Sofia Kourtesis – Madres

After a string of acclaimed EPs and remixes made her one of electronic music's most promising rising stars, the Peruvian-born, Berlin-based Sofia Kourtesis has released her full-length debut on the revered Ninja Tune label. Loading Kourtesis is motivated by 'How Music Makes You Feel Better', as one blissful track is titled, and much of Madres follows the same methodology. Loading Latin American grooves drive 'Estación Esperanza', which samples multi-lingual European star Manu Chao's 'Me Gustas Tu' but also folds in field recordings of an anti-homophobia rally in Peru. Madres functions beautifully as music you can move to but what elevates it from a good debut album to a truly great one is how Sofia Kourtesis is able to weave deeper personal and political meanings into her electronic rapture.