Search - Various Artists :: Phat Global, Vol. 1

Overwhelmingly new experience

08/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although my taste in music could be regarded as extremely eclectic, running the gamut from Hildergard of Bingen to The Rembrandts I never heard anything quite like the cuts on this album. I was sitting at the computer with a music station playing on the television when I heard Baaba Mal doing Souka Nayo. My ears immediately pricked up, thinking it was a piece of interesting electronica. After tracking it down to the Phat Global CD and popping it into the CD player in the car I was absolutely transfixed by the alternately strange, driving, haunting sounds of the other tracks. There are times when I just can't get El Estuche out of my mind. It simply invites you in and takes over. And though I have (or thought I had) absolutely no taste for salsa or the latino sound in general Sarge Garcia's Jumpi just drove me insane! It's not the kind of thing you want to have screaming out of your car's speakers on the freeway. You quickly forget about the speedometer as the music takes over and drives you. I found this album to be a wholly new experience, and I strongly recommend it, especially to those who already have an inclination to the latino sound. Still, its mix of French and Spanish lyrics, and Indian and Arabic styles makes it something totally different."