Two Beats One Soul

Of all the recent Cuban mash-ups, this fusion of Cuban and North American music comes with the most inflated publicity. Both a long- and short-form documentary, for example, will accompany the CD's release. Beware the hype. The promised re-creation of ‘traditional Cuban sounds and rhythms in today's musical landscape’ delivers little more than the kind of tired terrain on which Luther Vandross once pulsated; listen carefully and there, among all the synthesized sounds, are occasional echoes of Boney M. Yes, the beats are indeed that mechanical, that wearisome; and even the Cuban condiments lack spice. Urging us to ‘let the rhythm take control of our bodies and our souls,’ Eric Benét's wretched ‘The Rhythm’ typifies the lyrical banality generally on offer.
Of the four producers featured on Two Beats One Soul's 13 tracks, only Louie Vega's typically smooth and supple contributions could induce any signs of life in a dancer's feet. But even ‘Little Louie’ seems a bit off-colour. It's a long haul to his best contribution – the last track, ‘Canto de Cuba’. It's too little and too late, though, to rescue this uninspiring retrograde affair. Dead beats with no soul.