly interrupts the flow, is anachronistic and tongue-in-cheek but ultimately charming. Motta's lead vocals, in Portuguese throughout, are consistently gorgeous. Feelgood, intelligent pop of the highest order.