CD Review: Atropolis' 'Transitions'

Atropolis
Transitions
Cumba Mela

The urban, electronic, and cumbia-type beats of DJ, arranger, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, Atropolis, creates edgy and danceable instrumental and vocal tunes. The new album contains twelve tracks with lush electronic embellishments, horn-like sounds, and tropical or carnival-like noises with a dancehall and party-type atmosphere. The Latin-tinged compositions are not folk music; but a type of global fusion incorporating dubstep, cumbia, kuduro, new age, and dance elements that seem to pull influences from the Caribbean, Balkans, West Africa, and South America. A few guest musicians, including Boogat, Carol C, Darwin Escorcia, Lido Pimienta, and Brent Arnold lend their talents to the mix. Transitions is for the dance fan, DJ aficionado, and global traveler. Nothing is wrong here. ~ Matthew Forss