Ocote Soul Sounds & Adrian Quesada - El Nino Y El Sol

Originally released on Aire Sol Records in 2004, Ocote Soul Sounds & Adrian Quesada's full-length is the soundtrack to a film entitled "El Niño y el Sol". As a collaboration between Martin Perna (Ocote Soul Sounds) and Adrian Quesada, musicians who founded two of the world's most successful and progressive afro/latin/funk bands, Antibalas and Grupo Fantasma, this can't go wrong for fans of Afrobeat. There is an innate sense for deep grooves that guides ESL Music's unique style and with this release it doesn't go wrong.


Each track carries its own unique style with the whole being woven together by a mix of funk, dusky soul, and deep Afro-Latin rhythms and beats. A jazzy tone drifts in and out as simultaneous fore and background, manifesting itself in wooden flutes, horns, and guitar wrapped in a worldly, unformulaic breakbeat style. Although a few shrill sax cuts step in from time to time (whose credit or shame depends on your style), you'll find this album is a bright, smooth experience that's well suited to a sunny day without cares.

If you've found yourself digging deep into Thievery Corporation's DJ sets like The Outernational Sound, Fela Kuti's Afrobeat style, or have been a long-time fan of ESL Music's sound, keep yourself fresh right here. This album should live on as a classic piece of Afro-Latin funk.

Ocote Soul Sounds & Adrian Quesada - El Nino Y El Sol