CD Review: Nickodemus' 'Wonderworld: 10 Years Of Painting Outside The Lines'

Nickodemus
Wonderworld: 10 Years Of Painting Outside The Lines
Wonderwheel Recordings

Nickodemus has been spinning funky, global beats for over a decade and the release of Wonderworld... is a testament to his creative remixes and career highlights. The twenty-four-track release is a friendly romp on the dance, dub, and funk side of the musical spectrum with loads of Latin, Afro, and contemporary beats that are very compelling. Nickodemus incorporates the aid of numerous guest musicians and producers, including Jean Shepherd, Hector Alomar, Carol C., Tarafs de Haidouks, Ismael Kouyate, Afrika Baambaata, Sammy Ayala, and others for a truly global recording. Even though the album is contemporary, it still retains a sense of authenticity and organic roots. The diverse percussion, vocals, and rhythms keeps listeners enthralled throughout. There are no shortage of tracks or beats on this very special recording. Hear it today! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Sarazino's 'Everyday Salama'

Sarazino
Everyday Salama
Cumbancha

Hailing from Algeria, Sarazino makes good use of international rhythms and song styles, readily traversing urban hip hop, Latin-beat, and Afro-beat worlds. The music is highly-contemporary and upbeat with help from a plethora of guest artists, including Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, Novalima, Andrea Ruilova, Luisa Maita, Isidro Garcia, Bacha Ortiz, Amparo Sanchez, Sabina Sciubba, Rootz Underground, and Niyo Pumpin. All of the tracks are outstanding without any faults. Fans of Latin and Afro-beat music will love Sarazino's sizzling new release with help from a few friends. Everyone is on top here. ~ Matthew Forss

CD/LP Review: Various Artists' 'Diablos Del Ritmo' 2-CD/2-LP Set

Various Artists
Diablos Del Ritmo
Analog Africa

Analog Africa's latest release, Diablos Del Ritmo, is a 2-CD or 2-LP set of historic African-tinged Colombian music. Part 1 contains mainly afro-beat, funk, terapia, and palenque music, while Part 2 contains more specific, traditional styles, including porro, gaita, puya, cumbiamba, mapale, and chande. The music is taken from 1960-1985. This is a historic set of songs with numerous artists contributing, including Wganda Kenya, Grupo Abharca, Abelardo Carbono, Andres Landero, Cumbia Soledena, Conjunto Son San, and many others. The music is highly danceable, trance-inducing, and psychedelic. The Latin and African funk sounds are memorable, addictive, and a pleasure to experience with each listen. The thirty-two tracks come alive with a deep cultural significance regarding Colombian music as a whole. The CD and LP set comes with a 60-page booklet with 40 old photographs and 24 interviews. Anyone with a sincere interest in Colombian, Afro-Caribbean, and Latin music should check out this compilation. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Empresarios' 'El Sonido Magico'

Empresarios
El Sonido Magico
Fort Knox

Washington, DC's Empresarios know how to rock the world with tropical beats, electronic horns, languid melodies, and dance-floor dubs better than any group out there. The blazing horns, sparkling keys, airy flutes, urban beats, and thick percussion signal a great recording from each repeated listen. The gritty beats and in-your-face-lyrics are Spanish and fiery to the touch. There are thirteen upbeat tracks to feast on. There are salsa, dub, cumbia, house, trance, reggae, rock, electronica, and urban music styles represented here. Fans of contemporary Latin downtempo and Latin-beat music will love Empresarios' latest recording. I'm impressed with Empresarios. You will be, too. ~ Matthew Forss