Search - P18 :: Electropica

ElectroCuba

Enrique Torres | San Diegotitlan, Califas | 03/20/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"By the time you get to the second track, "Salam" you feel there is a party going on. On their second effort the boys from dare I say, shhhh, France, the music is one continous fiesta. A catchy term used for the title of the disc pretty much sums up the feel of the disc. It is electric palm trees, blowing and swaying in the tropics underneath your dancing feet while the dark rhythmns of the night pulsate to the percussion and horns. The unusual combination of Cuban chants to a pulsating beat and sexy horns is clearly night music but will brighten any day. On the title track "Electropica" the conga drums set the beat for the funky rhythmns to give way to a hyper electronic beat; it is old world meets new world. The Orishaesque chants give the disc it's primitive element and the electronica gives it the nu flavor. Coupled with the jazzy horns wailing incessantly in the background the ambience created by the music is like a noveau dance beat for your listening pleasure. The disc has a future primitive sound with no less than nine people sharing vocals. With the occasional Spanish lyrics thrown in it is definitely Cuban music but with a twist. An exciting mix of beats and rhythmns for a musical amalgation that is root based but looking forward. By comparison to their first release this disc relies more on standard Cuban music and on several tracks you forget it is part electronica. Thanks in part to the percussion and chants, P18 creates some tracks that are pretty basic Buena-Vista-Social-Clubesque. The perfect combination is featured on tracks like "La Rampa' where electronica and Cuban music blend in unison for a seemless presentation. Recommended for those that like their Cuban music with a slightly different dance beat."