Caracoles

Six years after their Grammy-nominated debut on Daptone, the retro Cuban/New York orchestra’s third album hits another home run. Right from the first notes, the opening ‘Con Licencia’ transports you straight back to 1950s Havana or New York. With lyricist Kiko Ruiz’ electrifying lead vocals hitched to the thrilling sound of brass, saxophones and percussion, you could be listening to Benny Moré or Machito’s Afro-Cubans. The pace might ease off on the penultimate ‘Flor di Mi Campo’, but the intensity never wanes throughout. The closing ‘Doña Felipa’, for example, leaves you uptown with a jaunty step and a radiant smile. Producer, guitarist and co-founder Jacob Plasse has talked of the overriding joy when Orquesta Akokán performs. Perhaps only Roberto Fonseca currently channels the past in such a similarly joyful yet contemporary way. Whether it’s mambo, chachachá or bolero, Caracoles holds music to dance to, music to send the spirits soaring stratospherically.