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Non-Stop: Mexico to Jamaica
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Barnes and Noble
Non-Stop: Mexico to Jamaica
Current price: $17.99
Barnes and Noble
Non-Stop: Mexico to Jamaica
Current price: $17.99
Loading Inventory...
Size: CD
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Given the many musical genres
have played for more than 20 years, a collection of Mexican tunes by way of Jamaican rhythms should come as no surprise, right? Maybe, but this L.A. ensemble has gone into its Latin origins deep on this one. From traditional songs and standards to modern fare,
place their sophisticated musicality and intense energy into celebrating inseparable connections between Mexican music and Caribbean sounds. Who better to assist than
and
? They produced the album and are far from the only guests. The set opener is a deep dread cover of
's "Eres," with
's vocals hovering above the steamy dub consuming the mix. Amid the reverb and effects,
's cello adds an element of mariachi and
's trumpet confirms it.
's horn graces "Besame Mucho," with its slippery cumbia rhythm.
add dubby echoes as
's fills duet with
's vocals -- singing and rapping -- adding lightness to contrast with the heavy rhythms.
deliver a killer version of
's "Oye Mi Amor" with rolling snares, funky flute, and bluesy guitars. The drenched-in-dub proceeding never loses its Mexican rock feel.
adds a burning guitar break to a cover of
's "Noa Noa." A ska rhythm with great saxophone fills from
accompanies the sweet melody.
Ska might seem a strange backdrop for
's iconic "Como la Flor," but
's glorious falsetto and stacked backing chorus, subtly added merengue rhythms, and
's vintage rock & roll tenor sax make it a worthy tribute.
's silky voice on "Solamente una Vez" (nee
) contrasts with
's more grainy utterance in the verse, but they come together soulfully on the refrain as lovers rock holds sway. Corrido singer/songwriter
delivers the lead vocal on
' ballad "Andar Conmingo," as field-recorded banda, lovers rock, melodica, and cumbia entwine with pop. Swirling horns and backmasked effects add to the romantic delirium.
's mariachi anthem "Volver, Volver" is given a dubwise reggae treatment with help from
adding horns, strings, and backing vocals. Most of the the last third of
offers tunes easily recognizable to Anglos -- and in English -- but
uncover the songs' roots and graft them onto the Caribbean's. "Evil Ways" offers
adding steamy dread urgency. "Land of a Thousand Dances" features
on lead vocals with
rapping; they add some new dance styles to the lyrics. Closer "Come and Get Your Love" was originally a yacht rock hit for Native American rock band
. This popping take offers bubbling basslines and jazzy horns amid cumbia percussion and a mariachi vein in the melody. This date is unmistakably in the
wheelhouse, but it's also unlike anything else they've ever recorded. As always, they explore with a truckload of grooves, but the obvious reverence and actual love for all this music are truly inspiring. ~ Thom Jurek