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PUTUMAYO PRESENTS WORLD HITS (PUTUMAYO) |
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"Putumayo Presents World Hits" shows off the label's more organic side and also reveals a - relatively speaking - mainstream pop conscious facet of Putumayo's music. There is much in the Putumayo canon that is heavily geared toward dance culture, music that mingles folk, ethnic and world flavors with dance hall grooves. But there is also plenty of traditional musical elements to be found at the label (though the bulk of what I've caught aural glimpses of is quite danceable, if not always dance hall flavored). At any rate, here is a batch of tracks whose focus is more on straight world music. But there is that poppier angle I mentioned. Peter Tosh's reggae flavored contribution, "(You Gotta Walk) Don't Look Back" features Mick Jagger. Santana appears with his cover of Tito Puente's 50s classic "Oye Como Va." I realize that Santana and Mick Jagger aren't "pop" but they do occupy a higher place in pop consciousness than plenty of Putumayo's material. Which is neither here nor there. Simply an observation. Afropop with reggae friendly hooks keep the wave of grooves going on "E'mma" from Senegal's Toure Kunda. Electronica flavored personality does rear its head on "7 Seconds," a Senegal/UK production from Youssou N'Dour (with Neneh Cherry). It's a delicious, heroine-strong chillout-meets-soft rock piece. "Watermelon Man" performed by Mongo Santamaria. A sizzling high point of "World Hits" is Cuba's contribution, a laid back yet enthusiastic horn-heavy number. Jamaican grooves greet the ears on Jimmy Cliff's "The Harder They Come" while Brazil and France join forces for Kaoma's "Lambada," a song that seamlessly merges a South American pulse with French flavors. Perky post-tribal folk pop prevails on "Pata Pata," performed by Miriam Makeba, giving South Africa a presence on the disc. That country also hits again with Johnny Clegg and Savuka on "Scatterlings of Africa," a fantastic tune that fuses traditional African factors into an 80s rock tune - think Men at Work from the so-called dark continent. Cameroon nudges its way onto the track list with the funky, sax-driven "Soul Makossa" from Manu Dibango. France closes the proceedings with Gipsy Kings' "Bamboleo," a sensual, dance-inducing piece (but not of the electronic variety, just so you know). "World Hits" is smartly eclectic and offers a mouth-watering platter of tastes from around the globe. -- review by Kristofer Upjohn
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