Zemog- El Gallo Bueno

      This Boston band is a peculiar as its name – although “Zemog,” which sounds like some 1950’s movie monster, is just “Gomez” backward, and “El Gallo Bueno” is merely Spanish for “The Good Rooster.”
     Abraham “Aib” Gomez-Delgado, founder of Zemog, is a little obsessed with roosters, which not only find their way into his lyrics, but also get a few solos on the band’s self-titled debut.  Fortunately, he’s equally enamored of Sun Ra, hard rock and Puerto Rican roots music.  Their fusion may seem unlikely, but Mr. Gomez who grew up in rural Puerto Rico, managed to find seven top-notch players from jazz and salsa bands who share his appreciation for both raw, tumultuous poly-rhythms and tight yet adventurous jazz arrangements.  And they don’t mind applying some rock muscle as well.  
     Mr. Gomez plays baritone guitar and congas and sings in an agreeably ragged tenor.  He has a real knack for writing hooks, making songs such as the slinky “Ya No Vuelve” and “Cemi Snowmobile” and broiling “Animate,” “Murcielago” and “Lares Vegas” as hummable as they are exotic.