The Bottom Line
Putumayo Presents Latin Reggae is a compilation album of reggae tracks sung in Spanish. Although there's some instrumentation, especially the use of brass, that's not usually associated with reggae, most of the tracks boast a fairly traditional reggae sound without anything innovative or particularily new to offer. A pleasant collection of songs if you like your reggae in Spanish, but still a little disappointing.
Pros
- Linguistically-challenged reggae lovers get the music in Spanish
- "Si Hecho Palante" by U.S. group Ticklah performs interesting fusion
Cons
- Lots of ordinary, ho-hum straight reggae tracks
- Not as good as more innovative reggae coming out of other areas
Description
- 11 tracks of reggae music performed by various groups
- 8 out of 11 come from Spain
- Released Jan. 2008 by Putumayo
Guide Review - CD Review: Putumayo Presents Latin Reggae
I'm not sure why there is so little give and take between the tropical Latin music of the Caribbean and that of, for instance, non-Latin Jamaica and Trinidad. But since that invisible barrier seldom gets crossed, you don't hear much Spanish reggae or soca and you don't hear much Jamaican salsa. There are rhythmic influences on neighboring islands, most notably the wildly popular reggaeton, but even that genre became popular in Panama before it moved to Puerto Rico.
So I was interested in hearing Putumayo's new compilation album, Putumayo Presents Latin Reggae - because I really couldn't recall hearing any before. The first surprise was that 8 out of the album's 11 tracks are performed by groups out of Spain. The second surprise was that, with a few exceptions, the tracks are bland, standard reggae tunes sung in Spanish. With no Spanish flamenco influences, few tropical Latin influences, I found the album disappointing. Well, Putumayo's only claim was that of "Latin reggae" and that's what you get, if you translate 'Latin' to mean 'Spanish language'.
There were 2 tracks that I did like. "Reggae Rustico" is by Puerto Rican Cultura Profetica, with its use of interesting harmonies and keyboard work you don't usually find in reggae. This is a track that sounded more like I would expect of 'Latin Reggae". My favorite track on the album is "Si Hecho Palante" by the U.S. group Ticklah featuring Mayra Vega. This is the only track I would label a fusion, with a reggae rhythm bottom layer and a rumba top voice. Add typical Latin brass, coros, great Latin jazz piano riffs and breaks and this is a dynamite song - in any genre. I'm going to look around for more Ticklah.
