Doin' The Mambo

A party album with some great Latino beats.

This is an out-and-out party album, so be prepared for an onslaught of peppy, fast-paced numbers. Unlike most such albums, however, this one actually has some decent pieces.

The whole beat of the album is dance-based - so, obviously, don’t expect Claptonesque lyrics and Chapmanesque music. Nevertheless, some of these songs can’t help but imprint themselves onto your memory. First up would be "Mambo Italiano", a simple song with a happy-go-lucky feel to it, reminiscent of the Gypsy Kings. This song is quite the best of the whole lot and is sure to be around for a while. In similar vein, you have "Shake Senora" and "Copa America".

A few numbers, however, try adding remix beats and the effect is jarring. This is best seen in "I Need to Feel You". Overall, though, the Latino beats give this whole album a very carnival-like feeling, making it pretty good for a party or even quiet evenings when all you wanna do is let yourself go. Worth a shot.

This article was first published on08 Oct 2001.