EditorsPick: So many salsa albums today sound dead, prerecorded, vapid, without the joy or rawness of the old school. But the multi-cultural Virginia-based Bio Ritmo are the exception to the rule: they bring all the grit, sweat, and playful humor of all your favorite classic groups, without sounding slavishly retro or like some shiny imitation from an exotic land. These folks do what comes naturally, bringing a lot of personality to their underground sound. They also bring an inventive flair to their arrangements, due in large part to the fun electronic keyboards of the marvelous Marlysse and the swinging four-part brass section. Yet despite all the wild instrumentation and many changes each song goes through, there is a well-grounded, cohesive feeling to the band's sound. Lead vocalist and highly talented visual artist Rei Álvarez is the glue that unifies the album over all, with his distinctive nasal tone that puts me in mind of left field favorites like Angel Canales and Willie Colon. This is a wild, challenging record that takes off from where their last long player left us and goes one notch farther, combining outlandish electronics, infectious percussion, sabroso piano, and songs that never get stale, reminding me of the risk taking that Eddie Palmieri, Larry Harlow, Willie Colon, Angel Canales, Fruko, and Cortijo used to take way back in the bad old 70s. They cover a tune by the great Bobby Valentin, and there is even a version of the theme from the Bionic Man!
Very Highly recommended.

By:Pablo Yglesias