Nada Pode Me Calar (feat. Olav Wöllo)

2023 saw the return of multi-talented Norwegian producerEspen Horneto Wah Wah 45s, after a 24 year hiatus. The man behind the label's very first release, the now seminalMagnetica, never lost his connection with the imprint and has remained very much part of the Wah Wah family, making a comeback this spring with his first solo material under his own name since that club classic from 1999.

The gorgeous soul-jazz beauty, Bakeren, featuring the stunning vocals of Resonators' Faye Houston, quickly found a home onGilles Peterson's internationally renowned BBC Radio 6 show as well as that of Jazz FM legendRobbie Vincent,Bandcamp Weeklyand theFresh Finds JazzSpotify playlist.

"Brilliant track!" Gilles Peterson (BBC 6 Music)

Following that,Bergen Sunrays, became a weekly fixture on theCraig CharlesFunk & Soul Show on BBC 6 Music, with the limited 7-inch release of both singles selling out within hours of release.

"That is such a cool tune that, isn't it? Double groovy!" Craig Charles (BBC 6 Music, UK)

Next up was the wistfulDen Franske Gitaren,a lugubrious soul-jazz piece with drum & bass leanings featuring Bergen based MC and vocalist Aich, now closely followed by the final single to be taken from the album, the stunning and outspoken vocal jazz waltzerNada Pode Me Calar(which roughly translates toNothing Can Shut Me Up!) featuring the sublime talent of Olav Wöllo on vocals and Juno.

Espen himself explains more about the song and the collaboration:

"Olav Wöllo is a true, close friend, excellent musician, vocalist and capoeira professor here in Bergen! He was previously living in Brazil and speaks Portuguese fluently. Olav wrote the lyrics for this tune many years ago and was just waiting for the right track to come along.

We went to his lovely studio out on this remote island, made a massive gyoza meal, had some seriously good wine and stayed the whole night to record his vocal harmonies and outspoken lyrics as well as the Juno keys, late, late into the night.

The baseline was recorded in one take later that week in Bergen Kjøtt, with the energetic bass mastermind, Arne Toivo Fjose, a newly educated musician from the Grieg Jazz Academy.

The track represents a unique take on the contemporary Tropicalia idea."