Willie & Lobo

There is really no reason to toy with the proven symbiosis between the gypsy violin of Willie Royal and the flamenco guitar of Wolfgang "Lobo" Fink, which has created one of the more intriguing and organic (not to mention popular) global-flavored sounds. Yet on Willie & Lobo's latest, Caliente, co-producers Braun and George Nauful try to stir things up with a few urban loops and dance grooves, which are hip to a point but stand as too stark a contrast to the duo's simple, swaying charms. On the awfully busy machinery of the "dance" cut "Noche De Tangier," which is an otherwise glorious track, they're downright distracting. Fortunately, these noble experiments are balanced by what has always worked best for these guys -- simple acoustic harmonies offset by both the sweetly melodic and wild percussive possibilities of the violin. The brooding eight minutes of "Moorish Reunion" show that W&L can be dramatic without all the effects, and are indeed, best served by gentle soundscaping or on outside instrument, such as Braun's always engaging trumpet wrapping around the previously released best cut, "Puerto Vallarta Squeeze." ~ Jonathan Widran, Rovi