Like many various-artists anthologies on the Union Square group of labels, Nu Latin is not so much a best-of for its genre, or even strongly thematically linked by a mini-genre or region of origin. It's more a wide-ranging survey of Latin music being made in the late '90s and early 2000s, giving listeners a reasonable idea of some of the forms the style was spinning into during this period. There's certainly a lot of music, with each disc in this two-CD set containing about 70 minutes of music. If nothing else, the multiple nations represented illustrate how Latin music, like the blues, is no longer restricted to the region of its origin; there are performers here from Paris, the United Kingdom, New York, Spain, West Africa, San Francisco, and Los Angeles in addition to Latin America. There's something of a bent toward artists who mix Latin music with other styles in new ways, particularly in the use of hip-hop, remixes, and electronic dance music. Reggae and ska influences are heard too (especially in Ska Cubano's "Babalu"), as well as some flamenco (in Ojos de Brujo's "Ventilaor R-80"). For those who want more old-school stuff, there's "Mueve la Cintura Mulata" by Omara Portuando, described as "the Queen of the Buena Vista Social Club," and more traditionally rootsy salsa, even if that salsa is now often being cranked out in places like New York and the U.K. Susana Baca's "Toro Mata" is a standout for presenting a more song-oriented, soulfully personal performance than the fussier, busier arrangements boasted by most of the tracks. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide