Ozomatli Non-Stop Mexico to Jamaica Review by Gary Hill
The title of this album is pretty accurate. This is basically Latin music with a reggae edge. That said, there is quite a range. It also gets into more rock territory at times and has dub and even some hip hop built into it. All in all, this is an intriguing ride that works quite well.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2017 Volume 3 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Eres
This is so cool and so sultry. The lyrics are in Spanish. The music is part Latin dance type sound and part reggae.
Como la Flor
Built around the same general styles, this is more up-tempo. It's a bouncy number that's a lot of fun. There is some jazz added into the mix on this, too.
Oye Mi Amor
This is much more of a pure reggae tune. It's still very cool stuff. I love the instrumental sections on this thing.
Besame Mucho feat. Herb Alpert
I love this song. It has a lot of electronic texture. There are some raps (in English), too. This is modern sounding, but yet classic and timeless at the same time. It's just so cool.
Noa Noa feat. Juanes
This is awesome stuff, too. I love this song. It's more of a reggae meets rock kind of number. The lyrics are again in Spanish. This is fun.
La Bamba feat. Slightly Stoopid
This is a fun rendition of the classic tune.
Solamente una Vez feat. Gaby Moreno
I love this slower, mellower tune. It's a fun little reggae number.
Andar Conmigo feat. Regulo Caro
Although this is more traditional Latin music, it does have a bit of reggae and some modern twists in the mix.
De Paisano a Paisano
This has a rap (in English), but the rest of the vocals are in Spanish. This song is quite entertaining and rather traditional Latin music in a lot of ways. I really love the horns on it, too.
Evil Ways
This classic tune gets reworked in a great rendition. It's actually fairly faithful, but there is some reggae added in the mix, and perhaps a bit less rock music.
Tragos Amargos
This number also has a rap. It's a nice combination of classic Latin sounds, reggae and some modern dub elements.
Volver Volver feat. Mariachi Divas
In some ways this has more of the electronic sound. It's got a lot of classic Latin texture, too. This is another fun cut. I like the horns on this tune, too.
Land of 1000 Dances feat. G-Love & Chali 2-Na
They put in quite an interesting take on this old classic tune. It's a reggae meets space music kind of groove. It has some rapping in it, too. This might be my favorite tune here. It's definitely the most "different" of the bunch.
Come and Get Your Love
Hip hop and dub sounds are all over this rendition of another old chestnut. It is soulful and manages to land fairly mainstream despite the electronic weirdness woven into it.
