Blow Up

The international smash \"Fuego\" showed what Colombia’s Bomba Estéreo were all about: freewheeling rhythm—drawing from reggae and Latin funk—with stylish production and the fiery vocals of Liliana Saumet. Leader Simón Mejía is a studio wizard who blends programmed grooves with live percussion and guitars; he conjures everything from an African juju beat on \"La Boquilla\" to Eno-like synthscapes on \"Palenke.\" Saumet is magnetic throughout, whether she\'s fast and sassy on \"La Niña Rica\" or soft and seductive on \"Feelin\'.\"