Right from lift-off, you can just tell this is a release aching to be a classic.
This Envidia release bursts in with a simple piano tumbao and launches into Tirso, Mandy and Michel all taking turns at introducing themselves through the first track
Aqui Estan, each making the track their own despite each artist being extremely distinct and well-known in the timba scene. You'd think that egos and timba wouldn't mix, but they just seem to blend into something that's (unbelievable) even better than each invdividually. It's the perfect intro track- we're pulled in, grabbed by the throat and the bass of Pedro Pablo holds the groove and begs us to dance.
The next track
Se Que Vas a Cambiar is Mandy's, reminiscent of early Charanga Forever material but more polished with the piano more prominent. How is possible to be a medium tempo track and sound so smooth yet raw and energetic at the same time?
Then Michel takes his turn with
Pa’Que Te Dure which actually feels quite tame compared to the rest of the tracks (tame as in slower and less raw as opposed to rubbish!)
Cuenta con Los Santos belongs to Tirso and he opens with his rumba call, and then we follow him as his voice rides the constant changes throughout- pausing and then racing away on this feisty track referencing Santeria and bobbing on that fantastic bassline and driving piano tumbao again. This has to be on the ultimate Timba album ever!....
From this point onwards, we're on fire. Mandy takes over again with
Tu Tin de Suerte. This man's voice is pure sex!- my eardrums are in love!!!!He smolders then skips on the piano tumbao (what piano it is too) and claims the crown of 'Best Track on the album from Tirso'.
Los Aparencias Enganan is medium paced and features Michel smoking his own way through the track with a flawless delivery and hot timba!
Then Tirso steals the crown back and gives us
Estoy Colao- a track of pure dance paradise. The arrangement is FANTASTIC, and he has every right to scream his own immense talent.... "quítate quítate quítate".Did I tell you to buy this yet? You have to!!!
Soy Tu Pesadilla: Mandy is back again! We're heavy on the metales, heavy on the vocals and heavy on the talent.We start gently and get angrier, heavier and more intense as we go on. This is Mandy at his best.
Our last two tracks feature Michel first with
Echale.com, and Tirso with
La VecinaMichel puts in his last appearance with
Echale.com, both of which allow us flutter down from our Timba high to the silence we know will make us start all over again.
And this is the album that it's really possible to do it with. There are no dud tracks, no skipping required. And definitely not for the faint-hearted timba fan!
Buy it now and get lost in the perfect of it all. Don't say I didn't warn you!!
To listen, click hereMusicians:
Pedro Pablo- Bass
Karina Gutiérrez- Piano
Jorge Torres “Papiosko”- Conga
Yerisloy Serrano- Timbales
Carlos Amores- Güiro
Frank Padrón- Trumpet
Jesus Angel Chappottín- Trumpet
Cecilio O. Valido- Sax
Mario “Mayito” Gavilan, Wilmer “El Fine” Muñoz- Coro
Armando “Mandy” Cantero, Tirso Duarte, Michel Maza- Vocals
