Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
a gritty Latin martini, January 25, 2005
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.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Warm & Cozy, March 2, 2005
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.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Groovy Electronica, October 31, 2005
Michael Ramos - the man behind Charanga Cakewalk - is a talented musician and producer who incorporates elements of cumbia, Latin percussions, and traditional Mexican grooves into dynamic cutting-edge electronica. Lotería de la Cumbia Lounge features 13 cuts that shift from the acoustic sounds of Spanish guitars, cellos, and accordions, to the spicy electronic pulses of the keyboards, creating the feel of a funky Latin lounge. This music is, I dare say, what a mix of Juana Molina, Kinky, and Aterciopelados would probably sound like. Sort of. To decide for yourself, check out "La Negra Celina," a groovy electronica-infused Colombian cumbia.
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