Customer Reviews

Loteria De La Cumbia Lounge

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Former Bodean and popular session musician, Michael Ramos, ventures out for a debut solo project. In the past, he has worked with The Rembrandts, Patty Griffin, Paul Simon, John Mellencamp, and Ani DiFranco. Loteria de la Cumbia Lounge gets its title from Ramos' studio. "Cumbia" is a popular, accordian-heavy music from Columbia, cheery ans sometimes cheesy music of the peasants. This is a mellow Latin martini, combining danceable urban grooves with an occasional nod at borderline kitsch with a twist of grit and traditional Latin instruments. From the intriguing Latin pop of "El Indio" and "Mexicanos" to the mid-tempo instrumentals which recall Sergio Mendez or Esquivel ("Romanticos Desperados," "Volcanico"). Multi-instrumental Ramos performs some of the album himself, inviting guest musicians like Brian Standefer and Russell Scanlon to add to the remainder of the songs.

This was an impulse buy after I caught a review on NPR. Some impulse buys pan out, some don't. Luckily, this one did. I teach English at a continuation high school. When the students write, I sometimes want some music that keeps us all going and yet doesn't call unwarranted attention to itself. This record is perfect, a sort of Latin Hip-Hop with club influences (no slamming beats). Since most of my students are Hispanic and Black, this is a great compromise, and it's off-beat enough to keep them interested, yet guessing.

Wow - what a great find! My husband I heard a song on an XM world music station and went out and purchased this CD shortly after. Beautiful sound that is hard to describe. Part Latino, part jazz, part dance. Perfect for a party or for listening to while hanging out around the house. My favorite CD of the year for sure. I highly recommend you listen to it.

Man, is this a winner! A nice updated contemporary loungy Cumbia, at times with echos of 50s & 60s Cha Cha and at other times sounding slightly of Manu Chau, but truly unique all the same. Great soundtrack for art openings, funky retail joints and eateries, galleries, your living room, your car, anywhere. Just buy it, you'll never want to take it out of your CD player... .

My husband heard a clip on the radio and he asked me to do a search. I could only find little snippets but I was curious. I went ahead and bought both albums and they sound awesome. Its just different from whats being played on the radio. This is the kind of music I would play at a dinner party (not a formal one). If you like music thats just different, this would be the way to go!

This is a wonderful collection of new songs, mostly instrumental, all with a Latin flavor. The musicians are all first-rate. You'll want to play it again and again.

It's impossible to listen to this CD without dancing, or at least tapping your feet and bobbing your head. I don't speak Spanish so I don't understand the lyrics but that doesn't matter. This Latin style music is great for listening in the car, at home, anywhere you need a nice beat but nothing too intrusive. And as a graphic artist I also enjoyed the CD insert graphics - something you don't get with a music download! Buy this one . . . I'm going to pick up their other CDs

My mother is colombian and I gifted her this CD and she has enjoyed it very much. My mother-in-law has enjoyed it as well.

This and the second Charanga Cakewalk CD, "Chicano Zen," are two of my favorite chills. They are also two of my favorite Mexican/Latin listens (after Julieta Venegas's "MTV Unplugged"). It's too bad there are no sound samples on these pages. However, if you like chill and Tejano, just get this CD. Better yet, get "Chicano Zen," which I like even better. If in doubt, pick up a used copy here. Chilly listening!

As soon as the sun goes down, pop this in and wait for that intoxicating, pulsating seduction to take effect... I love it .