Album Review: V/A - Latin Vibes: Lounge Selection (Mettle)

Writer: Claire Thornton

With its Cuban vista of Old Havana on the cover, this compilation is eye-catching and looks promising. Musically, however, this release has very little to do with Cuba, and so, if you're looking for Cuban-influenced Latin music, you'll be disappointed. It is a case with this compilation of looking at the small print; “Lounge selection” pretty much tells you all you need to know. The music on this CD doesn’t really stimulate you to listen hard, it just washes over you whilst you're doing other things. This is sophisticated lift music - "Lounge" at it’s best, and very much “Latin lite”.

The word “Latin” is misused here; the influence on this album is overwhelmingly Brazilian, there is very little Cuban, Puerto Rican or Colombian about it. The tracks are lacking in variety and there is little to distinguish any of them from the crowd. On CD1, most of the tracks rely on Brazilian beats and sounds, there is a heavy electro influence with jaded synthesized tubular percussion – taking the music further away from it’s "Latin" title. Some of the tracks are innovative and unusual like Mondomo's Theme from Mondomo. There is a pleasing Malena track, and there should be more like it. At the end of CD1 we finally get some of the Latin vibe promised by the title in the shape of Gecko Turner's Monka Mongas which is a bassy, jazzy track using traditional salsa rhythmns and percussion; it is light hearted and fun and doesn’t take itself so seriously like the rest of side one.

Having been disappointed by the first CD, I didn’t feel too chuffed about having to listen to another CD's worth of characterless lounge music. I was, however, surprised and pleased to find that CD2 redeems the collection somewhat. CD2 opens with an upbeat and more original sound in the form of Night Texture's Tranquility; Latin percussions and rhythms are mixed successfully with a Flamenco-esque guitar lead, with the tune then morphing into a more funky dance track – it works well. On CD2 you can hear a wider variety of music styles which are blended well with more traditional Latin beats. Most notably are tracks El Mar by Mettle Music and Music & Movement by Square One; broken beat sounds and light jazz vocals makes for a refreshing sound. These tracks are good, but for me don’t really fit with concept of Latin Vibes – or what the compilation sets out to achieve. Free by Mojo Project is probably the winner by far on this album, purely because it is convincing as a “Latin Vibe”, with soulful passionate vocals, heavy rhythmic percussion backing, and lots of loud brassy sounds.

This compilation does get better on listening, and CD2 was admittedly enjoyable. The tracks are perfectly pleasing and easy on the ear but there is nothing to really get excited about. Listen before you buy and if you don’t mind not getting what you expect, this “easy listening Latin” could win some fans.

RELATED LINKS:
Mettle Music



Buy Latin Vibes: Latin Lounge at Amazon UK (CD) / US (CD)




PUBLISHED: 1 October 2005

RELEASE DATE: 18 July 2005 (UK) / 12 July 2005 (US) .

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