Ocote Soul Sounds And Adrian Quesada--El Nino Y El Sol

If you’re like me, you don’t have a clue as to who Martin Perna or Adrian Quesada are. Yet they have become some of the biggest names in afro/latin/funk genres. Martin Perna of Ocote Soul Sounds comes from Antibalas and Adrian Quesada comes form Grupo Fantasma, again, both big names in the latin music scene, and are credited with reviving much of this music. So here the two legends come then, recording for the first and certainly not last time providing "a soundtrack to a lost film" that carefully yet effortlessly blends the boundaries between funk, latin, hip hop, afrobeat, and a slew of other ethnic genres. El Nino y el Sol ranges between all these influences, many times in the same song, and the entire album flows as one movement. The Latin influence is most obvious throughout, giving the release a summery feel, evoking images of sun-backed deserts and endless straight highways. Even if the names and accomplishments mean little to you, these two guys have created a masterpiece of ethnic and diverse beats, and have impressively blended them all together. The sound takes on a genre of all its own, leaving behind its influences and creating something unique and interesting, and most importantly an album that connects with the listener emotionally, bringing them back to sun-baked summers. An amazing debut from two artists that can only improve from here.

(Published at MusicEmissions.com)