Santa Mamba releases 'Senseo'
 
If conservative pundits were right in likening Sarah Palin's V.P. acceptance speech to winning the Super Bowl, then Santa Mamba earned themselves a World Cup Championship for releasing their second album, "Senseo."
 
 On the 11-song disc, Santa Mamba utilize a variety of Latin dance beats, jazz, and American grown Rock 'n' Roll in an outstanding, thematically consistent work that makes you shrug "of course they've won the Motif Music Award for Best Latin Band four years running now."
 
Formerly Planet Groove, Santa Mamba brought in Venezuelan-born Gio Murillo to front the band in 2005 and with him came stronger Latin influences to an outfit once referred to as "fusion." Since Gio's arrival, a significant, positive, evolution has occurred that raised the bar, even higher than their critically acclaimed "Saints & Sinners" album in 2006.
 
"Senseo" opens with the fast-paced Latin rock 'Tierra, Viento y Fuego' (Earth, Wind and Fire) and John Medeiros' guitar work gives a flair that reminds of Carlos Santana. Although my translation from Spanish may not be exacto, 'Tierra' takes the listener on a spiritual journey, calling on the elements – Earth, Wind, and Fire – in the context of a freeing catharsis of human liberty.
 
Now some artists hide away in their music, some go big, but Santa Mamba goes Broadway big, anthem big, big like they're playing half time at the World Cup. That is, if World Cup's have half times.
 
Track two, 'Aroma,' reminds, somewhat, of the group Haciendo Punto en Otro Son but, of course, Santa Mamba goes much bigger with their sound. At once 'Aroma' is traditionally Puerto Rican roots music and also in the lineage of Caribbean and Afro-Cuban songs of passion. When done well, Latino songs of the heart oft go beyond mere "love" songs into a passion captured by only poets and playwrights such as Shakespeare. Unabashed, Gio sings, as if to the Heavens:
 
"For your skin, your kisses and your aroma. I breathed colors of your scent. Aroma of Earth, coffee and clear water. And it was the aroma of a love." (Rough translation).
 
Spiritually passionate and anthemic, 'Aroma' could be the theme song to Lion King II. It's a big, roots number.
 
Track 3. Grab hold of something or someone, 'Mi Reyna' will rock you to the dance floor, Latino style. Nick Wade goes vertical on bass. Gio calls upon all the forces, "women, children, warriors of life, saints and sinners" with rolling Spanish "Rs." Santa Mamba infuses a resonating chorus, and Medeiros goes all Carlos S. on guitar.
 
The biggest of the big songs, this Spanish-English lyrical mix will have you dancing with two broke legs.After 'Mi Reyna' you need to catch a breath or two, and Santa Mamba strategically inserts the mellow opening of 'Lineas de Amor' (Love Lines) next.
 
A gentle Bolero, Gio croons:
 
 "I will tell you what I feel.
 
With the ink of time in song. Between pauses and letters. Between encounters of moon and of the sun. I got lost in your distance and I don't find in the days reason. With my fever and delirium. The desire has no forgiveness."
 
In Puerto Rico, 'Lineas de Amor' would be a perfect song to "bailar en una loceta," (dance on one tile). This is when the old timers dance close, intimate, making all the moves perfecto, never leaving one square on the floor. The passion and subtlety of this type of dance takes the breath away from young women and girls.
 
Hopefully, you've caught your wind because Santa Mamba come back with a huge Flamenco number in 'La Mentira.' Forget about understanding the lyrics, just surrender to the percussion of Gary and Candido Mendoza and dance like the world's on fire and Nero has run out of fiddle bows.
 
Throughout "Senseo," Aaron Wade brings enough Latin Jazz to make you lose complete control on this infectious album. The great sounds and rhythms of Latin music run deep and strong in this album – rumba, merengue, salsa, etc.
 
Succinctly put, the fire and fervor of Santa Mamba's "Senseo" demands dancing!
 
Visit www.santamamba.com and order this album now!