Latin Fever

Oooh, so many Desi Arnaz moments on this disc! Like being at Ricky's nightclub in the 50's! Best track: "Brazil." You'll freak at the piercing whistles and fast, faster, fastest drumming!

One of the best in the Ultra Lounge series!!

Although I think all of the Ultra Lounge CDs are just fantastic, I admit that this one and "Mondo Exotica" are constantly jockeying for the position of my favorite volume. These tunes are just so catchy and upbeat, and they remind me of something you'd hear in some strange hybrid lounge-slash-beatnik-coffe-shop. Of course, I've yet to find such a place, but when I do, I guarantee they'll be playing this music.

Ultra-lounge's most rigorous entry.

This 'Bongo-land' volume is the most rigorous of the 'Ultra-lounge' series.Most of the series has strong latin elements, but this one is further latin than any of the others.Its the only one that sounds like North-Americans didn't make, at least not on their own (which is in no way a criticism of the ones that 'do' sound North-American made).It is the most spontaneous sounding, though still in keeping with the polished/composed approach of the Ultra-Lounge series.
There are 17 listed tracks PLUS little unlisted solo bongo interludes spotted thru-out.There is alot of variety.Each melody is distinctive, and there are tempo-changes all over the place.The rhythm is so successfull at ful-filling the expectations that a title like "Bongo-land", brings.But, as in all 'ultra-lounge' cd's, its never just one instrument taking the lime-light.As long as you realize that the bongos aren't always in the fore-ground (except for the interludes), you can't be dis-appointed.
(There are so many 'ultra-lounge' volumes that could be named as the best.My votes go eerily close to a previous reviewer's.Mondo-Exotica is my muse at n.1.This one, Bongo-land, belts me at n.2).