RELEASED ON 7.6.2024 ON MR BONGO VIA PROPER
CATALOGUE NUMBER MRBLP292
A wonderful record of tripped- out rumbas, psych- Afro- Latin funk and quirky
orchestrated tracks with a big band horn section courtesy of Torres' band, Algo
Nuevo.
As well as being the director of Algo Nuevo and Cuban all-star ensemble Estrellas
De Areito , the trombonist, bandleader, arranger and producer also released a
wealth of albums under his own name predominately on the state-owned imprint
Areito/EGREM.
Post-revolution, there was a contrast in Cuba's musical world. State censorship
was at play, but professional musicians were on the government payroll which
gave them an artistic freedom. Experimentation emanated in the '70s and '80s
and Super Son is a prime example of that. 'Y Que Bien' kicks off the album taking
you down a tripped- out, cosmic rabbit hole , psych guitars and skat vocals
opening up into a joyful funk groove laced with jazzy Afro-Cuban horns stabs.
Tracks such as 'Pastel En Descarga' seem to come out of nowhere and are
completely unique . Fuzzed- up guitar lines and percussion lay the groundwork,
with those jubilant horns adding to the energy of this forever building track.
Elsewhere, there's the '70s TV theme-tune feeling of 'Con Aji Guaguao', a playful
funk number that boils and bubbles with blistering trombone playing by Torres. Or
'Son A Propulsion' and 'Son Riendo', two more brilliant examples of psychedelic
funk, wrapped up in a blanket of Afro-Cuban rhythms. The former sweeping you
up in rushes of wind as trumpets, trombones and distorted guitars trade off, the
latter, an intergalactic festa of tradition and exploration.
Super Son is up there as one of the funkiest Cuban records around , a playful
fusion of ideas from a producer, player and group on fine form and, for us, one of
our favourite gems to come out of Cuba in this period. A sheer masterpiece.
Tracks:
1. Y Que Bien
2. Rico Melao
3. Pastel En Descarga
4. A Luna Llena
5. Con Aji Guaguao
6. Son A Propulsion
7. Si No Fuera Por Emiliana
8. Ey!...Op.1
9. Son Riendo
10. Super Son