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Ben Onono is a vocalist who’s been around the Café Del Mar, Café Mambo and no doubt countless others in his time

The new solo release finds him reminiscing of military coups, chicken plantain, Rubix cubes, pac-man and break dancing. Sung to a shufflin’ Latin beat, it would fit so sweetly into a future A Slice Of Paradise set, particularly with the flamenco guitar solo.

It comes with three remix versions. The Ashley Beedle version brings the bass up and extends the original. It’s like a toned down version of his ‘Rain Comes Down’ remix, perhaps should have been ‘Sun Comes Down’? Surprisingly, though, it’s the other two mixes that are more immediate. The one that is getting the reactions is the Crazy P, formerly Crazy Penis. Now more radio friendly, the Ps have not gone particularly crazy but they’ve upped the tempo and got funkier.

No idea of who Yes King is/are but their remix adds some big horns and a little go-go bongos to the event.

This 12” follows up ‘Hindsight’ that came out on 12” a couple of months ago (with Greg Wilson and Mish Mash Remixes) on this new label. I think ‘Caramel’ is stronger, even if I’m not following the lyrics.

Mr. Onono wrote ‘Caramel’ with Lance Burman (Mark Rae / Niko / Grand Central Records) and the engineer on the mix is David Wrench who’s recently worked with James Yorkston on a track on his new album. So, as Wyl might have said, ‘Caramel’ is also a bit of a “slow burner”. Watch out for it in the next couple of weeks.

Hectic Mix nomination: Yes King Remix

Reviewed : Ben Onono — Caramel (Jos Records) Cat. No. JOS002 Release date: 2006
Tracklisting:
1. Caramel (Original Mix) (4:50)
2. Caramel (Ashley Beedle Mix) (6:26)
3. Caramel (Crazy P Mix) (6:57)
4. Caramel (Yes King Remix) (7:35)

Links:
www.electrofunkroots.com
Pete Tong Tracklistings: 6/12/2002 :
Saffron Hill feat Ben Onono — ‘My Love Is Always There’ (Illustrious)