Superb fuse of ska and mambo - Ay Caramba! (Ay Caramba! - Ska Cubano)

Member Name: dangaroo

Product:	Ay Caramba! - Ska Cubano
Date:	25/08/08 (14 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great band

Disadvantages: None

Here is the second album by Ska Cubano, Ska Cubano are the brainchild of entrepreneur of Peter Scott who also produces the album, his business took him regularly to Cuba and South America, he made use of his contacts and offered Natty Bo, a white ska musician from London who has for some reason got a Jamaican accent a flight ticket to Cuba.

When in Santiago, Natty Bo came across a singer called Beny Billy, he was immediately amazed by his performances and knew he had found his man, he then headed back to London and set up a band of musicians made from the best Cuban and Jamaican musicians in town, the result was this band. This is their 2nd album, released in 2005 and it's superb.

A very jolly mixture of ska and latin music, the cuban singer sounds like Benny More or so claims Natty Bo, I think he sounds similar to Juan de Marcos González from Buena Vista Social Club. One song is upbeat ska, the next more latin and then several are a unique blend of the two types of music. Each song sounds incredibly different yet has the same rythm which is very danceable. There's even a cover of the They Might Be Giants hit "Istanbul not Constantinople" that despite being completely different, is excellent!

An excellent album, the fuse of mambo and ska has worked very very well.

1. Istanbul
2. Tabu
3. Oye Compay Juan
4. No Me Desesperes
5. Tungarara
6. Big Bamboo
7. Cachita
8. Soy Campesino
9. Jezebel
10. Marianao
11. !Ay Caramba!
12. Chispa Tren
13. Bobine
14. Cumbia En Do Menor
15. Natty No Dead
16. Jezebel (Bonus Track)
17. La Boquilla(Bonus Track)

Summary: Hurry up and buy!