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By Benjamin Ortiz, Special to the Tribune
Section: Arts & Entertainment
Date: March 2, 2008


“Latin Reggae,” various artists (Putumayo World Music)
Since 1993, Putumayo’s anthologies have typically dished up genre-samplers from a global menu of possibilities, whether tango or Latin jazz. Spanning the Caribbean to South America, Spain and beyond, “Latin Reggae” marks a soulful counterpoint to contemporary reggaetón with a taste of the roots, but re-interpreted from pan-Latin pop inspiration. Groups such as Los Cafres (Argentina) and Cultura Profetica (Puerto Rico) dip into traditional roots rhythms with socially conscious lyrics in obvious homage to Bob Marley. But tracks such as “Mulata Descolorada” by Macaco and “Ven” by Amparanoia (both from Spain) playfully tickle ska beats with dub, flamenco, rock and salsa. The total effect is “mestizo,” as they call it in Barcelona — “mixed” — like the Latin and African sources at the heart of reggae itself.
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“Lotería Beats Mixtape Vol. 1,” DJ Raul Campos (Nacional Records)
Storied DJ Raul Campos, host of a popular Santa Monica public-radio show, teams with L.A.’s Nacional Records, home of such majors as Manu Chao and the Pinker Tones, to remix progressive Latin artists of the moment. Campos evenly pieces together a set that feels down-tempo, despite flourishes of Latin percussion across tropical and traditional genres, for a mellow chillout lounge experience. Various Nacional artists contribute funky sonic ingredients along the way, such as Tijuana’s Nortec Collective and the Mexican Institute of Sound. But the club vibe really gets interesting when Campos pairs up David Byrne with Los Amigos Invisibles, Sergio Mendes with Black Eyed Peas, picking up electro steam and then cooling off in a spacey cumbia-dub.

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