Abel

Bouncing between tribal, nocturnal anthems and sun-drenched numbers that taste like a piña colada, DJ Abel pays tribute to event-organizer Ric Sena's lavish Alegria gay N.Y.C. dance parties with the two-CD mix Alegria Musica. A sequel to 2004's Abel: Alegria, Alegria Musica spends less time with trippy progressive house, favoring Latin beats with sparkling pianos or "cha cha house," as Abel calls it. The dark tribal sounds have returned, along with Abel's exciting transitions and smooth, seamless mixing. Both discs not only ramp up in tempo, but also in the number of highlights, with thrilling nocturnal anthems bringing both discs to a close. Disc one's finish is especially exciting, with Abel proving he's one of the few who could go from the spacy Giorgio Moroder tribute "Help Me" to the Brazilian cabaret of "Outro Lugar" without a hitch. You'll need to provide the lights, the costumes, and the sweat, but Alegria Musica brings a bit of New York's finest to any living-room dancefloor. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide