Search - Van Van :: Dancing Wet: Greatest Hits

Occasionally referred to as the Beatles of Cuba, Los Van Van have exerted a profound pop music influence on the island. Dancing Wet, the 14-piece ensemble's collection of singles from 1984 to 1990, is more lightweight and accessible than the group's other American release (Songo, on the Mango label), but still contains more layers of tone and rhythm than most U.S. radio fare. From the Brazilian lilt of "I Can't Figure Out What He's Got" to the propulsive, merengue-like title track, a variety of Latin styles are invoked, but the Afro-Hispanic polyrhythms of Cuban son music and the group's playful pop smarts are a constant. The only real flaw here is "The Best Dancer Wins," an unnecessarily long (12 minutes) live version of the theme song from a Cuban television show. --Britt Robson