A record that's every bit as groovy as you might guess from the title – served up by one of the most unique combos to record for Colombia's Discos Fuentes in the 70s! Afrosound certainly have plenty of rhythms and sounds that resonate with their contemporaries at the top of the South American scene – but they also use rootsier percussion, and served up a rawer sound too – definitely bringing back some West African modes, after that scene had an earlier influence from the world of Afro-Cuban music! There's some especially cool keyboards that get all weird and distorted – like electric guitar on some Peruvian records – balanced with plenty of live, loud percussion – on titles that include "Banana De Queso", "Baila Felipe", "Negua", "Ponchito De Colores", "Carruseles", "Zaire Pop", "Rapsodia Del Chinito", "Me Voy De La Vida", "Salsa Con Tabaco", and "La Negra Saramuya". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that's heavy on percussion, and which really sticks to this group's commitment to the rootsier sound of Colombian music – particularly the coastal style of bullerengue, which is served up here in a bold mix of drums, percussion, and rising voices! There's a female singer in the lead, but it's clear that the whole group is joining in with some of the lyrics – rising up their voices joyously next to their rhythms – which are often augmented by handclaps and other gestures that really emphasize the very physical quality of the music! Titles include "Madre Fuego", "El Bocao", "Colombia Sin Panama", "San Antonio", "Madre Luna", and "Madre Sol". LP, Vinyl record album

A great return to form for the legendary Cachao – and a session that seeks to recapture the Cuban Jam Session energy of his recordings from a few decades before! Production is by Andy Garcia, and is somewhat more sentimental than in the old days – although certainly still free from any sort of Buena Vista Social Club cliches that would come in later years – and overall, the lineup of players stays nicely faithful to the classic 60s sound, but perhaps expands it with a bit more fullness. Cachao is on bass and a bit of vocals – and other artists include Francisco Aguabella on percussion, Justo Almario on tenor, Chocolate Amenteros on trumpet, Paquito D'Rivera on clarinet, and Nestor Torres on flute. Titles on this second volume include "Los Tres Golpes", "Descarga A", "El Timbalero Travieso", "Africa Suite", "Cunde Echa Un Pie", and "Bemba E Cuchara". CD

Features Jerry Gonzalez on trumpet, Nino Josele on flamenco guitar, Israel Sandoval on electric guitar, and Isreal Suarez "Pirana" on cajon, and the whole group on hand claps and vocals. (Jazz, Latin) CD

Tripped-out grooves from this legendary combo from Uruguay – a mix of candomble roots and wilder rockish touches – but also served up with a bit of Latin in the mix too! There's some great heavy percussion on the bottom of most tracks – and even when the guitars are fierce and fuzzy, the overall sound is nicely rhythmic, and often a bit funky – a great blend of global elements, and coming across with the same sort of power as the best Latin funk albums from Peru! There's perhaps a bit more psychedelia here than on those records, but never in a way that's too indulgent or dated – thanks to some lean, clean arrangements. Titles include a cover of Tito Puente's "Guayaba", plus "Adios A Jimi Hendrix", "Cajon De Castanas", "Llamada Del Sur", "Buscado", "Donde Esta El Doctor", and "Mas Alla Del Sahara". (Rock, Latin) CD

(78 RPM, Latin) 78 RPM, Vinyl record

The second volume of legendary Fania in the Leyendeas De La Fania series – featuring hard driving salsa and soulful Latin sounds from the fertile 70s years at the label – with numbers by Ismael Rivera, Willie Colon, Celia Cruz & Tito Puente, Charlie Palmieri, Bobby Valentine, La Lupe, Joe Bataan, Pete Rodriguez and more!. t's great mix of Fania hits andl and some perhaps lesser known numbers that are just as incredible. "Me Tienes" by Ismael Rivera", "Chonqui" by Willie Colon, "El Hablador" by Sonora Poncena, "Coco" by Charlie Palmieri", "Para Puerto Rico Voy" by Joe Bataan, "Sin Tu Carino" by Fania All Stars, "Tinicue" by Celia Cruz & Tito Puente and more. CD

Spanish tracks with a very soulful vibe – and a set that includes a fair bit of very groovy tracks from the years when the scene was mixing older flamenco styles with disco rhythms of the 70s! The flamenco mode here doesn't involve guitar so much as it does a wonderfully expressive style of singing – a mode that's different than American disco divas of the time, and which taps into a special sort of emotive mode in Spanish pop, then hooks it up to a mighty sweet 70s-styled groove! Titles include "Tu Cigarro" by Perlita De Huelva, "Con Ese Beso" by Marife De Triana, "Embruja Por Tu Querer" by Isabel Pantoja, "Para Que Quieres Volver" by Rosa Morena, "Llorando Lola" by Lola Flores, "Lo Quiero" by La Marelu, and "Ola De La Mar" by La Polaca. (Global Grooves, Latin) LP, Vinyl record album