Cool cuts from CAMPOS – a name that stands for "Cumbias And More Psychedelic Original Sounds" – which is a very good way to describe the music on the set! There's an update of older Colombian modes going on – served up by Joshua Camp, who handles all instruments and programs in the set – mixing acoustic elements with keyboards, samples, and other sonic delights – all in a mode that echoes some older styles that you might have heard on Discos Fuentes back in the 70s, but with a delivery that's very contemporary overall! Titles include "Rise Up Shapeshifters", "Cumbia VIP 600", "After The Flight", "Last Star In The Aubergine Sky", "The Saddest Of Parties", "The Eigth Door", and "Cumbia De Alpha Centauri". (Global Grooves, Latin) LP, Vinyl record album

A fresh new groove from The Fania All Stars – one that definitely has them picking up some of the Spanish elements mentioned in the title – the fusing them into the tight mix of Latin, club, and jazz they were doing at Columbia Records in the late 70s! These new elements are often light – a bit of acoustic guitar here, maracas there, or some slightly different rhythms – and they're warmed up nicely by the mix of electric and acoustic instrumentation used by the group – who are definitely at the height of their disco powers here! Core players include Papo Lucca on keyboards, Nicky Marrero on timbales, Johnny Pacheco and Roberto Roena on percussion, and Bobby Valentin on bass – and other players include Hubert Laws on flute, Eric Gale on guitar, Luie Ramirez on vibes, and Luiz Perico Ortiz on trumpet. Vocals are by Ismael Miranda, Pacheco, and Ruben Blades – and titles include "Spanish Fever", "Que Pasa", "Space Machine", "Donde", "Your Sereneness", and "Sin Tu Carino". LP, Vinyl record album

Don't let the cover put you off, as this isn't some marching band record – although the set does have plenty of funky drums! There's a jazzy vibe to the record that's different than most other Venezuelan records of the time – and overall, the whole thing has maybe the feel of some sort of sweet European sound library funk album – one that mixes electricity in the rhythms with some acoustic touches on the horns – all served up with a slight touch of Latin complexity in the rhythms! The group's a tentet, and have a great way of moving between full ensemble modes and individual solos – on titles that include "Algo Misterioso", "Lerede", "La Verdad", "Zambo", "La Fuga De Gumersindo", "Torta De Pan", "Y Pasa Todos Los Dias", and "Liquido Elemento". (Jazz, Latin) LP, Vinyl record album

A rare bit of soundtrack funk from mid 70s Venezuela – a set that's strongly influenced by Italian cop/crime modes of the time, but sometimes served up with a nicely leaner vibe as well! In addition to the funky guitar, tight basslines, and jazzy horns you might expect – there's also some interesting moments that include odd keyboards, acoustic guitar, and even a violin and piano duet – used in ways to offset more familiar funky styles to really keep things interesting! The music was scored for a sexploitation film of the time, and certainly echoes the way those films were scored around the globe – but as with so much Venezuelan work of the period, there's a very special, very unique approach as well. Titles include "Malandro", "El Secuestro", "Jenny", "la Venganza", "Bajando El Cerro", "Tacarigua", and "Tema De Amor". (Soundtracks, Latin) LP, Vinyl record album

A walearic classic from the Japanese scene of the early 80s – a set that's definitely got some of the Latin elements promised in the title, but which also resonates strongly with some of the more electronic modes of the time! The tunes are instrumental, and often a bit jazzy – but also have keyboards and rhythms that might have been borrowed from city pop or some of the electro crossover acts of the time – rooted with acoustic percussion at the core, and lots of horn parts that keep up the Latin themes! The whole thing's got a nice sparkle – a bit fusion, but more than that too – and titles include "Jungle Drums", "Siboney", "El Cumbanchero", "Hindu", "Danza Lucumi", and "Pygmy Land". (Jazz, Latin) LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most unusual albums ever cut by the legendary Latin jazz trombonist Juan Pablo Torres – and one of the grooviest, too – a special set that was recorded in Milan in the mid 80s, with backings by a sweet group who do a great job of blending Latin rhythms, clubby grooves, and just the right touch of jazz! Juan's on trombone in the lead – working with the Algo Nuevo group, which features the mighty Gonzalo Rubalcaba on piano, Fender Rhodes, and other keyboards – plus trumpet work from Adalberto Lore, who balances out Torres' sound in a really great way! There's both a mix of electric and acoustic percussion on the set, and the groove is more 80s club than 70s disco – and also comes across with the style of some of the more unusual hybrids that you'd be likely to find on the Areito label during Juan's generation in Cuba. Titles include "Alone", "Que Melcocha", "Y Caramba Que Son", "Oblivion", "Rialto", "Bermuda Triangle", and "Cubadisco". LP, Vinyl record album

Massive rhythms from this legendary 70s group – one created in the Discos Fuentes studios in Colombia – as a way to combine some of the bigger African and Caribbean rhythms of the time! The sound is very percussive, and very raw – lots of acoustic elements in the rhythms, mixed with occasional guitar lines here and there – and topped with vocals that are often collaboratively chanted – creating this really strong vibe to the set as the grooves roll on! There's never a dull moment on the set – plenty to please fans of classic Discos Fuentes, and also echoes of other South American scenes – on titles that include "Por Una Negrita", "El Yoyo", "Bayesta", "Fayab Fayab", "El Evangelio", and "An Naus". LP, Vinyl record album