OZOMATLI – “Street Signs”
Concord, 2004

Man, Ozomatli is a hard band to pin down. Over the years KZSU has filed their music under hip-hop, general, and occasionally world. I’m putting this album in the latter category, partly because the band has added Middle Eastern rhythms and instruments to their usual Latin-hiphop blend on some tracks. It may sound strange, but it works, like a more streetwise version of Transglobal Underground. Other tracks cover the gamut of urban Latin party music. Lyrics mix Spanish and English. If you like your music hot, funky, and just a little exotic, check this out.

Try any track. Fo’s picks: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 12

1. 5:02 – catchy, with dramatic strings, oud bassline, rapped break right in the middle
2. 4:24 – rai-meets-lowrider melodic hook, soulful English vocal, heavy groove
3. 3:46 – hot multicultural rap over funky clave rhythm with Gipsy Kings-ish accents
4. 4:35 – Latin soul-rock in the Santana vein, slower tempo; fuzzy guitar solo
5. 3:13 – PLAY THIS! Cool stylistic mix (snake-charmer ragga?) and a great political rap
6. 3:50 – busy midtempo ballad with Spanish vocal, lots of strings (almost a tango)
7. 3:59 – Big guitar riff, 70s funk horns; lyrical flow shifts between vocalists
8. 3:29 – fast, nutty norteño-ska bounce. Spanish lyrics, gets crazier as it goes
9. 5:10 – quick rhythm, relaxed vocal, acoustic guitars. A nice Cuban-style ballad
10. 3:39 – remix: cute vocal melody over a stripped-down, heavy beat; samba break!
11. 1:05 – jazzy solo piano intro to track 12…
12. 4:48 – hot midtempo salsa-funk, lots of horn action, good vocals and a piano solo
13. 4:40 – relaxed: really nice guitar picking turns into a sort of schmaltzy prom ballad

[ Fo ] – 05/17/2004