Spanglish

Not to be confused with the rockabilly outfit from Antwerp, this particular raucous colony of Baboons has been a fixture on the Miami music scene for more than 22 years. That they have shared the bill in the past with the likes of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and the P-Funk All Stars might suggest that the heterogeneous seven-piece crew guarantees a splendid time for all.

After a 15-year recording gap, Spanglish is a kind of homage to Miami's diversity. Written by their drummer, Manuel Pila, and their charismatic singer, Majica, the songs are ‘stories about real Miami characters.’ Alas, they’re not that memorable. The band have clearly assimilated the area's mix of global cultural influences: there's a Balkan instrumental for starters, followed by a little bit of mambo, merengue, samba, salsa, even a 1950s rocker and a country waltz. They mash it up expertly, but it's all so diverse and so relentlessly upbeat that ultimately one thinks of Sha Na Na and other tribute bands of yore that were specialists in all styles. Is it the real thing or just a trying-on of different musical hats? Based on their YouTube clips, The Baboons should probably be seen live. Majica sure can dance seductively around a gong…