Mambo Cosmico

Sonido Gallo Negro are a nine-piece band from Mexico City who are intent on exploring the outer limits of cumbia. They take the Colombian dance rhythm and then add other elements while keeping its essential Latin dance patterns. This is a sonic collage of sorts, drawing upon all kinds of musical references: African and Arabic refrains are dropped into songs while an old-school organ adds a rich flavour reminiscent of Booker T & The MGs (if they’d grown up south of the border). Mambo Cosmico’s only real faults lie in its overuse of twangy surf guitar – this has been done to death – and a certain sameness creeping across the album as one instrumental shuffles past another. But their musical excellence, muscular rhythms and ability to conjure up fascinating sounds stops this dropping into the novelty genre – the theremin isn’t often heard on Latin albums.