Fronteras (Boa, 2004)

Canaman is a five-piece band from Spain whose third studio album (fourth overall), Fronteras, is gaining some word-of-mouth outside of their home country, and rightly so.  It's a buoyant set with a vibrant sound benefiting from the production talents of Sly & Robbie and guest performances by Capleton, Marcia Griffiths, and Anthony B, among others.  The group ventured to Jamaica to record this album, and it shows in polished, authentic roots rhythms peppered with dancehall touches (hence the presence of Capleton and Anthony B; Canaman has their own resident DJ also).  I'll try to resist the urge to compare them to perhaps the best-known Spanish-speaking group (in America, at least), Gondwana, but on a couple of the more mellow tunes -- particularly the smooth "Pura Vida" -- they are indeed reminiscent.  But on the whole, Canama's style is more up-tempo and carefree than the more serious-toned Gondwana.  I believe that "Fiesta Rasta" has been released as the first single off of the album, but while I personally find this to be one of the lesser tracks here, it does give an idea of their upbeat sound.  The more dancehall-oriented cuts like "Fiesta Rasta" (a bit strange hearing Capleton on a party song) and "Vampiros" and the ones with an overt Latin edge ("Se Desmorona" and "Reggae da Capoeira") don't stand out to me as much, but the rest are so strong, I hardly cared.  Whether it be livelier tunes like "Canaman Reggae," "Free Your Mind," and "Sweet Music," or slower, smoother cuts like "Fronteras," "Mi Nina," or Pura Vida," these songs all sound like hits.  It really doesn't matter if you can't understand the lyrics; Canaman truly has universal appeal.  My favorite track has to be "Notas de Color," one of the strongest, funkiest roots songs you're going to hear all year.  Hopefully, you'll get a chance to hear it -- and Fronteras -- sometime soon.