A slow-building monster – nice bass that rumbles around in a cool wavy pattern, topped with this gently cascading electric piano line that builds in a really cool way, and tangled with these echoey guitar lines – as the whole thing builds and rises, ebbs then flows! "Catching Stars" has a similar slow funk vibe, but more break in the drums this time around – peppered by great Fender Rhodes – and production on both tracks has almost a Johnny Harris sort of vibe! 7-inch, Vinyl record

The cover's a bit unusual for a single by El Michels Affair, and the music is too – especially given that group here work with singer Piya Malik – whose entrancing vocals really bring a new sound to their groove! "Unathi" has some elements that are in the familiar El Michel's mode – that swirling exotic take on funk – but the vocals really transform the tune, and give it all sorts of different points of energy in a really great way. "Zaharila" is a bit mellower and mooder – but still has the same wonderful sort of east-meets-west approach! 7-inch, Vinyl record

Organ instrumentals, mostly with a mellow, eerie vibe – a bit like Korla Pandit! 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Two sweet instrumental funky gems – both great! "El Bobo" is a Latin-tinged number from fusion giant Webster Lewis – filled with great keyboards that soar out through the tune, ala Ramsey Lewis 70s electric – but with a much more complicated groove! On the flipside, the Spirit Of Atlanta deliver their answer to Curtis Mayfield – with a soaring groover that builds strongly, has a great organ so, and a very cool percussion breakdown too! 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

(Rock, Funky 45's) 7-inch, Vinyl record

Wonderful early work from Ray Barretto – proof that he was one heck of a hip cat, even at the start! The album's got an approach to Latin jazz that's certainly informed by the charanga sound of the New York scene in the early 60s – but one that's also opened up a bit more to new ideas – bits of bossa nova, heavy percussion, and some odd instrumental twists that really make the album sparkle! There's some haunting violin work on one track, a bit of odd organ on another, and a very playful mix of flute, piano, and percussion throughout. The great Jose Combo Silva plays tenor on the date – and other players include Jose Canoura on flute, Alfredito Valdez on piano, and El Negro Vivar on trumpet. Ray's on congas, bongos, and timbales – and titles include "Sugar's Delight", "Carnaval", "Descarga La Moderna", and "Summertime". 7-inch, Vinyl record