The Rough Guide to Latin Rare Groove Volume 2

The title is somewhat misleading; half the tracks featured are contemporary and not particularly rare. But then again, the Rough Guide to Latin Funk, Salsa, Soul and Boogaloo would not be nearly such a catchy title. Of these styles, salsa of the Nuyorican variety is well represented by two classic tracks, ‘El Cencerro Shingaling’ by Ricardo Ray & Bobby Cruz and the undoubtedly rare ‘Ha Llegado La Hora’ by Conjunto Alayon. Along with the dark and mysterious groove of ‘Fantasia Latina (Guaguanco)’ by Peru's Nelson y Sus Estrellas, they add some much-needed variety to the overall tendency to generic ‘Latin funk’. This is especially the case with the modern tracks, which seem more intent on crafting a hard-hitting bass line than inserting any nuance or character. Overall, this is geared towards the dance floor rather than an extended listening session.