CD Review: Leticia Rodriguez Garza's 'Saguita Al Bate'

Leticia Rodriguez Garza
Saguita Al Bate
Self-Release

Growing up in Texas, one is never too far away from the energetic, pulsating, and danceable sounds of Latin America. Saguita Al Bate is a rollicking, four-track album of cumbia, salsa, Latin, jazz, Caribbean, and Afro-Latin elements with some tunes coming from a previous release, La Americana. The lively percussion, driving horns, punchy bass, and rootsy accordion on a few tracks makes the music come alive with a classic vein running throughout the album. The music of Latin America is timeless when jazzy piano, heavy percussion, and soulful vocals are involved. This is especially true on Saguita Al Bate. The music is seemingly out of the 1950's, but it is equally at home in today's era. Anyone with an interest in classic Latin American music will love Leticia Rodriguez Garza. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Cascada de Flores' 'Radio Flor'

Cascada de Flores
Radio Flor
Ita Music

The California-based group, Cascada de Flores, takes listeners back to the era of the 1930's with more vocal-centered songs with folksy, Latin-esque percussion on Radio Flor. There are eighteen tracks that bring poetic boleros and romantic ballads with light instrumentation and percussion that produces a sense of nostalgia. It is easy to forget the songs are composed in modern times, but that is part of the mystique with classic, Latin tunes. The music incorporates Latin American, South American, Caribbean, and Afro-Latin leanings. The swaying rhythms of "La Gloria Eres Tu" combines a trumpet, light percussion, and heartfelt vocals amid a slow, jazzy beat. "Jardinero de Amor" picks up the pace with uptempo percussion and a leading female vocal line that is accompanied by a fiery guitar segment that enriches the song with elements of flamenco delight. "Maria Cristina" is a lush, percussion track with vibrant vocals and instrumentation that will blow away even the most discriminating of listeners. Overall, Radio Flor is an album that should graced the shelves of anyone interested in Latin music with a historical edge. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Sonido Gallo Negro's 'Sendero Mistico'

Sonido Gallo Negro
Sendero Mistico
Glitterbeat

Mexico's engaging and psych-inducing ensemble, Sonido Gallo Negro, brings the sounds of the 1970's alive with cumbia-infused beats, boogaloo, chicha, huayno, and other styles in an action-packed, Farfisa organ-soaked delight of musical exploration in a contemporary context. The mostly instrumental tunes are littered with psych references that contain electric guitars, flowing rhythms, indigenous percussion, and electronic samples. The head-bobbing music is ripe with cumiba sounds and instrumental riffs that strike the soul with such a powerful chord that nothing is impossible for these guys. This is psych-funk music at its best. Fans of Turkey's Hayvanlar Alemi will find similarities with Sonido's music. Overall, Sendero Mistico is a wild journey with danceable rhythms and great melodies that transcend a defined description. However, everyone will find happiness in the tunes of Sonido Gallo Negro. Get your psych-on today! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Cinco Santos' 'Duplicidad'

Cinco Santos
Duplicidad
Motivo Music Group

Formed by Lorenzo Montero of Canadian and Spanish decent, Cinco Santos embodies the spirit of Latin fusion incorporating various singers, guitarists, and musicians from Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina. The moving "Azucar y Amor" is a gypsy, flamenco, and fusion tune with jazzy, Latin elements that are ripe with roots, folk, and breezy rhythms. "Nunca Mas" is an edgy, Latin fusion track with a choppy beat and great guitar accompaniment. "Te Quiero Aqui" opens with an industrial element that quickly delves into a Latin jazz and flamenco tune. "Duplicidad" begins with a jingly guitar and bass opening that includes an edgy vocal line that infuses a lighter guitar accompaniment throughout. There is a mix of grunge, Latin jazz, and Latin pop with rock, roots, and folk throughout. Without a clearly-defined path, Cinco Santos feel better forging their own path of music with mixed Latin influences for a truly engaging and charming mix of music. Fans of Latin fusion, jazz, Latin rock, flamenco, gypsy, and South American pop will love Duplicidad. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Ani Cordero's 'Recordar: Latin American Songs of Love & Protest'

Ani Cordero
Recordar: Latin American Songs of Love & Protest
La Nana Music

Puerto Rican-born and Brooklyn-based, Ani Cordero sings songs from an era of love and protest with Recordar: Latin American Songs of Love & Protest. The songs are mostly tunes originally conceived in the 1960's, but one song dates from 1930, one from 1942, and still a few others originate from the 1970's. The countries of origin for the songs come from Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Venezuela. Ani lends her vocals, guitar skills, and percussion repertoire to the album, alongside other instruments, such as bass, guitar, accordion, trumpet, flugelhorn, ngoni, trumpet, keyboards, cello, piano, and assorted percussion. The songs are uppity, classic, and catchy. Anyone with an interest in nostalgic songs from Latin America will love Ani's new album. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Chicha Libre's 'Cuatro Tigres'

