My World

Formerly known as Cubanito 20.02, the pioneering reggaeton trio have lost a member since DJ Flipper decided not to return to Havana after a tour of Europe. Now a duo consisting of El Doctor and White, they have teamed up with American producer Mark G for their third album (their first since 2005's which mixes hip-hop, Latino pop, salsa, American R&B, electronica and Jamaican reggae/dancehall influences into a classic reggaeton mash-up. There are hints of a distinctive Cuban flavour, such as the piano montuno vamps on ‘Open the Door’. But they are merely hints; this is essentially an international dance record aimed at the discos of the world, from Panama to Puerto Rico, from Miami to Madrid. Banging four-to-the-floor rhythms, smooth pop melodies, crooning romantic balladry and gruff-voiced, hardcore rapping all feature, often on the same track, as on the infectious ‘Desoe Que Te Conoci’. In a club, it must sound communal and uplifting. At home it has a tendency to sound repetitive and even banal. In his thoughtful new book How Music Works (see review p89), David Byrne talks at length about how modern music is frequently made to be heard in a specific setting and does not always translate to a different context.’ Music written for contemporary discos usually only works in those social and physical spaces’, he writes. ‘It feels stupid to listen to club music at its intended volume at home’. I'd guess My World is exactly the kind of album he's talking about.