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Onda Vaga were formed in Cabo Polonio; a picturesque Uruguayan fishing village with neither electricity nor running water. Upon returning to the urban sprawl of Buenos Aires with their rural inspiration, they recorded Fuerte y Caliente, a musical retreat of sweet vocal harmonies, guitar, cajon and brass.

Their sonic roots can be simply traced to Latin American folklore (rumba, cumbia, tango,) flamenco and rock. Bands such as Ojos de Brujo, Muchachito Bomba Inferno and, of course, Manu Chao are clear reference points. Argentine legend Fito Paez, an inspiration for the group, also makes a guest appearance on three of the album’s tracks.

The band, however, are able to create their own “onda” with stand out tracks such as ‘Me Pega Fuerte’ and ‘Sequia de Amor’. The rest of the album is an upbeat, sing-along affair from Cartagena’s swinging rhythms to Parque and Mambeado’s Spanish, flamenco influences. Havana Affair, the only track sung in english, shows the band’s diversity, straying away from the cajon driven folk and delving into a seedy trombone laden tale of relations between the USA and Cuba.

While, final track ‘Rayada’ could have come straight out of Mexico. Onda Vaga are undoubtedly more impressive in a live setting, but the sparse recording of the album, which tries to capture their acoustic spirit, leaves a lasting impression.