Caramelo

This NYC crew blend their urban style with a bit of R&B, a decent amount of flamenco and a touch of jazz/Latin fusion. Reminiscent of Chambao's chilled flamenco vibe, "Como Quieres" pleases the ear with its diversity of instrumentation and the beautiful timbre of featured vocalist Mireya Ramos. Lucky for us, this varied instrumentation floats throughout the album. "Brooklyn," a fun, light tune, possesses a charming, gypsy-like melodic line. The ballad "Nico" is saved from its flat English/Spanish lyrics by the excellent bass soloing, while "Peligroso" sounds as if the band lifted Shakira's "Objection (Tango)." The rest of this album celebrates flamenco and features Seville born singer Alfonso Cid in the jazzy and delicate Alegrías, "La Luna." The sevillana "The Girl is Gone" concludes Ride, leaving the listeners content and appreciative of multicultural cities like NYC, where musicians can celebrate their diversities by fusing styles and genres.