Ska Cubano, Ay Caramba! Cumbancha: This bilingual British outfit combines two Caribbean styles of music -- Jamaican reggae/ska and Cuban salsa -- into one upbeat, fun package. For those with memories going back to the '80s, it's reminiscent of the brassy, effervescent style of Kid Creole & the Coconuts blended with a little Manu Chao, Skatalites, and some jumpin' jive jazz a la Louis Jordan or Cab Calloway thrown in for good measure. Though they occasionally are too whimsical for their own good (Chispa Tren), Ska Cubano show off a musicality on the likes of No Me Desesperes, Tungarara, Bobine and Istanbul (Not Constantinople) that proves they're not just a retro gimmick in search of exposure.

GRADE: B+

-- Cary Darling