Chicha Libre
Cuatro Tigres
Barbes Records

Based in Brooklyn, Chicha Libre brings us sounds from various regions and cultures. The band's members come from Mexico, Venezuela, the USA, and France. The collective creates a form of Peruvian cumbia-beat, which is akin to Afro-beat. However, the primary difference revolves around more Latin, South American, and urban dance forms with psych-trance, rumba, and tropical rhythms. The spicy mix of funk, jazz, and urban folklore creates a fascinating listening experience with lively vocals, hip percussion, and electronic accompaniment. The psychedelic ramblings are very melodic and nostalgic. Despite the lack of music on the new album (only 4 tracks), the music that is available is unforgettable. Fans of contemporary cumbia will love the music of Chicha Libre. Cuatro Tigres is Colombian, Peruvian, Californian, and Amazonian, but most of all, it is music that is to be experienced by everyone. ~ 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

CD Review: Los Cenzontles' 'Regeneration'

Los Cenzontles
Regeneration
Self-Release

The music of Mexico and California is brought to life upon the tracks of Regeneration. The music is rooted in Mexican folk traditions with swaying rhythms rich in instrumentation and percussion. The vocals are primo, no matter what track is played. The jaunty folk-rock melody of "Murmullos," is very upbeat and alternative with a good amount of pop to go around. Los Lobos' David Hidalgo provides some musical input for the project and plays keyboards, drums, guitars, accordion, B3, mandolin, and adds vocals on "The Silence." Other artists provide instrumentation on zapateada, electric bass, jarana, piano, violin, sax, guitar, drums, and assorted percussion. It seems the music strikes a fine balance between rural and urban Mexican folk music with endearing pop senses from America. The fifteen track release is littered with good hooks, riffs, and musical medleys that are contemplative, danceable, and heartfelt. The Spanish vocals are soulful and emotive. Fans of Mexican folk-rock will love everything about it. ~ Matthew Forss 

CD Review: DeLeon's 'Tremor Fantasma'

DeLeon
Tremor Fantasma
Golemite

The Sephardic wanderings of Mexico's DeLeon are inspired and influenced by Jewish musical traditions and folk music from Western Europe, Central Asia, and the Mediterranean. The contemporary music is not overtly-traditional in scope, but it contains a slight nod in that direction. Fortunately, the modern leanings of percussion, bass, guitars, and up-tempo instrumentation provide a Spanish feel and slightly experimental mode overall. For instance, the instrumental rock tune, "Lamma Bada," contains punchy electric guitar displays of beauty with Middle Eastern-type shakers and meditative drumming. The retro Brazilian-tinged tune, "Para Que Quero," is a jingly tune with an electric guitar solo and reverberating vibes. The sweet song contains smooth grooves, haunting vocals, and a Latin rock feel unsurpassed by other groups. The country-tinged, "Barminan," represents an Appalachian tune with banjo-picking and fast percussion. Who would think Sephardic nomads ventured up and down the Appalachian? This represents DeLeon's global appeal and varied genre stylings. DeLeon is a very good Sephardic music that is hip, fun, and ready to take the world by musical storm. ~ Matthew Forss 

CD Review: Radio Jarocho's 'Cafe Cafe'

Radio Jarocho
Cafe Cafe
Chido Records

The NY-based group, Radio Jarocho, is a Mexican music group with ties to Afro-Caribbean, indigenous, and Spanish dances and music. The correct term to identify this type of music is son jarocho. The rhythmic instrumental and vocal interplay is top-notch, as the lilting percussion and jarana, requinto, punteador, leona, marimbal, and zapateado take center-stage. The ten tracks are evocative, mesmerizing, and perfect for family gatherings, birthdays, and quiet evenings along a beach. All of the songs are original, except for "Bemba y Tablao," which is sung by Patricio Hidalgo. Fans of Spanish, Mexican, Latino, indigenous folk, and Caribbean music will love Cafe Cafe. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Del Castillo's 'Infinitas Rapsodias' [CD/DVD]

Del Castillo
Infinitas Rapsodias [CD/DVD]
Smilin' Castle Records

Texas-based Del Castillo excite crowds with their energetic songs and charismatic personalities. Thankfully, this is all captured on their latest release, Infinitas Rapsodias. Five new songs and several previoiusly-released favorites are presented here. Many of the songs are upbeat, flamenco, and Latin/rock gems. The vocal harmonies, ballad-esque songs, and party tunes are all here. "Mujer Angel" is a lovely ballad that could be featured on any contemporary music chart in the USA and other countries, for that matter. The solemn guitar solo electrifies the soul. As a bonus, a DVD is included tht features a behind-the-scenes look at producing the album. It also containsa video for "Canta de Alma" and three covers: "Listen To The Music," What A Wonderful World," and While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Overall, the flamenco and gypsy-driven music is peppered with doses of rock and folk, which are funky, groovy, and unforgettable. Whatever you call it, 'amazing' comes to mind. ~ Matthew Forss