Mr BongoのCuban Classicsシリーズの次の再発は、Raúl Gómezの魅惑的な1977年のインストゥルメンタルアルバムです。オーケストラディスコとジャズファンク、アフロキューバンのフレーバーとサウンドトラックの影響を融合させたこの作品は、ドラムブレイクやエネルギー、進化する作曲で満ちています。

このアルバムは、カテゴライズが難しく、インストゥルメンタルムード音楽やライブラリ音楽、コズミックラテンファンク、サイケギター、そしてアフロキューバンマジックが混ざり合っています。特に「Mi Samba Carnaval」や「Tema De La Sierra」、「6 Son」などは見逃せません。

このアルバムは、Cuban Classicsシリーズの象徴的なアートワークとOBIストリップ付きで提供されます。キューバ革命後の豊かな音楽の一例であり、Raúl Gómezの才能を存分に堪能できる一枚です。

A1. Preludio De Un Amor
A2. Tema De La Sierra
A3. Dacapo
A4. Marienero Quiero Ser
A5. Anatomia De Un Problema
B1. Mi Samba Carnaval
B2. Poema En La Playa
B3. 6 Son
B4. El Sonido De La Montaña
B5. Un Paseo A La Playa

For the next reissue in Mr Bongo’s Cuban Classics series, we look to Raúl Gómez’s entrancing 1977 Instrumental album. Presenting a unique blend of orchestral disco and jazz-funk, with Afro-Cuban flavours and soundtrack influences, it’s rich with drum breaks, energy and evolving compositions. A record that forever keeps you guessing, powered by an exemplary orchestra at the top of their game.

Cuban composer and singer Raúl Gómez is most known for featuring in the groups Mirtha Y Raul and Los Bucaneros alongside producing the Cuban classic Los Reyes 73 album, amongst a whole host of other incredible productions over the years. Released on Cuba’s state-owned label Areito, Instrumental sees Gómez not only as an instrumentalist and author, but also as a producer and arranger.

It's an album that deftly evades pigeonholing. Floating between instrumental mood music and library/soundtrack mastery, followed by explosions of cosmic-Latin funk, psych guitar workouts and compositions that reflect the orchestrated disco coming out of the US at the time, from greats such as Love Unlimited or MFSB. Lace that together with a healthy serving of Afro-Cuban magic to underpin the tracks and it’s a recipe for a record that captivates from start to finish.

Predominantly an instrumental album as the title suggests, the record showcases the Orquesta EGREM in full flow, soaring strings and vibrant horns at every turn. Highlights include 'Mi Samba Carnaval' with its breathtaking drum break, bubbling synths and sublime arrangements and the romantic film music impressions of ‘Tema De La Sierra', that have been a sampling source for many a producer. Elsewhere, ‘6 Son’ is a mind-melding psych guitar powerhouse, with 'Dacapo', written by Gilberto Peralta, offering up a slice of atmospheric and energetic Latin shuffle. One of only a handful of tracks where scat vocals compliment the orchestral tones, a Brazilian percussion theme marries with dancefloor sensibilities for a dose of feel-good, brilliance.

A wide-ranging, multi-dimensional release, Instrumental exhibits musicianship, composition and creativity at its finest and demonstrates another key example of the rich output of music that flowed from the island of Cuba post revolution.

Featuring replica artwork, the vinyl release is presented with a Cuban Classic Series OBI Strip.