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Grupo Fantasma is an 11 piece ensemble led by José Galeano mixing cumbia, salsa and most other Latin sounds. They have appeared alongside KRS-One, Prince and Patti Smith, and count each one amongst their fans.

The group boasts an impressive array of awards but Movimiento Popular left me wondering what all the fuss is about. Those such as the Buena Vista collective and Cubano Soy have set a high standard for Latin music, one that this album doesn’t quite live up to. It is bread and butter Latin music, not bad but perhaps undeserving of such international acclaim.

The album is not without its high points however, the delicate piano melody, smooth horns and simple percussion of ‘Rico Tumbao’ being just one example. Elsewhere the dirty guitar riffs of Vacilon’, the raga vibe of ‘Peligrosa’ and the electronic leaning sound ‘Luna Llena’ show a reluctance to stick to a single genre.

The record closes with the feel good funk of ‘Ya No Puedo’ a sound that the band clearly excel at which the album could have benefited from a little more of. Movimiento Popular leaves you with the feeling that to really appreciate Grupo Fantasma you need to see them live.

Links:
www.grupofantasma.com