You know you are latino when you have a good freaking soup with all the sazon, vegetales, punche, and pollo. As weird as this may sound, the Empresarios bring that latin soup to life with their fusion of rhythms ... at least I know I get the same feeling of fulfillment after both the Empresarios album AND the soup.
Why would I go out of my way to compare this album to a soup? Well, The Empresarios are a five man collective group from Washington, DC who combine their own sazon of funk, cumbia, electronic, dub-style, and even reggaeton to their one-in-a-million style.
Fort Knox Recordings presents the Empresarios full-length debut album, Sabor Latino; an experience (I speak for those in la Yusa) that will transport you to a Caribbean, South or Central American country and for once, make you forget about 'la crisis'.
Just so you can have a clear understanding of their authentic style, try listening to Cumbia, a track that is primarily cumbia-based but has a clever twist of percussion, giving it that slight salsa/jazzy flair. The track also counts with some eerie-like beats towards the middle but nothing that will scare you off your seat ... unless your feet are itching for a good dance (which will most probably be the case).
Happy Track is one of the few tracks that is accompanied by vocals. Of course, the melody has to give meaning to the title, therefore, the digital beats may sound like a happy-go-lucky jingle, but of course that all fades away when the hypnotizing voices step in. Voices that promise you; "chevere ritmos" from your head to your toes, gozadera, and sazon pa' sentirnos mejor.
& sin querer queriendo, Sohl was the track that caught my attention the most. Makes me feel as if I am: a) having dinner with some hot guy in Argentina or b) having dinner with some hot guy in Brazil. Just shows how powerful and sensual Sohl is. The beginning beats, I can easily compare to aliens making their landing but as the saxophone comes in, everything else unwinds and links and all makes sense; an exotic melody that is impeccable in it's own way.
Other recommendations: Pensamiento, Sabor Tropical, Grouper Soup, Dog is Everywhere, The Source ... & pretty much the WHOLE album.
Get your own copy at the website for $10 or the digital copy via iTunes available as of January 25th.
Sabor Tropical
:: Jessica Roiz
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