From street performer to gold album artist after the success of his 2005 debut Vamos que Nos Vamos, Muchachito Bombo Infierno has been walking the same festive, multicultural path of predecessors Manu Chao or Estopa. The comparison may be a bit flattering to Muchachito, since he has still not managed to elevate his act from party music to something more substantial, but his records and live performances are undeniably infectious. His second album, Visto lo Visto, released in Spain in 2007, is no exception. From the James Brown's like opener "Acícalense," Muchachito and his deft nine-piece band embark on a rollicking ride, mixing up a speedy cocktail of Catalan rhumba, ska, reggae, soul, mambo, or spaghetti western music, always spiced by the definitely funky Gigoletto horn section. Lyrics mostly tell tales of the nightlife and its bohemian denizens, and are often buoyant or picaresque in tone. Clearly, Muchachito decided not to tamper with the winning formula of the debut; in fact, even the title is quite similar, so that Visto lo Visto may sound less revealing than Vamos que Nos Vamos. This commercial concern is also evident on the hit "Ruido," featuring La Excepción, which tries to bank on the reggaeton craze. Other guests include the great Kiko Veneno on "Caratortuga," who, together with Muchachito and other Spanish musicians such as Tomasito and Los Delinquentes, are members of the rhumba supergroup G5. A minor drawback of the lively Visto lo Visto is a production that tends to muffle vocals behind the instruments, so that the lyrics are hard to make out. Not that it matters much, since this is a strictly-for-partying affair, and a very successful one at that.
© Mariano Prunes /TiVo