Clay Ross

The South Carolina native and Brooklyn resident released Matuto late last August on Ropeadope Records. The album is a mix of originals and covers that melds many musical traditions under one big, open umbrella. Appalachian fiddle tunes bounce with a Northeastern Brazilian lilt while the one string Berimbau resonates with a strangely effective blues riff. Like a true southern preacher, Ross delivers colorfully satirical lyrics reminiscent of David Byrne, Tom Ze, and Caetano Veloso.