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City Zen is full of laid-back and playful plays on words in the mainstream vein of Jack Johnson, only with a nod to Argentinian rhythms.

‘All I Want To Do Is You’ was the first single from Kevin Johansen’s third album City Zen which was nominated for three Latin Grammys, although he is yet to pick one up, and I’m more drawn to the catchy strains of ‘Push Your Luck,’ which is more interesting rhythmically, and has the stronger hook, and this is a record in which hooks abound.

There’s nothing overly challenging here, nothing but feel-good pop tunes although behind it lies the more serious side to Johansen’s music making. He was one of the founders of the Subtropicalista movement along with artists such as Paulinho Moska and Jorge Drexler (both of whom guest on the album) pushing for a platform for sophisticated Latin music (so no Ricky Martin on his I-pod then?) along the lines of the original Tropicalistas.

www.kevinjohansen.com